All signs point to Watson trade
Ignore conspiracy theories, but recent legal issues could delay timing on potential move
I find it fascinating to hear all the conspiracy theorists who believe the Texans are behind quarterback Deshaun Watson’s legal issues.
Based on what they’ve told me, the conspiracy theorists believe the Texans don’t want to trade Watson, which has been true from the get-go. By conspiring with attorney Tony Buzbee and creating so many legal problems for Watson, the quarterback will have no other alternative than to play for them instead of being traded by April
29, the first day of the draft.
In other words, teams will no longer offer anything enticing for Watson, so he’ll be forced to play for the Texans.
That makes no sense.
They’ve gotten rid of three teammates he close to — center Nick Martin, receiver Will Fuller and tight end Darren Fells — when they’re hoping Watson will be playing for them?
Give me a break.
By the way, let’s remember Watson is innocent until proven guilty — a fact that seems to be lost on his detractors.
Watson has told the Texans he doesn’t want to play for them and wants to be traded. They’ve known about it since early January. His stance hasn’t deviated for more than two months. He’s determined to play somewhere else.
Watson informed the Texans he won’t report if he’s not traded and is willing to sacrifice millions in fines and lost income to encourage them to deal him to a team he approves so he doesn’t invoke his no-trade clause.
If Watson wasn’t planning to play for them if not traded, why would he decide to play for them now, especially if he believes the Texans set him up? He’d been more determined than ever to dig in, stay away and hope to force the issue.
Why would they want a miserable quarterback — no matter how talented — to play for them knowing he doesn’t like them, respect them and, most important, trust them because he’s convinced they conspired to help ruin his reputation?
Watson wouldn’t care if the Texans acquired a boatload of first-round draft choices or a sixth-round pick for him. He just wants to get away from the franchise as fast as he can.
I can think of only one reason Watson might relent and report, and that could come down to how badly he needed his $10.5 million base salary this season.
Watson has earned millions with the Texans, including a $27 million signing bonus from his four-year extension worth $156 million. The sincerity of his trade demand can be found in his apparent willingness to lose millions sitting out.
But if his attorney, Rusty Hardin, were to convince Watson to reach settlements with his accusers, then he might not be willing to take that kind of financial hit in a holdout and elect to report.
But Watson would be one unhappy camper returning to a team only for financial reasons and playing for a team he believes set him up. Now, he could always report to get paid, develop a back injury and continue to demand a trade.
I believe Watson is still destined to be traded, but rather than by the draft as I’ve been predicting, I now think it could be during the season at the trade deadline or before the 2022 draft. Teams will want Watson to have his legal issues settled, and they’ll want to know the results of the NFL’s investigation for possible violation of the league’s personal conduct policy.
If Watson’s legal issues are resolved, and he’s been cleared to play by the NFL, I don’t think the Texans will get anywhere close to what they could have gotten by the draft, but Watson’s legal problems have changed the landscape considerably.
Before the civil lawsuits were filed against Watson this week, the Texans were planning to get multiple teams competing for the quarterback. They were hoping to receive three firstround draft choices, two secondround picks and at least on defensive starter in a trade sometime before the draft.
General manager Nick Caserio could have asked for more, just to push the envelope. It never hurts to ask, right?
In a best-case scenario, another franchise quarterback would have been part of the package to sell to fans, including those who purchase sponsorships, suites, club seats, personal seat licenses and season tickets.
Teams don’t like to use “rebuild” because they think it’s a dirty word with fans. It’s an admission the team is going to struggle for a couple of years at the least.
But the Texans are rebuilding. Look at the multitude of moves Caserio has been making since before free agency began. If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it’s a rebuild, right?
A revolving door has been installed at NRG Stadium for all the players coming and going. The McNair family might sell more programs next season than any time in team history because there will be so many new players who need to be identified.
As it stands today, the Texans have three quarterbacks under contract: Watson, Tyrod Taylor and Ryan Finley, whom Caserio added Friday in a trade with Cincinnati.
Maybe before the draft, a team — or teams — will low-ball Caserio and offer a first-round pick for Watson before letting the legal ramifications, including a possible suspension next season, play out.
That team could be willing to take a chance knowing at some point Watson would be free and clear after navigating his legal obstacles. The team would be getting a great quarterback in the prime of his career at a tremendous discount and would be worth the risk.
Then the football would be in Caserio’s court. Grant Watson’s wish by trading him for so much less than the Texans could have gotten, or wait until the trading deadline or the 2022 draft and try to get more?
There’s so much uncertainty, but there’s one thing we know for sure: It could be a long, bumpy ride on a hazardous road to football oblivion.