If the Houston Texans trade Deshaun Watson, according to a new mock draft by Pro Football Focus, they have that trade involving the New York Jets, BYU quarterback Zach Wilson and the No. 2 overall pick.
This current offseason by the Houston Texans is maybe the most interesting, nerve-wracking and emotion-filled offseason in the history of the franchise, and the Super Bowl hasn’t even been played yet.
Ben Linsey of PFF released a new mock draft, and in it the Texans made a big trade with the Jets. In that trade, one important part was the Texans received the No. 2 overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft. With that pick, the Texans selected BYU quarterback Zach Wilson.
The pick before by the Jacksonville Jaguars was of course Trevor Lawrence of Clemson, and the pick after was Ohio State QB Justin Fields in another blockbuster trade in the mick draft.
As for Wilson, this would be a very unique time for the Houston Texans if a trade were to happen with the Jets because that would mean the franchise would have answered the trade request of Deshaun Watson, and officially the two parties would be moving on from each other.
Eventually, that will most likely happen between the Texans and Watson, who will go their separate ways, and this potential pick by Houston is a way to start looking forward instead of in the rearview mirror.
Houston Texans Draft: Learning more about Zach Wilson of BYU
For starters, Zach Wilson was a three-year player for the Cougars of BYU, where in those three seasons he attempted 837 passes, completing 566 — 67.8 percent — for 7,652 yards with 56 touchdowns and 15 interceptions, all while averaging 9.1 yards per completion.
Wilson also finished his collegiate career with 212 rushes for 642 yards with 15 rushing scores. In a closer look at his final season at BYU, Wilson was 247-of-336 for 3,692 yards passing with 33 touchdowns and three interceptions. The 2020 season also included the QB completing 73.5 percent of his passes, while also rushing for 254 yards and 10 touchdowns on 70 rushes.
If Wilson were to join the Houston Texans via a Deshaun Watson trade, he would join an offense that still needs some work, and one that will be learning a new system all at the same time, which could be an advantage for a rookie quarterback.
With rookies, it is always uncertain when or even if they will play their first year with the franchise, and with the Houston Texans, there is no idea right now who will be staying on the offense, what trades will be made or who will be the starting quarterback when Week 1 of the 2021 season arrives.
Right now, it seems Watson will eventually be traded, and if this mock draft projection occurs and the Texans select Zach Wilson of BYU, they will be adding an athletic quarterback who is 6’3, 210 pounds, and seemingly can throw the football to the targeted player or use his athleticism to make a play rushing the football.
If it is Wilson or another quarterback who is first to take over for Deshaun Watson if a trade occurs, those will be pressure-packed and large shoes to fill. This selection in the PFF mock draft has the Texans moving away from Watson, and that could most likely be a reality in the near future, rather than just a trade projection at some point this offseason.