Keep an eye on Panthers when Watson market resumes
HOUSTON — There was so much going on in the NFL over the weekend that almost lost in the cycle of playoff news was this one particular tidbit that caught my attention.
Bill O’brien could be a candidate to become the new offensive coordinator at Carolina under Matt Rhule.
What makes that report so intriguing would be the possibility of O’brien being reunited with quarterback Deshaun Watson.
The Panthers were one of the teams in hot pursuit of Watson before his civil lawsuits piled up. Considering how bad they were this season, expect them to be even more interested in Watson.
Before we seriously consider O’brien and Watson reuniting in Charlotte, N.C. — about 200 miles from the quarterback’s hometown of Gainesville, Ga. — remember he has a no-trade clause that allows him to veto any deal, which he did with Philadelphia.
As for O’brien, he’s still trying to get over Alabama’s loss to Georgia in the national championship game Monday night. After one season as Nick Saban’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach and playing a vital role in Bryce Young’s winning the Heisman Trophy, O’brien seems to be in demand.
Jacksonville is scheduled to interview O’brien for its head coaching vacancy this week.
Jaguars owner Shad Khan remembers O’brien having a 10-2 record against his team, including 6-0 before Watson arrived in 2017.
Khan also knows the Texans won four AFC South titles in five years under O’brien, including a pair of playoff victories.
Obviously, Watson wouldn’t be a candidate in Jacksonville with Trevor Lawrence coming off his rookie year. Or would he?
Here’s an interesting thought: What if O’brien gets the Jacksonville job and offers Lawrence straight up for Watson? Would general manager Nick Caserio take that deal or continue to ask for three first-round draft choices and additional picks?
Can’t imagine the Texans would want to play against Watson twice a year, so that should be a moot point, of course.
Speaking of Lawrence, a selling point for O’brien in his job interview with Khan and general manager Trent Baalke will be his role in helping develop Watson and his impact this season on Young, a sophomore starting in place of Mac Jones.
OK, back to the Panthers. Rhule, who’s two years into his seven-year, $62 million contract, fired offensive coordinator Joe Brady during the season and promoted one of his former Baylor assistants, Jeff Nixon, to play caller.
If Rhule and owner David Tepper pursued Watson vigorously before settling on Sam Darnold and finishing a 5-12 season
with a seven-game losing streak, you just know their interest hasn’t waned. It should be skyrocketing.
Maybe Tepper and Rhule believe O’brien is an extra card in the deck to be played when they’re trying to convince Watson nothing could be finer than to be in Carolina.
The Panthers have the sixth overall pick. That could be a nice starting point in a trade that would give the Texans two of the first six draft choices.
Besides Carolina, of the teams that showed the most interest in Watson during the offseason and leading up to the Nov. 2 trade deadline, the Panthers have the
sixth pick in the first round and Denver the ninth.
The Dolphins almost pulled the trigger on a deal for three firstround picks and third- and fifthround selections. They don’t have their No. 1 pick. They have San Francisco’s, and until the 49ers are eliminated from the playoffs, the Dolphins’ first pick won’t be known.
The team Caserio should talk trade with is the Giants. They’re going to hire a new general manager and coach after completing the season with one of the most pitiful teams in the NFL.
Fans in New York and New Jersey have become apathetic about the Giants, but a trade for
Watson would create a splash. The Giants have the fifth and seventh picks in the first round. Imagine Caserio acquiring those picks for Watson, who’d have to approve the trade.
How pumped do you think Texans fans would be if Caserio had the third, fifth and seventh picks in the first round?
More than likely, the Giants would offer one of those high picks this year and throw in secondand third-round selections. More would be on the Texans’ way in 2023.
Coach Vic Fangio was fired by the Broncos after winning only seven games in his third season. He had a terrific defense and a solid running game but lacked a game-changing quarterback.
A family dispute that’s raging in Denver might force the Bowlen family to sell the team if they can’t agree on someone to head the franchise. That might take some steam out of their pursuit of Watson or acquiring Watson could create more interest from potential buyers.
No player can be traded until the new league year begins March 16. If Watson reaches settlements with the 22 accusers who filed civil suits against him, teams will line up to get him before the draft starts April 28.
But there is one question that looms large over any possible trade: Will Watson kill the deal?