Deshaun Watson traded to Browns
- Thread starter Duece
- Start date
I won't mind seeing him in a 49ers uniform!!.. 
Niggas love to re-sign with these shitty teams and then want to get traded....Texans didn't just show him who they were and if he did they wasn't paying attention. Andre Johnson showed you what should've happened.
The odds that the Chicago Bears will trade for Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson are long, at best. The cost to acquire one of the league’s best young quarterbacks will be more than it was to snag Khalil Mack, which came at a price tag that included two first-round picks.
But that doesn’t mean it’s impossible, especially now that it appears more likely that the Texans will have little choice but to move on from Watson this offseason.
According to ESPN insider Adam Schefter, there’s a growing feeling that Watson’s played his last game in Houston.
Waston’s expressed his displeasure with the process the Texans used to hire new general manager Nick Caserio, and he’s taken to social media to make his frustration known.
And while it seemed like it would be a situation that was destined to blow over, it’s gone from bad to worse. Watson isn’t the only one who views the Texans as a burning dumpster fire.
According to Schefter, their head coaching vacancy is viewed as the most undesirable in the NFL.
The Bears are entering the offseason with quarterback at the top of their team needs. There’s little to no chance Mitch Trubisky will be back, and even if Nick Foles returns, he’ll be QB2. Chicago is armed with a first-round pick for the first time since 2018 too, so if the Texans want a package of first-rounders to strike a deal, the Bears have the ammo to at least be in the conversation.
The bigger problem for Chicago and a potential Watson trade is the salary cap. His 2021 cap hit is just under $16 million but balloons to over $40 million in 2022 and 2023. According to Spotrac.com, the Bears rank in the bottom 10 in the NFL in salary cap space entering the 2021 offseason.
I’ve often said the salary cap is fake. But in this case, it’s really, really complicated.
What we do know is this: GM Ryan Pace is an aggressive guy, and if he has a chance to land a franchise-changing player, he doesn’t shy away from pulling the trigger. He did it when he traded up for Trubisky in the 2017 draft and he proved his mettle when he struck the Mack deal, one that took a lot of courage and cost a heavy price.
Will Pace be comfortable trading as many as three first-round picks for Watson? The answer seems like it should be an obvious yes, but the Bears won’t be the only suitor for Watson should he actually be placed on the trade market.
But that doesn’t mean it’s impossible, especially now that it appears more likely that the Texans will have little choice but to move on from Watson this offseason.
According to ESPN insider Adam Schefter, there’s a growing feeling that Watson’s played his last game in Houston.
Waston’s expressed his displeasure with the process the Texans used to hire new general manager Nick Caserio, and he’s taken to social media to make his frustration known.
And while it seemed like it would be a situation that was destined to blow over, it’s gone from bad to worse. Watson isn’t the only one who views the Texans as a burning dumpster fire.
According to Schefter, their head coaching vacancy is viewed as the most undesirable in the NFL.
The Bears are entering the offseason with quarterback at the top of their team needs. There’s little to no chance Mitch Trubisky will be back, and even if Nick Foles returns, he’ll be QB2. Chicago is armed with a first-round pick for the first time since 2018 too, so if the Texans want a package of first-rounders to strike a deal, the Bears have the ammo to at least be in the conversation.
The bigger problem for Chicago and a potential Watson trade is the salary cap. His 2021 cap hit is just under $16 million but balloons to over $40 million in 2022 and 2023. According to Spotrac.com, the Bears rank in the bottom 10 in the NFL in salary cap space entering the 2021 offseason.
I’ve often said the salary cap is fake. But in this case, it’s really, really complicated.
What we do know is this: GM Ryan Pace is an aggressive guy, and if he has a chance to land a franchise-changing player, he doesn’t shy away from pulling the trigger. He did it when he traded up for Trubisky in the 2017 draft and he proved his mettle when he struck the Mack deal, one that took a lot of courage and cost a heavy price.
Will Pace be comfortable trading as many as three first-round picks for Watson? The answer seems like it should be an obvious yes, but the Bears won’t be the only suitor for Watson should he actually be placed on the trade market.
Odds for where Texans trade QB Deshaun Watson: Raiders in top 10
Levi Damien
Sun, January 17, 2021, 3:57 PM
Prior to the start of the Divisional Round playoff games Sunday, the NFL sphere was abuzz with Deshaun Watson trade rumors. Watson has not been happy that the Texans lied to him about giving him a voice in who they hire as the next head coach. He has made his displeasure clear, prompting the team to try and scramble to appease him, but it appears to be too little too late.
Adam Schefter had the report Sunday morning that there was a growing sense that Watson had played his last snap for the Texans. And as of Sunday afternoon, the team has discussed potential trade partners.
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Naturally, a lot of fans would like Watson to don the uniform of their favorite team. But only one will. Which team it is will depend on a few factors, not the least of which being what kind of draft capital they possess.
As usual, oddsmakers are all over it with sportsbetting.com putting out their odds for Watson’s next team. Topping the list is the Jets, followed by Watson’s purported choice, the Dolphins. The Raiders land in a tie for 10th with 12/1 odds.
Deshaun Watson next team
New York Jets 2/1
Miami Dolphins 3/1
Chicago Bears 4/1
Denver Broncos 5/1
Indianapolis Colts 8/1
New England Patriots 8/1
Philadelphia Eagles 10/1
Carolina Panthers 12/1
Washington Football Team 12/1
Detroit Lions 12/1
Las Vegas Raiders 12/1
New Orleans Saints 15/1
Jacksonville Jaguars 15/1
San Francisco 49ers 20/1
Dallas Cowboys 20/1
Los Angeles Rams 30/1
Minnesota Vikings 30/1
Pittsburgh Steelers 30/1
Atlanta Falcons 30/1
New York Giants 30/1
Tennessee Titans 40/1
Cleveland Browns 40/1
Los Angeles Chargers 50/1
Cincinnati Bengals 50/1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 50/1
Arizona Cardinals 70/1
Baltimore Ravens 70/1
Buffalo Bills 100/1
Seattle Seahawks 100/1
Green Bay Packers 200/1
Kansas City Chiefs 300/1
Levi Damien
Sun, January 17, 2021, 3:57 PM
Prior to the start of the Divisional Round playoff games Sunday, the NFL sphere was abuzz with Deshaun Watson trade rumors. Watson has not been happy that the Texans lied to him about giving him a voice in who they hire as the next head coach. He has made his displeasure clear, prompting the team to try and scramble to appease him, but it appears to be too little too late.
