These five teams could make a deal for Deshaun Watson.
There are endless trade ideas and rumors are surrounding Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson and where he will play next when he returns to action. Faced with a very serious legal situation, the Texans have to make an incredibly hard decision. Keep, cut or trade Watson.
If there is a truly interested trade partner, the compensation that the Texans get would need to be hefty. It has also been well noted that Deshaun Watson has a No-Trade clause on his contract. These possible trades are assuming Watson waives the clause, helping the Texans ship him away whenever that becomes an option.
The compensation will be steep regardless of what Watson has going on off the field; a player of his talent will not come cheap. While Watson could miss the entire season at this point, there’s also a realistic chance that he may play in all 17 games. A trade for Watson would be on the Herschel Walker-type level of compensation.
These five teams currently have their own starting quarterbacks with some just having traded for their new QB1. But the one similarity that all these teams share is the fact that their QB situation remains fluid. Whether that’s due to draft picks, disbelief in their current signal-caller, or other dynamics, they all could realistically dial up and make an offer for Watson.
That along with his unwavering desire to be traded and with the possibility that Watson’s continued presence may eventually become a problem for the Texans. With that said, here are some teams and trade options to keep an eye on when the time comes.
Could the Panthers break their “silence” and trade for Watson?
The Carolina Panthers are a team that’s rumored to quietly be in pursuit of Deshaun Watson before the legal troubles came to light one would assume they will be interested again when the time comes.
A trade package from Carolina for Watson would include Sam Darnold to start but from there it gets interesting. The Texans are rumored to want heavy draft capital and a starting defensive player in any package for Watson.
So aside from the obvious Quarterback-for-Quarterback, trade from Carolina would need to include the likes of 2 or 3 first-round picks, Multiple second-round picks, and a player like Brian Burns the defensive end. That’s a steep price to pay for any team but if Carolina believes they’re a quarterback away, then they will do whatever it takes.
A potential Texans-Panthers trade:
The trade for Sam Darnold leads many to believe that the Panthers had moved away from a possible Deshaun trade. Yet recent reports and rumors that have leaked their way out say otherwise.
It would be wise to think that when Watson is traded, Carolina tries their best to be his landing spot. And with Carolina being in a different conference than the Texans, it’s going to help decrease any chance of Watson coming back into town and adding more drama.
The NFC has a more wide-open shot at the playoffs, and our next team may be able to get back to January football with the help of Watson.
Do the 49ers go all-in on Deshaun?
The San Francisco 49ers are a team leading up to the draft that we’re heavily rumored to be interested in Deshaun Watson. While one may think with their selection of Trey Lance the courtship of Watson would be over, right? Not so fast.
With a roster like the 49ers, having a Quarterback the caliber of Deshaun Watson would instantly put them in contention for a Super Bowl title. Making it silly to think that they wouldn’t entertain the idea of trade.
Here’s what a potential 49ers-Texans trade would be:
San Francisco can release Garoppolo and only have $1.4m in dead cap for the next 2 years (2.8mil total) which would allow them to clear the Quarter backroom for Deshaun. A trade with San Francisco would most likely include Quarterback Trey Lance, At least two first-round picks, and a defensive starter, someone like Linebacker Fred Warner.
Again, that’s a massive price to pay but General Manager Nick Caserio needs to start in the sky on trade demands and see where teams land. Out of all the teams that can make a move for Watson, the 49ers are the most complete team that is ready to win now which may lead to an overpay in a trade for the Texans.
Will the Broncos risk it all, even after naming their starting QB for 2021?
The Denver Broncos, a team that seems to be in on any and everything involving every journeyman quarterback the past few years is a team to watch for in the Deshaun Watson sweepstakes.
With the likes of John Elway in the front office and the willingness, the Broncos have shown to go big or go home it wouldn’t be wise to count them out as the team to offer the most and end up with Watson when this is all said and done. There is also Kareem Jackson, the former Houston Texans safety who shared with the world that Watson wants to “be a Bronco“.
A package from Denver would include the likes of Quarterback Drew Lock to start. Most likely two first-round picks and I wouldn’t be surprised If the Texans asked for and received young defensive starters from Denver.
What a Broncos-Texans trade would look like:
The two players that instantly come to mind are Bradley Chubb and Patrick Surtain ll. Talk about a massive haul for the Texans. Now, this is obviously banking on the Broncos being desperate and overpaying and the Texans demanding a lot. Two things that seem to be the case in both places.
The Broncos seem to be a team desperate for a solution at quarterback, even with naming Teddy Bridgewater the starter. Landing Deshaun Watson solves that problem for them for years to come. When you have a desperate team Caserio should ask for the world.
Deshaun Watson’s best chances of getting traded are to the Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a team in the best position draft capital-wise to land Deshaun Watson. Which for their sake is a good thing since the players they can offer the Texans may not be as desired by Houston.
With multiple trades made in the draft and compensation, the Eagles will receive from Indianapolis as of the Carson Wentz trade, it’s not far-fetched to see a scenario where Philadelphia offers the Texans a package that includes three first-round picks (All in the 2022 draft). The Wentz trade can turn into a first-round pick for the Eagles if conditions are met.
What an Eagles-Texans trade would look like:
Eagles players such as Jalen Hurts and DeVonta Smith are two young players for the Texans to build around on the offensive side of the ball. This might be the best all-around package due to the draft capital involved but the lack of defensive players to send may hurt Philadelphia’s chances.
With that being said, expect the Eagles to be in the Deshaun Watson sweepstakes until the very end. Like the 49ers, being in the opposite conference may help the Eagles chances should Watson agree to go to Philadelphia. This trade seems to be the least likely to be done with the Eagles not being much better the Houston one could assume Watson won’t want to go there.
Will the Miami Dolphins make a Super Bowl push?
The Miami Dolphins have long been rumored as Watson’s desired landing spot if he is eventually traded. Miami is a team that is a Quarterback away with a roster that is solid at pretty much every other position. The Dolphins are a team that does make sense to trade with if Caserio can manage to broker a deal.
The Dolphins can offer a package built around Tua Tagovailoa and future draft capital. Whether those picks are their own or the picks they acquired from San Francisco when the 49ers moved up to draft Trey Lance.
What a Dolphins-Texans trade could look like:
Along with Tua and draft capital, the Texans would need another star-caliber player in return. Names to keep an eye on include Xavien Howard and Jaylen Waddle. Both these players would be intriguing additions to a package for Watson from Miami.
If one thing is for certain it’s that when the time comes, the Houston Texans and Nick Caserios’s phone will likely be ringing off the hook. Teams will clammer at the chance to gain the services of a player like Deshaun Watson.
All Caserio needs to do is sit back and wait, and be patient like he has been. Let the off the field issues run their course, and when the absolute best offer comes in strike a deal without hesitation. It’s a tough move, but it may just be the right move for this franchise to return to what it once was.
Caserio is a smart man, and if all the moves he’s already made are any indication on how he will handle actually trading Deshaun Watson then the Texans are I’m good hands.