Acquiring Watson won’t stop the build

Star QB’s cap hit isn’t bad this season, which sets up all-in approach

Omar Kelly

Let us assume the Miami Dolphins win the expected bidding war required to land superstar Deshaun Watson for what equates to four first-round picks.

While I anticipate half the NFL will be bidding on Watson when the Houston Texans finally decide it would be wise to move on from the disgruntled quarterback, Dolphins owner Steve Ross undoubtedly would encourage his decision-makers to bid big, taking an all-in approach to acquire three-time Pro Bowl selection.

Then what? Whether the hypothetical deal involves second-year quarterback Tua Tagovailoa — who would be worth the equivalent of a first-round pick — isn’t significant.

If Houston wants Tagovailoa to be the cornerstone of their rebuild, great.

If they don’t, then Miami can sell Tagovailoa to the highest bidder and likely will get back a deal better than what Miami gave up to acquire Josh Rosen in 2019, sending the Arizona Cardinals a second- and fourthround pick for the disappointing former first rounder.

Keep in mind Miami’s interest in Watson isn’t about Tagovailoa — and never was.

It’s about acquiring an elite quarterback in his prime, ending the search for a franchise quarterback that has dated back to Dan Marino’s retirement after the 1999 season.

There’s no question that Watson and the Dolphins’ stellar defense — assuming Pro Bowl cornerback Xavien Howard isn’t part of the trade package (and he very well might be) — could turn the franchise into a

perennial playoff team for years to come. Especially if the Dolphins upgrade the running back position, which is a foregone conclusion.

So let us hypothetically say Miami sends Houston picks No. 3, No. 18, Tagovailoa and Miami’s 2022 first-round pick in return for Watson, who easily is one of the NFL’s top players and in his prime at 25. He is coming off his best season despite the Texans winning only four games.

He had career bests in yards (4,823), completion percentage (70.2 percent), yards gained per attempt (8.9) and touchdowns (33). His 4,823 yards passing were the most in the NFL.

Pair that with a defense that led the NFL in turnovers (29) and finished fifth in points allowed (21.1), and the Dolphins should be a force in 2021 if the defense doesn’t regress.

Because Watson’s cap hit is reasonable this season ($15.9 million) before ballooning up to $40.4 million in 2022, this would be the offseason to take an all-in approach with free-agent signings.

That is the consequence of carrying the second-largest contract in the NFL, which is what the five years and $146.5 million left on the extension Watson signed in 2020 creates.

Miami would end up paying $29.3 million a season for an elite quarterback without reworking the deal, which would eventually happen to create cap space, and keep the quarterback happy.

That is manageable and writing big checks to upper-echelon quarterbacks hasn’t stopped the Kansas City Chiefs, Seattle Seahawks, Pittsburgh Steelers, Green Bay Packers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers from making smart moves to build their team properly.

It just requires efficient and effective drafting, which the Dolphins haven’t exactly mastered, but are working towards achieving that goal under general manager Chris Grier’s leadership.

Trading for Watson for the package proposed doesn’t prevent Miami from building through the draft come April. Even if it sent Houston both of its first-round picks, the Dolphins would still have two second-round picks (No. 36 and No. 50), a third-round selection (No. 81), a fourth (No. 113) and two seventhround picks.

Those six picks could be used to address Miami’s biggest position needs — receiver, running back, center, defensive end and inside linebacker — if it doesn’t address them in free agency.

Many analysts would be critical that Watson would not have enough playmakers around him in Miami, but DeVante Parker, Mike Gesicki, Preston Williams and Lynn Bowden Jr. could thrive with Watson at the helm because of his knack for extending plays, buying his targets time to get open.

If the Dolphins added Alabama’s Najee Harris, Clemson’s Travis Etienne or North Carolina’s Javonte Williams at tailback, and drafted a receiver like Western Michigan’s D’Wayne Eskridge, North Texas’ Jaelon Darden, Louisville’s Tutu Atwell, South Carolina’s Shi Smith or UCLA’s Demetric Felton in the later rounds, Miami would have enough of an arsenal to produce a top-10 offense.

That is why the Dolphins are attractive as a potential suitor to Watson — regardless of what assets the team will have to surrender to acquire him.