Adam Schefter had the report Sunday morning that there was a growing sense that Watson had played his last snap for the Texans. And as of Sunday afternoon, the team has discussed potential trade partners.
Scroll to continue with content
Ad
Naturally, a lot of fans would like Watson to don the uniform of their favorite team. But only one will. Which team it is will depend on a few factors, not the least of which being what kind of draft capital they possess.
As usual, oddsmakers are all over it with sportsbetting.com putting out their odds for Watson’s next team. Topping the list is the Jets, followed by Watson’s purported choice, the Dolphins. The Raiders land in a tie for 10th with 12/1 odds.
Deshaun Watson next team
New York Jets 2/1
Miami Dolphins 3/1
Chicago Bears 4/1
Denver Broncos 5/1
Indianapolis Colts 8/1
New England Patriots 8/1
Philadelphia Eagles 10/1
Carolina Panthers 12/1
Washington Football Team 12/1
Detroit Lions 12/1
Las Vegas Raiders 12/1
New Orleans Saints 15/1
Jacksonville Jaguars 15/1
San Francisco 49ers 20/1
Dallas Cowboys 20/1
Los Angeles Rams 30/1
Minnesota Vikings 30/1
Pittsburgh Steelers 30/1
Atlanta Falcons 30/1
New York Giants 30/1
Tennessee Titans 40/1
Cleveland Browns 40/1
Los Angeles Chargers 50/1
Cincinnati Bengals 50/1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 50/1
Arizona Cardinals 70/1
Baltimore Ravens 70/1
Buffalo Bills 100/1
Seattle Seahawks 100/1
Green Bay Packers 200/1
Kansas City Chiefs 300/1
17 Deshaun Watson trade proposals, ranked from least likely to most likely to happen in the 2021 NFL offseason
6:50 AM ET
Let me start by stating my feelings clearly: I don't think the Houston Texans should trade Deshaun Watson. The whole point of owning an NFL franchise, outside of making gobs of money as your team's value inflates, is to hopefully end up with a quarterback like Watson. In addition to his considerable talents, he is a pillar in the Houston community. If he wanted to leave, I would strongly encourage Cal McNair to do what it takes to get Watson to change how he feels. A trade should only be the absolute last resort.
If the Texans decide that they have no choice but to trade Watson, though, we should talk about what those deals might look like and which teams might be involved. Quarterbacks as good as Watson simply don't get traded at age 25. The closest thing we can come up with -- please don't laugh -- is Jay Cutler, who was a Pro Bowler in his age-25 season in 2008 before forcing through a trade to the Bears. Chicago sent two first-round picks, a third-rounder and Kyle Orton to Denver for Cutler and a fifth-round pick.
More recently, we've seen players approaching the end of their rookie contracts, such as Khalil Mack, Laremy Tunsil, Jalen Ramsey and Jamal Adams, move teams for packages built around two first-round picks. None of those guys are quarterbacks. Watson would cost more. When ESPN's Jeremy Fowler asked NFL executives about a possible Watson deal, the asking price revolved around three first-round picks. Our deals here will use three first-rounders as the baseline, although the price tag might be more or less than that mark for specific contracts depending upon who else gets included and where those first-rounders fall.
By my count, about half of the league can at least credibly consider making a Watson deal. In part, that's because the Texans already have paid his $27 million signing bonus and structured his deal to keep his 2020 and 2021 cap hits low. If the Texans trade Watson, he will have only a $10.5 million cap hit in 2021, which just about every team in the league can afford. That number jumps to $40.4 million in 2022, but the acquiring team can convert most of his $35 million base salary into a bonus to bring the cap hit down.
Let's run through the league's 31 other teams Guess Who-style. I'll start with the teams that either can't or won't trade for Watson, explain why and then eventually work toward the teams that can make a move for the star quarterback and what each of their trade offers might look like:
Teams that wouldn't be interested
Kansas City Chiefs, Seattle Seahawks
The Chiefs have Patrick Mahomes and wouldn't need to pick up the phone. Russell Wilson has a no-trade clause and isn't going anywhere, although a return to Wisconsin could be fun if QB musical chairs happened this offseason. The Packers and Aaron Rodgers were in this section before Sunday, but everything is up in the air with Green Bay after Rodgers' mysterious postgame comments.
Remaining teams: 29 of 31
Teams within the division
Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans
I don't think that there's any chance the Texans would be willing to deal Watson in the division and face him twice a year for the foreseeable future. It's a shame, because the Colts are probably the best landing spot on paper for Watson, and the idea of a trade involving him to the Jags for the No. 1 overall pick (and QB Trevor Lawrence) in the 2021 NFL draft is fascinating.
Remaining teams: 26 of 31
Teams with cap constraints
New Orleans Saints, Philadelphia Eagles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
These teams are each in varying states of cap distress heading into the offseason. Even given Watson's relatively modest $10.5 million cap hold for 2021, the Eagles and Saints don't really have a way to add that much to their cap given their outgoing free agents and current cap construction. The Buccaneers are up against it and committed to Tom Brady in the short term; Brady also has a full no-trade clause.
Remaining teams: 23 of 31
A team that doesn't have enough draft capital
Los Angeles Rams
The Rams could make the cap elements of a Watson trade work if they sent Jared Goff back to Houston, but the Texans would also be looking at a minimum of two first-rounders alongside a quarterback of Goff's stature to get a deal done. The Rams don't have their first-round pick (or several of their late-round selections) in 2021, meaning the Texans would be forced to wait a year before getting their first significant draft pick back from Los Angeles.
That sort of pause probably means that L.A. would need to send three first-rounders and its starting quarterback to get a Goff-for-Watson swap finished. Those are picks it needs to use elsewhere on its roster. The Rams also play in Houston next season, which won't help their case in trying to get a deal like this done.
Remaining teams: 22 of 31
Teams in which Watson could use his no-trade clause
Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions
Watson has a no-trade clause, which will allow him to avoid any options that don't seem particularly appealing. We don't know which teams Watson would insist on avoiding, but it's reasonable to start with a pair of rebuilding teams.
The Bengals weren't able to keep pass pressure off rookie Joe Burrow in 2019. The Lions are starting over as they trade Matthew Stafford; they could package the picks they get for Stafford and use them to make a run at Watson, but Detroit still wouldn't be a desirable destination.
Remaining teams: 20 of 31
Deshaun Watson has a no-trade clause in his five-year, $156 million deal with the Texans, which would give him some control over where he is traded. Carmen Mandato/Getty ImagesTeams that would have to make an impractical swap of QB
Arizona Cardinals, Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills
These are three teams that might prefer Watson to their existing young star under center. If the Texans were interested in a straight one-for-one swap, it's not out of the question that the Cardinals, Ravens and Bills would consider making that move. If the Texans call those teams, they should at least pick up the phone.
