Texans’ Watson requests to be traded
HOUSTON—Star quarterback Deshaun Watson has requested a trade from the Houston Texans, a person familiar with the move told The Associated Press.
The person was not authorized to speak publicly about the request and spoke on the condition of anonymity.
Watson has a no-trade clause in his four-year, $156-million contract, so he could have some control over where he might be dealt.
A source said Wednesday night that the Texans had hired David Culley as their new coach to replace Bill O’Brien, who was fired after an 0-4 start and replaced by interim head coach Romeo Crennel. The same source said Watson made the trade request before Culley’s hire.
Watson has been unhappy with the direction of the team for some time and Sports Illustrated reported weeks ago that he was upset the team didn’t initially request to interview Kansas City offensive co-ordinator Eric Bieniemy for its coaching vacancy. The Texans eventually interviewed Bieniemy, and at least five others, before landing on Culley — the only African American among the seven head coaches hired this off-season. The only other minority candidate hired this off-season was the Jets’ Robert Saleh, the league’s first Muslim American head coach.
Watson, a three-time Pro Bowler, was also upset that owner Cal McNair did not take his opinion into account when hiring general manager Nick Caserio, according to ESPN and the NFL Network.
The Texans, who had years of woes at quarterback before drafting Watson, don’t want to part with the talented 25-yearold who led the NFL in yards passing this season. But they have been unable to change his mind about his desire to leave.
They traded up to select Watson with the 12th overall pick in the 2017 draft after he led Clemson to its first national title since 1981. Houston was desperate to find a franchise quarterback after starting eight players at the position in the three seasons before he was drafted.