Watt’s future is one of the next ‘tough conversations’

Now that the Texans have secured their head coach in

David Culley, they not only have to make key decisions on quarterback Deshaun Watson’s trade request, they also face a question on defensive end J.J. Watt’s future in Houston.

Watt, a three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, is due a $17.5 million nonguaranteed base salary and is frustrated with the state of the team as well and could have played his last down for the team.

Mike Tannenbaum, a former Jets general manager and Dolphins executive vice president of football operations, believes the Texans probably need to explore the possibility of trading Watt, perhaps for a second-round or third-round draft pick, or cutting him to create salary cap space.

“I think you have to have tough conversations,” Tannenbaum said. “If you get the right price, you’ve got to move on.”

On a recent appearance on The Tonight Show, Watt joked about the reports and rumors about Watson and himself.

“I process (the rumors) by going to Hawaii for a week, and I probably should have stayed there,” said Watt, who was appearing on the show remotely.