Chances are, though, that the Texans would ask for significant draft compensation alongside Kyler Murray, Lamar Jackson or Josh Allen to get a Watson swap done. Jackson and Allen are eligible for new contracts this offseason, and Murray will get one after the 2021 season. Watson for Allen would be one thing, but the Bills probably aren't shipping off a first-round pick alongside Allen to make it happen. Would be a fun challenge trade, though.
Remaining teams: 17 of 31
The 17 teams that could trade for Watson
These are teams that could at least plausibly consider a Watson deal, ranked from least likely to most likely. Let's start with the Packers and work our way down, adding what each of their various trade proposals might look like:
17. Green Bay Packers
Regardless of what the Packers' plan might have been immediately after drafting Jordan Love in Round 1 last April, I thought there was a 0% chance of them trading Aaron Rodgers this offseason after he produced an MVP-caliber season in 2020. It's one thing for the Chargers not to re-sign Drew Brees in 2006 after he injured his shoulder to turn things over to a top-five pick in Philip Rivers, but the Packers would be moving on from a franchise icon and a guy who (likely) just won MVP to hand things over to a quarterback with zero career pass attempts. It took some confidence for general manager Brian Gutekunst and coach Matt LaFleur to take Love in the first round and trust that Rodgers didn't need another receiver this offseason, but trading Rodgers right now would be putting their jobs in the same risk category Bill O'Brien occupied at the end with Houston.
The needle has gone from 0% to maybe 1%. My guess is that Rodgers is posturing to try to get the Packers to make those investments around him that they didn't make last offseason. I'm also in the middle of an exhaustive column about possible trade options a quarterback who looked to be a Texans player for the foreseeable future as recently as a few months ago, so it's impossible to rule anything out.
With that being said, it's tough to make the math in a Rodgers-for-Watson trade work. Watson will cost somewhere around three first-round picks. Rodgers wouldn't cost quite as much because he's 12 years older than Watson, but he would cost at least two first-round picks, if not more. Green Bay could trade Rodgers for two first-rounders and then try to flip those picks to the Texans for Watson, but are they really going to give up on Love before ever seeing him take a regular-season snap? Then again, if they can get Watson, are they going to let Love stand in the way?
The Packers took former Utah State quarterback Jordan Love in the first round in the 2020 draft, and Aaron Rodgers had an MVP season in 2020. Photo by Dan Powers/USA TODAY Sports
Here's a proposal that could work:
Packers send: QB Aaron Rodgers (to 49ers), 30th overall pick in 2021, QB Jordan Love (to Texans)
49ers send: 12th overall pick in 2021, 2022 first-round pick (to Texans), 2022 second-round pick (to Packers), QB Jimmy Garoppolo (to Patriots)
Texans send: QB Deshaun Watson (to Packers), 2022 fourth-round pick (to 49ers)
Patriots send: 142nd overall pick (to 49ers)
Just a classic four-team trade with an MVP bouncing around. Let's unpack this. The 49ers finally get Rodgers after drafting Alex Smith ahead of him all those years ago. They're sending out two first-rounders and a second-rounder and getting a fourth-rounder back from the Texans. This seems like a lot, but we know the 49ers are willing to go over the top to land a player when they really want them. They have to be considered Super Bowl favorites over the next two years if they get Rodgers, and if they win a Super Bowl, nobody will care about the picks they gave up.
They also get a fifth-round pick from the Patriots for Garoppolo, who has a no-trade clause in his deal for 2021 and can limit where he goes. Garoppolo's motivation to accept a trade would be financial, as the former Patriots backup is unlikely to get the $25 million due on his current deal in 2021 if he's cut. The Patriots could play chicken and try to wait for Jimmy G to get cut before signing him to a new deal, but they run the risk of losing him, potentially to a team such as the Texans or Jets. A deal for a late-round pick makes sense for both sides.
The Texans are shipping out Watson and getting a pick haul in return. They get three first-round picks, including the 12th and 30th selections in the 2021 draft. They don't have a clear path toward their quarterback of the future with those selections, so they get one in this trade with Love, who isn't part of Green Bay's future plans if the Packers trade for Watson. Green Bay then gets a late second-rounder for Love, although the pick comes from the 49ers.
The Packers tear up their quarterback room in one fell swoop. They're shipping out their top two passers in Rodgers and Love and the 30th overall pick; in return, they're getting Watson and a second-round selection. Watson gives them a championship-caliber quarterback now and for years to come. If they are going to move on from Rodgers, getting a superstar entering his prime seems like the best way to do it. If this trade happens as depicted, I'm retiring from my job.
16. Chicago Bears
Bears send: 20th and 52nd picks in 2021, 2022 first- and fourth-round picks, 2023 first-round pick, QB Nick Foles
Texans send: 2023 fifth-round pick, QB Deshaun Watson
Frankly, the Bears probably belong on the list of teams I can't see making a Watson trade. This organization didn't even interview Watson before the 2017 draft, when general manager Ryan Pace fell in love with North Carolina quarterback Mitchell Trubisky and traded up to grab the oft-frustrating starter at No. 2 overall. Watson said that he has no hard feelings, but would you want to go play for a team that didn't want you coming out of college?
Even if Watson can look past the prior snub, my bigger concern is that the Bears have the league's worst depth chart at receiver with Allen Robinson hitting free agency. They are already $10.5 million over the cap before re-signing their star wideout or adding Watson, and trading Foles would free up only $1.3 million in room. Chicago went 8-8 this season and made the playoffs, but I'm not sure this team is in better shape than the Texans. Watson might turn down this deal.
15. Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers send: 24th overall pick in 2021, 2022 first-round pick, 2023 third-round pick, OLB T.J. Watt, FB Derek Watt
Texans send: 2023 fifth-round pick, QB Deshaun Watson
Technically, the Steelers can fit Watson under their cap if they were to move on from Ben Roethlisberger, which would free up $19 million in space. (I assume that Roethlisberger would retire if he were traded to another team, making this idea a non-starter.) Pittsburgh is in rough cap shape and needs to use these first-round picks to replace outgoing free agents such as Alejandro Villanueva and Bud Dupree.
