Reassessing Watson market
Teams waiting on courts, NFL investigation of sexual assault allegations before making deal
Now that the draft is over, what’s next for the Texans and quarterback Deshaun Watson?
The correct answer is nobody knows.
When general manager Nick Caserio drafted quarterback Davis Mills in the third round, it signaled to the rest of the NFL what most of us in Houston have known for weeks — Watson isn’t in the Texans’ plans for the 2021 season.
And that’s the way Watson wants it.
Watson, Mills, Tyrod Taylor and Ryan Finley are on the Texans’ 90player roster that currently has 87 players. At some point, the Texans are expected to grant Watson’s trade demand, something he’s asked for since last season ended.
Nobody knows when Watson will be traded, what his new team will be or how much Caserio will get in return.
Expect Caserio to ask for a plethora of draft choices, including multiple first-round picks, beginning next year. It never hurts to ask for the moon and include a player or two.
Watson has a no-trade clause, but his current legal situation might make him more eager to get out of town and accept just about any new destination so he can start over as fast as possible.
Teams expressing interest in trading for Watson before the draft backed away after 22 civil suits were filed against the quarterback for sexual misconduct
and assault.
I can’t find anyone in the league who believes Watson will be traded before his legal problems are resolved.
Cal McNair, the chairman and CEO, said this week he wouldn’t comment on the Watson situation because of ongoing investigations.
The NFL is investigating Watson, and the league could suspend him under the personal conduct policy. Also, Houston police are looking into at least one case involving Watson.
Once Watson’s legal problems are behind him, potential trade partners will want to know the status of the league’s investigation.
If it extends into the regular season and he hasn’t been traded, Watson could be placed on the commissioner’s exempt list. That way, he would be paid his $10.5 million base salary until the league concludes the investigation.
I don’t see the investigation being a serious deterrent to a trade. Teams know if Watson gets suspended, he’ll return and be eager to pick up where he left off in 2020 as one of the NFL’s premier quarterbacks who’s capable of playing another 12 to 13 years.
When the Texans are ready to trade Watson — during the offseason, preseason, regular season or before next year’s draft — their options will be reduced.
Before Watson’s legal problems, eight teams showed some level of interest in acquiring the quarterback. There were no negotiations. The plan was to open negotiations after April 1 and eventually accept the best offer before the draft.
Of the teams interested in Watson, the Jets (Zach Wilson), 49ers (Trey Lance), Bears ( Justin Fields) and Patriots (Mac Jones) used first-round picks on quarterbacks.
Before Watson’s legal issues surfaced, the Panthers and Broncos showed serious interest in the quarterback and were prepared to make the Texans offers that included multiple first-round draft choices. Both ended up trading for veterans — Sam Darnold (Carolina) and Teddy Bridgewater (Denver). That doesn’t mean they’ve lost interest in Watson.
The Dolphins also were interested, but, for now, they’re sticking with Tua Tagovailoa. Miami would be a nice fit for Watson. He’d be joining a team coming off a 10-6 record that signed receiver Will Fuller and drafted receiver Jaylen Waddle in the first round.
If the Dolphins acquired Watson, they’d be an instant Super Bowl contender.
Washington, another team that expressed interest, has two former Texans listed first and second on its projected quarterback depth chart — Ryan Fitzpatrick and Taylor Heinicke.
Washington won the NFC East last season. It has a terrific defense and a solid running game. If coach Ron Rivera, who calls the personnel shots, were to trade for Watson, Washington would become a Super Bowl contender for the first time since the first Joe Gibbs era.
Let’s see — Fitzy or Watson? Watson or Fitzy? That’s a nobrainer.
There are reports the Eagles could be interested, too. Jalen Hurts, the second-round pick last year, enters his first season as their starter. They showed enough faith in him to trade Carson Wentz to the Colts.
Would the Eagles rather have Watson over Hurts? Of course, they would, but it would depend on the price.
Another team that should be interested in Watson is New Orleans. Do you think coach Sean Payton would like to get his hands on a quarterback as talented as Watson? Obviously, but draft choices obtained from the Saints might all be at the bottom of the round.
The truth is if you look around the NFL, there are a lot of teams that should be interested in Watson. He’s 25, coming off the most impressive season of his career and is under contract through 2025.
When it’s time to deal, there won’t be as many teams interested as before the draft, but it takes only one to convince Caserio to make what’ll be one of the most significant trades in NFL history.