The Steelers also need to re-sign their two young defensive stars T.J. Watt and Minkah Fitzpatrick, and this would be a roundabout way of using some of that defensive core to build their future on offense. The chances of the Steelers moving on from Watt and Dupree in the same offseason are basically nil, but Pittsburgh could at least try to use the $10.1 million it saves from trading Watt to work on locking up Dupree. The Texans would reunite the Watt brothers in Houston, something previously only accomplished in sandwich commercials. This one isn't much more than a pipe dream.
14. Cleveland Browns
Browns send: 26th overall pick in 2021, 2022 first-round pick, 2023 fourth-round pick, QB Baker Mayfield, WR Odell Beckham Jr.
Texans send: QB Deshaun Watson
Well, this would be total chaos. The Browns just got Mayfield back on track after a frustrating 2019 and have a big decision to make about extending him on a long-term deal. General manager Andrew Berry was in the building when the Browns drafted Mayfield, but the coach (Hue Jackson) and general manager (John Dorsey) who selected the Oklahoma quarterback are no longer part of the organization. And while Mayfield looked great in December and January, Watson has simply been at a different level during his time as a pro.
It's tough for me to imagine the Browns hitting the reset button on their core after their first playoff win in 26 years, but Watson might be worth it. The Texans would get two first-rounders and both their quarterback of the future and a possible replacement for DeAndre Hopkins in Beckham, who is coming off a torn ACL. This probably is right up there with the T.J. Watt trade; they'll get a little more plausible as we go along.
13. Dallas Cowboys
Cowboys send: 10th overall pick in 2021, 2023 first-round pick, QB Dak Prescott
Texans send: 2023 fourth-round pick, QB Deshaun Watson
In the same way that the Texans don't want to trade Watson within the division, moving their star quarterback to the other team in Texas might be a non-starter. If it isn't, though, there's a logical deal to be made here. The Cowboys haven't been able to come to terms on a long-term extension with Prescott, whose numbers since the start of 2019 aren't far off from Watson's. The Texans probably would be relieved to give Prescott the deal he wants, which would likely be a three-year extension on top of a $37.7 million franchise tag for 2021. Prescott would need to be tagged by the Cowboys, sign the tag and agree to terms on an extension with the Texans to get this deal done.
The Cowboys would get Watson at a cheaper price than the amount it would take to lock up Prescott, and because Prescott might be a like-for-like replacement, they would need to give up only two first-round picks to get the deal done. Watson is also under contract for five more seasons, and the Cowboys would be able to use his $35 million base salary in 2022 to help restructure the deal and defray the cap concerns related to the deal. I don't think Cowboys owner Jerry Jones would mind trying to get a leg up on his in-state rivals, and Watson would step into one of the league's best offenses.
12. New York Giants
Giants send: 11th overall pick in 2021, 2022 first-round pick, 2023 first-round pick, QB Daniel Jones
Texans send: 2023 fourth-round pick, QB Deshaun Watson
Jones showed virtually no growth in his second season, as his numbers stagnated or declined across the board. He missed two-plus games with injuries and led the league in fumbles for the second consecutive season. The best arguments that he's an NFL-caliber starting quarterback consist of his frame and the fact that at least one team thought he was worth the sixth overall pick in the 2019 draft. I'm not sure anybody is higher on Jones than the guy who would be trading him away, Giants general manager Dave Gettleman.
Watson wants out of Houston regardless of coach
Sarah Barshop reports on Deshaun Watson's desire to leave the Texans, saying Houston's next head coach won't change how Watson feels.
Jones is still young enough to improve, but he hasn't been good enough for the Texans to plan their future around him, which leaves the Giants in a bind. Would they be willing to send three first-rounders and Jones to get a deal done? And after seeing one former Pats coach sink his franchise, would Watson want to go play for another Bill Belichick disciple in Joe Judge?
11. Atlanta Falcons
Falcons send: Fourth and 98th overall picks in 2021, 2022 first-round pick, 2023 fifth-round pick, WR Calvin Ridley
Texans send: QB Deshaun Watson
The Falcons have a lot the Texans would want. They would be able to give the Texans the fourth overall pick in April's draft, which Houston could use on its quarterback of the future. They could send Houston's long-term replacement for DeAndre Hopkins in Ridley, who is eligible for an extension this year. A Ridley extension could be too costly for a Falcons team that already has so much invested on offense. Ridley is a valuable player in his own right, and the high draft pick in 2021 keeps the Falcons from needing to offer three first-rounders.
To make the money work, the Falcons wouldn't be able to include Matt Ryan. Atlanta would need to release its starting quarterback with a post-June 1 designation, which would free up $17.5 million in cap space this year. Trading Ryan before June 1 would leave $44.4 million in dead money on Atlanta's cap, a non-starter for a team $33.2 million over the threshold next year. Ryan would seem like a natural fit for the Colts or Patriots in free agency.
10. Minnesota Vikings
Vikings send: 14th and 90th overall picks in 2021, 2022 first-round pick, 2023 first-round pick (to Texans), QB Kirk Cousins (to Patriots)
Texans send: 2023 fourth-round pick, QB Deshaun Watson (to Vikings)
Patriots send: 2022 fifth-round pick, 2023 fifth-round pick, QB Jarrett Stidham (to Texans)
If the Vikings want to get out of Cousins' two-year, $68 million extension and make a massive upgrade at quarterback with Watson, it's going to cost them the full freight price of three first-round picks. They'll also have to swap a third-rounder in 2021 for a fourth-rounder two years from now. The Texans would come away with three first-rounders, although none of them would be higher than the 14th overall selection. New Houston general manager Nick Caserio also would take a flier on Stidham, who got a handful of snaps in garbage time for the Patriots this season.
Minnesota would free up $11 million in cap space by trading Cousins and get away from his 2022 salary, which would guarantee on the third day of the league year, and pencil in Cousins for a $45 million cap hit in 2022. The Vikings would likely need to give Cousins another extension or add voidable years to mitigate that cap number. Trading him would mean that the Patriots would have Cousins on their books for $21 million in 2021 and $35 million in 2022; that's maybe a tad more than what he would get as a free agent, although New England is in a position where it probably would prefer to lock in a high floor at quarterback.
9. Las Vegas Raiders
Raiders send: 17th overall pick in 2021, 2022 first-round pick, 2023 first-round pick, QB Marcus Mariota (to Texans), QB Derek Carr (to Colts)
Texans send: 2022 third-round pick, QB Deshaun Watson (to Raiders)
Colts send: 84th overall pick in 2021 (to Raiders), 2022 fourth-round pick (to Texans)
Back-to-back three-way trades! Do you think Jon Gruden left the broadcast booth to go .500? The Raiders improved for the third consecutive season, but after their disastrous collapse in the fourth quarter against the Dolphins, Gruden's Raiders have yet to post a winning season or make it to the playoffs. Carr has been the least of their problems for most of that stretch, but the 29-year-old wasn't drafted by Gruden and has two years left on his existing deal. The former Bucs coach has stuck with Carr, but he has also had a wandering eye with quarterbacks and glowing things to say about Watson since he entered the league. Watson's mobility and improvisational skills would give the Raiders another element on offense.
Carr wouldn't make much sense for the Texans as they rebuild. Trading Watson to the Colts would be one thing, but a three-way deal where Carr ends up on the Colts wouldn't be as troubling to swallow for Texans fans. (Texans fans might not want another go-round with a member of the Carr family.) The Colts would get a short-term, high-floor solution at quarterback, the Raiders would get the quarterback they need to get over the top, and the Texans would start over with three first-round picks, a midround selection, and the opportunity to buy low on Mariota. This trade doesn't fix Las Vegas' disastrous defense, but it won't matter if Watson and Gruden score enough.
8. Los Angeles Chargers
Chargers send: 13th overall pick in 2021, 2022 second-round pick, 2023 second-round pick, QB Justin Herbert
Texans send: 2023 fourth-round pick, QB Deshaun Watson
As a successful rookie quarterback set to make less than $5 million combined over the next two years before even becoming eligible for an extension, Herbert is one of the most valuable trade pieces in the league. I'm not sure the Chargers can justify attaching even two first-round picks with Herbert given how much flexibility he affords them elsewhere on the roster. Los Angeles realistically needs to use this offseason to grab offensive linemen around him, but if it trades for Watson, it probably doesn't have the cap room to expand the trade out with more first-rounders to try to also include someone such as Laremy Tunsil in the deal.
For a team that was having trouble selling tickets in a soccer stadium, though, Watson gives them a marquee name to build around as the Chargers try to sell season tickets in SoFi Stadium this year. Herbert exceeded expectations as a rookie and looks like a really exciting prospect, but he's not the sort of sure thing that Watson is after a much larger sample of pro passes. Starting over with Herbert would be close to ideal for the Texans, although they probably didn't scout the Oregon product much in 2019 given that they already had their quarterback and didn't have a first-round pick.
7. New York Jets
Jets send: Second and 23rd overall picks in 2021, first-round pick in 2022
Texans send: 2022 sixth-round pick, QB Deshaun Watson
In terms of the draft capital, this is the easiest deal to make. The Texans would be able to draft any quarterback not named Trevor Lawrence with the No. 2 pick. Caserio would probably hold out for the Jets' first-round pick in 2022 as opposed to Seattle's pick, but if they can get a Watson deal done, I don't think Jets general manager Joe Douglas is going to let that stand in the way. The sixth-rounder is a small offering for the Jets making that sacrifice.
Both the teams would be willing to make this deal work. Would Watson, though? The Jets have a franchise left tackle in Mekhi Becton, but the rest of their line is subpar to go with one of the worst receiving corps in football. Watson reportedly wanted the Texans to interview Robert Saleh, but the star quarterback hasn't crossed paths with Saleh for any extended period of time. Most importantly, the Jets have been one of the most dysfunctional franchises in football over the past decade. Is Watson really confident enough in Saleh to come to New York for a Jets team in a seemingly endless rebuild? I would be surprised if it was his first choice.
6. Washington Football Team
Washington sends: 19th and 74th overall picks in 2021, 2022 first- and fourth-round picks, 2023 first-round pick
Texans send: QB Deshaun Watson
Ron Rivera's team went 7-9, but it made the postseason despite starting three different quarterbacks in the regular season and a fourth in the playoffs. Washington is likely to move on from 36-year-old Alex Smith this offseason, and Watson would give it the best chance of controlling a wide-open NFC East again in 2021. This organization has tried to find and retain a superstar quarterback for the entirety of the Daniel Snyder era. Watson would give Washington the passer it has long sought.
The Texans would get three first-round picks and an extra third-rounder for their troubles, but again, there's a legitimate question about the no-trade clause. Watson might not be willing to go to an organization that has spent most of the past two decades in disarray.
5. New England Patriots
Patriots send: 15th overall pick and third-round compensatory selection in 2021 draft, 2022 first-round pick, 2023 second-round pick, CB J.C. Jackson, WR N'Keal Harry
Texans send: 2022 sixth-round pick, QB Deshaun Watson, TE Kahale Warring
Texans fans who are already upset about the Patriots-ization of their franchise would be even more furious to see their star quarterback head to New England. The Patriots might have to go a little over the odds, then, to get a deal done. The Pats would send only two first-round picks as part of this deal, but they would also attach second- and third-round picks and a star cornerback in Jackson, who intercepted nine passes this season. Jackson is a restricted free agent, so the Texans would need to negotiate a new deal with Jackson as part of the trade. Harry would be a flier after two disappointing seasons since being drafted in the first round.
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This is a trade totally unlike anything the Patriots have ever done under Bill Belichick, but they've never had this sort of need for a player at the most critical position on the roster. Jarrett Stidham, a fourth-round pick in 2019, hasn't looked like a viable answer. Belichick is already the most successful coach in modern league history, but he isn't getting any younger. Neither is team owner Robert Kraft. Their quickest path to another Super Bowl is getting a superstar quarterback.
4. Denver Broncos
Broncos send: Ninth and 40th overall picks in 2021, 2022 first-round pick, 2023 second-round pick, WR Tim Patrick, QB Drew Lock
Texans send: 2022 fourth-round pick, QB Deshaun Watson
Incoming general manager George Paton has said kind things about Lock, but the Missouri product hasn't shown much more than glimpses of promise over his first 18 pro starts. The Broncos have also surrounded Lock with talent, so it's hard to believe that he's about to make a Josh Allen-esque leap by adding more pieces this upcoming offseason. Anything is possible, but the Broncos aren't going to let Lock get in the way of a Watson trade if they decide the price is right.
This would be a pretty massive haul, with Denver shipping off two first-round picks (including a top-10 pick in 2021), two second-rounders and two players. Lock would be the favorite to start in Houston in 2021, while Patrick is a restricted free agent who impressed while Courtland Sutton was out this season. With Sutton, Jerry Jeudy and KJ Hamler in the fold, it's difficult to see the Broncos making a big commitment to Patrick.
They might consider themselves to be a playoff team if they can get great quarterback play, and Watson would be their marquee name as they likely move on from Von Miller this offseason. Paton spent his time in Minnesota working for a great team that didn't always have great quarterback play. He could rectify that problem with his first big move.
3. San Francisco 49ers
49ers send: 12th overall pick in 2021, 2022 first- and second-round picks (to Texans), 2023 third-round pick, S Tarvarius Moore, QB Jimmy Garoppolo (to Jets)
Jets send: QB Sam Darnold (to Texans), 2022 fifth-round pick (to 49ers)
Texans send: QB Deshaun Watson (to 49ers)
The 49ers can credibly suggest that they're Super Bowl contenders if they add Watson, who would be moving into a quarterback-friendly scheme with weapons galore. They might be in position to add a passer on a rookie deal, but Watson would be a bet that they can outscore anybody on offense. This would be a huge package, including four draft picks and two veterans, but general manager John Lynch and coach Kyle Shanahan haven't been shy about paying over the odds for the guys they want. If they want Watson, they aren't going to let a price tag get in the way.
Garoppolo has two years and about $50.4 million remaining on his deal, and given his recent injury history, he doesn't have much trade value beyond a midround pick. He's not much use to a rebuilding Texans team, although Caserio & Co. certainly know him from their time in New England. The Jets would seem like a curious choice, but Robert Saleh just spent three years with Garoppolo (and Moore) in San Francisco. The Jets could buy low on Garoppolo if they don't like any of the quarterbacks in April's draft class and then use the second overall pick on a wide receiver such as Ja'Marr Chase or DeVonta Smith.
49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo doesn't have any guaranteed money left on his contract, which means San Francisco could part ways with him this offseason. Photo by Kevin Jairaj/USA TODAY Sports
The Texans would be a more logical fit for Darnold, who is still on a rookie deal and looking for a fresh start after three disappointing seasons in New York. They would still pick up the 12th pick in 2021 to add a weapon for Darnold or help on defense to go along with San Francisco's top two picks in 2022. Houston might hope for more of a sure thing than the former USC star, but there are only a handful of sure things at quarterback in the NFL, and one of them is Watson.
2. Carolina Panthers
Panthers send: Eighth and 39th overall picks in 2021, 2022 first-round pick, 2023 first-round pick, QB Teddy Bridgewater
Texans send: 2022 third-round pick, 2023 fourth-round pick, QB Deshaun Watson
The Panthers probably aren't in position to get the quarterback of their dreams at No. 8, which means they'll either need to trade up a few spots or make a massive deal for Watson. This would be a dramatic move for Matt Rhule and new general manager Scott Fitterer, but Carolina was frustrated with Bridgewater by the end of the season and might be inclined to swap draft capital for a long-term solution at the most important position in sports.
The Panthers would send their next three first-round picks and a second-rounder to the Texans, who also would get a year of Bridgewater at $18 million before having to decide whether to move ahead with him in 2022 for $21 million.
1. Miami Dolphins
Dolphins send: Third, 36th and 113th picks in 2021, 2022 first-round pick, 2023 fourth-round pick (to Texans), QB Tua Tagovailoa (to Bears)
Texans send: QB Deshaun Watson, G Senio Kelemete, 2022 third-round pick (to Dolphins)
Bears send: 20th overall pick in 2021 (to Texans), 2022 fourth-round pick, 2023 conditional pick (to Dolphins)
The most obvious trade partners for Watson are in Miami, given the possibility of getting a sure thing at quarterback for the Dolphins and the massive amount of draft capital they can send back to the Texans. That's clear. Finding the exact parameters of a trade that works is tougher. The Texans will want three first-round picks and for one of those picks to be the selection they sent to the Dolphins in the Tunsil trade, which now sits as the No. 3 overall pick. They will also probably want Tagovailoa, who is of little use to the Dolphins if they trade for Watson.
It's possible that the Dolphins just say that they're willing to give up whatever it takes to get Watson and make the deal, but that would be too much. The third overall pick alone could turn into multiple first-rounders from a team looking to grab a quarterback. Tagovailoa was the fifth overall pick a year ago, and while he struggled in 2021, that was in a COVID-abbreviated offseason coming off hip surgery. The Dolphins aren't going to treat Tagovailoa like he's Josh Rosen when it comes to trade value.
I'm also not sure the Texans would automatically accept Tagovailoa as part of a deal. Again, given that they didn't have a first-round pick and didn't anticipate that they would be replacing Watson, I'm guessing that they didn't do much more than the most basic due diligence on the Alabama star during his final year in school. They might prefer to draft a quarterback with the No. 3 pick and start over as opposed to inheriting Tagovailoa and using that pick on a receiver.
By introducing the Bears, we can make a more logical deal. The Texans get three first-rounders, including the No. 3 selection from the Fins and the 20th pick from the Bears. The Dolphins get Watson and Kelemete, who would represent interior line depth for a team that needs the help up front. Miami still has its own first- and second-round picks to add weapons for Watson, but it's in position to compete for the AFC East immediately.
The Bears send their first-round pick and a future fourth-rounder to start over at quarterback with Tagovailoa, who would be the low-cost option they need as they try to retain an expensive veteran core. He would be due about $10 million guaranteed over the next three seasons, and his ability to throw on the run would play up under Matt Nagy. Tagovailoa might just turn out to be the next Trubisky, but the Bears don't have many other options under center. Miami would get a conditional pick in 2023 if Tagovailoa emerges as a star.
6:50 AM ET
- Bill BarnwellESPN Staff Writer
Let me start by stating my feelings clearly: I don't think the Houston Texans should trade Deshaun Watson. The whole point of owning an NFL franchise, outside of making gobs of money as your team's value inflates, is to hopefully end up with a quarterback like Watson. In addition to his considerable talents, he is a pillar in the Houston community. If he wanted to leave, I would strongly encourage Cal McNair to do what it takes to get Watson to change how he feels. A trade should only be the absolute last resort.
If the Texans decide that they have no choice but to trade Watson, though, we should talk about what those deals might look like and which teams might be involved. Quarterbacks as good as Watson simply don't get traded at age 25. The closest thing we can come up with -- please don't laugh -- is Jay Cutler, who was a Pro Bowler in his age-25 season in 2008 before forcing through a trade to the Bears. Chicago sent two first-round picks, a third-rounder and Kyle Orton to Denver for Cutler and a fifth-round pick.
More recently, we've seen players approaching the end of their rookie contracts, such as Khalil Mack, Laremy Tunsil, Jalen Ramsey and Jamal Adams, move teams for packages built around two first-round picks. None of those guys are quarterbacks. Watson would cost more. When ESPN's Jeremy Fowler asked NFL executives about a possible Watson deal, the asking price revolved around three first-round picks. Our deals here will use three first-rounders as the baseline, although the price tag might be more or less than that mark for specific contracts depending upon who else gets included and where those first-rounders fall.
By my count, about half of the league can at least credibly consider making a Watson deal. In part, that's because the Texans already have paid his $27 million signing bonus and structured his deal to keep his 2020 and 2021 cap hits low. If the Texans trade Watson, he will have only a $10.5 million cap hit in 2021, which just about every team in the league can afford. That number jumps to $40.4 million in 2022, but the acquiring team can convert most of his $35 million base salary into a bonus to bring the cap hit down.
Let's run through the league's 31 other teams Guess Who-style. I'll start with the teams that either can't or won't trade for Watson, explain why and then eventually work toward the teams that can make a move for the star quarterback and what each of their trade offers might look like:
Jump to:
ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN
CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | IND | JAX
KC | LAC | LAR | LV | MIA | MIN | NE
NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SF | SEA
TB | TEN | WSH
ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN
CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | IND | JAX
KC | LAC | LAR | LV | MIA | MIN | NE
NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SF | SEA
TB | TEN | WSH
Teams that wouldn't be interested
Kansas City Chiefs, Seattle Seahawks
The Chiefs have Patrick Mahomes and wouldn't need to pick up the phone. Russell Wilson has a no-trade clause and isn't going anywhere, although a return to Wisconsin could be fun if QB musical chairs happened this offseason. The Packers and Aaron Rodgers were in this section before Sunday, but everything is up in the air with Green Bay after Rodgers' mysterious postgame comments.
Remaining teams: 29 of 31
Teams within the division
Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans
I don't think that there's any chance the Texans would be willing to deal Watson in the division and face him twice a year for the foreseeable future. It's a shame, because the Colts are probably the best landing spot on paper for Watson, and the idea of a trade involving him to the Jags for the No. 1 overall pick (and QB Trevor Lawrence) in the 2021 NFL draft is fascinating.
Remaining teams: 26 of 31
Teams with cap constraints
New Orleans Saints, Philadelphia Eagles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
These teams are each in varying states of cap distress heading into the offseason. Even given Watson's relatively modest $10.5 million cap hold for 2021, the Eagles and Saints don't really have a way to add that much to their cap given their outgoing free agents and current cap construction. The Buccaneers are up against it and committed to Tom Brady in the short term; Brady also has a full no-trade clause.
Remaining teams: 23 of 31
A team that doesn't have enough draft capital
Los Angeles Rams
The Rams could make the cap elements of a Watson trade work if they sent Jared Goff back to Houston, but the Texans would also be looking at a minimum of two first-rounders alongside a quarterback of Goff's stature to get a deal done. The Rams don't have their first-round pick (or several of their late-round selections) in 2021, meaning the Texans would be forced to wait a year before getting their first significant draft pick back from Los Angeles.
That sort of pause probably means that L.A. would need to send three first-rounders and its starting quarterback to get a Goff-for-Watson swap finished. Those are picks it needs to use elsewhere on its roster. The Rams also play in Houston next season, which won't help their case in trying to get a deal like this done.
Remaining teams: 22 of 31
Teams in which Watson could use his no-trade clause
Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions
Watson has a no-trade clause, which will allow him to avoid any options that don't seem particularly appealing. We don't know which teams Watson would insist on avoiding, but it's reasonable to start with a pair of rebuilding teams.
The Bengals weren't able to keep pass pressure off rookie Joe Burrow in 2019. The Lions are starting over as they trade Matthew Stafford; they could package the picks they get for Stafford and use them to make a run at Watson, but Detroit still wouldn't be a desirable destination.
Remaining teams: 20 of 31
Deshaun Watson has a no-trade clause in his five-year, $156 million deal with the Texans, which would give him some control over where he is traded. Carmen Mandato/Getty ImagesTeams that would have to make an impractical swap of QB
Arizona Cardinals, Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills
These are three teams that might prefer Watson to their existing young star under center. If the Texans were interested in a straight one-for-one swap, it's not out of the question that the Cardinals, Ravens and Bills would consider making that move. If the Texans call those teams, they should at least pick up the phone.
Chances are, though, that the Texans would ask for significant draft compensation alongside Kyler Murray, Lamar Jackson or Josh Allen to get a Watson swap done. Jackson and Allen are eligible for new contracts this offseason, and Murray will get one after the 2021 season. Watson for Allen would be one thing, but the Bills probably aren't shipping off a first-round pick alongside Allen to make it happen. Would be a fun challenge trade, though.
Remaining teams: 17 of 31
The 17 teams that could trade for Watson
These are teams that could at least plausibly consider a Watson deal, ranked from least likely to most likely. Let's start with the Packers and work our way down, adding what each of their various trade proposals might look like:
17. Green Bay Packers
Regardless of what the Packers' plan might have been immediately after drafting Jordan Love in Round 1 last April, I thought there was a 0% chance of them trading Aaron Rodgers this offseason after he produced an MVP-caliber season in 2020. It's one thing for the Chargers not to re-sign Drew Brees in 2006 after he injured his shoulder to turn things over to a top-five pick in Philip Rivers, but the Packers would be moving on from a franchise icon and a guy who (likely) just won MVP to hand things over to a quarterback with zero career pass attempts. It took some confidence for general manager Brian Gutekunst and coach Matt LaFleur to take Love in the first round and trust that Rodgers didn't need another receiver this offseason, but trading Rodgers right now would be putting their jobs in the same risk category Bill O'Brien occupied at the end with Houston.
The needle has gone from 0% to maybe 1%. My guess is that Rodgers is posturing to try to get the Packers to make those investments around him that they didn't make last offseason. I'm also in the middle of an exhaustive column about possible trade options a quarterback who looked to be a Texans player for the foreseeable future as recently as a few months ago, so it's impossible to rule anything out.
With that being said, it's tough to make the math in a Rodgers-for-Watson trade work. Watson will cost somewhere around three first-round picks. Rodgers wouldn't cost quite as much because he's 12 years older than Watson, but he would cost at least two first-round picks, if not more. Green Bay could trade Rodgers for two first-rounders and then try to flip those picks to the Texans for Watson, but are they really going to give up on Love before ever seeing him take a regular-season snap? Then again, if they can get Watson, are they going to let Love stand in the way?
The Packers took former Utah State quarterback Jordan Love in the first round in the 2020 draft, and Aaron Rodgers had an MVP season in 2020. Photo by Dan Powers/USA TODAY Sports
Here's a proposal that could work:
Packers send: QB Aaron Rodgers (to 49ers), 30th overall pick in 2021, QB Jordan Love (to Texans)
49ers send: 12th overall pick in 2021, 2022 first-round pick (to Texans), 2022 second-round pick (to Packers), QB Jimmy Garoppolo (to Patriots)
Texans send: QB Deshaun Watson (to Packers), 2022 fourth-round pick (to 49ers)
Patriots send: 142nd overall pick (to 49ers)
Just a classic four-team trade with an MVP bouncing around. Let's unpack this. The 49ers finally get Rodgers after drafting Alex Smith ahead of him all those years ago. They're sending out two first-rounders and a second-rounder and getting a fourth-rounder back from the Texans. This seems like a lot, but we know the 49ers are willing to go over the top to land a player when they really want them. They have to be considered Super Bowl favorites over the next two years if they get Rodgers, and if they win a Super Bowl, nobody will care about the picks they gave up.
They also get a fifth-round pick from the Patriots for Garoppolo, who has a no-trade clause in his deal for 2021 and can limit where he goes. Garoppolo's motivation to accept a trade would be financial, as the former Patriots backup is unlikely to get the $25 million due on his current deal in 2021 if he's cut. The Patriots could play chicken and try to wait for Jimmy G to get cut before signing him to a new deal, but they run the risk of losing him, potentially to a team such as the Texans or Jets. A deal for a late-round pick makes sense for both sides.
The Texans are shipping out Watson and getting a pick haul in return. They get three first-round picks, including the 12th and 30th selections in the 2021 draft. They don't have a clear path toward their quarterback of the future with those selections, so they get one in this trade with Love, who isn't part of Green Bay's future plans if the Packers trade for Watson. Green Bay then gets a late second-rounder for Love, although the pick comes from the 49ers.
The Packers tear up their quarterback room in one fell swoop. They're shipping out their top two passers in Rodgers and Love and the 30th overall pick; in return, they're getting Watson and a second-round selection. Watson gives them a championship-caliber quarterback now and for years to come. If they are going to move on from Rodgers, getting a superstar entering his prime seems like the best way to do it. If this trade happens as depicted, I'm retiring from my job.
16. Chicago Bears
Bears send: 20th and 52nd picks in 2021, 2022 first- and fourth-round picks, 2023 first-round pick, QB Nick Foles
Texans send: 2023 fifth-round pick, QB Deshaun Watson
Frankly, the Bears probably belong on the list of teams I can't see making a Watson trade. This organization didn't even interview Watson before the 2017 draft, when general manager Ryan Pace fell in love with North Carolina quarterback Mitchell Trubisky and traded up to grab the oft-frustrating starter at No. 2 overall. Watson said that he has no hard feelings, but would you want to go play for a team that didn't want you coming out of college?
Even if Watson can look past the prior snub, my bigger concern is that the Bears have the league's worst depth chart at receiver with Allen Robinson hitting free agency. They are already $10.5 million over the cap before re-signing their star wideout or adding Watson, and trading Foles would free up only $1.3 million in room. Chicago went 8-8 this season and made the playoffs, but I'm not sure this team is in better shape than the Texans. Watson might turn down this deal.
15. Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers send: 24th overall pick in 2021, 2022 first-round pick, 2023 third-round pick, OLB T.J. Watt, FB Derek Watt
Texans send: 2023 fifth-round pick, QB Deshaun Watson
Technically, the Steelers can fit Watson under their cap if they were to move on from Ben Roethlisberger, which would free up $19 million in space. (I assume that Roethlisberger would retire if he were traded to another team, making this idea a non-starter.) Pittsburgh is in rough cap shape and needs to use these first-round picks to replace outgoing free agents such as Alejandro Villanueva and Bud Dupree.
The Steelers also need to re-sign their two young defensive stars T.J. Watt and Minkah Fitzpatrick, and this would be a roundabout way of using some of that defensive core to build their future on offense. The chances of the Steelers moving on from Watt and Dupree in the same offseason are basically nil, but Pittsburgh could at least try to use the $10.1 million it saves from trading Watt to work on locking up Dupree. The Texans would reunite the Watt brothers in Houston, something previously only accomplished in sandwich commercials. This one isn't much more than a pipe dream.
14. Cleveland Browns
Browns send: 26th overall pick in 2021, 2022 first-round pick, 2023 fourth-round pick, QB Baker Mayfield, WR Odell Beckham Jr.
Texans send: QB Deshaun Watson
Well, this would be total chaos. The Browns just got Mayfield back on track after a frustrating 2019 and have a big decision to make about extending him on a long-term deal. General manager Andrew Berry was in the building when the Browns drafted Mayfield, but the coach (Hue Jackson) and general manager (John Dorsey) who selected the Oklahoma quarterback are no longer part of the organization. And while Mayfield looked great in December and January, Watson has simply been at a different level during his time as a pro.
It's tough for me to imagine the Browns hitting the reset button on their core after their first playoff win in 26 years, but Watson might be worth it. The Texans would get two first-rounders and both their quarterback of the future and a possible replacement for DeAndre Hopkins in Beckham, who is coming off a torn ACL. This probably is right up there with the T.J. Watt trade; they'll get a little more plausible as we go along.
13. Dallas Cowboys
Cowboys send: 10th overall pick in 2021, 2023 first-round pick, QB Dak Prescott
Texans send: 2023 fourth-round pick, QB Deshaun Watson
In the same way that the Texans don't want to trade Watson within the division, moving their star quarterback to the other team in Texas might be a non-starter. If it isn't, though, there's a logical deal to be made here. The Cowboys haven't been able to come to terms on a long-term extension with Prescott, whose numbers since the start of 2019 aren't far off from Watson's. The Texans probably would be relieved to give Prescott the deal he wants, which would likely be a three-year extension on top of a $37.7 million franchise tag for 2021. Prescott would need to be tagged by the Cowboys, sign the tag and agree to terms on an extension with the Texans to get this deal done.
The Cowboys would get Watson at a cheaper price than the amount it would take to lock up Prescott, and because Prescott might be a like-for-like replacement, they would need to give up only two first-round picks to get the deal done. Watson is also under contract for five more seasons, and the Cowboys would be able to use his $35 million base salary in 2022 to help restructure the deal and defray the cap concerns related to the deal. I don't think Cowboys owner Jerry Jones would mind trying to get a leg up on his in-state rivals, and Watson would step into one of the league's best offenses.
12. New York Giants
Giants send: 11th overall pick in 2021, 2022 first-round pick, 2023 first-round pick, QB Daniel Jones
Texans send: 2023 fourth-round pick, QB Deshaun Watson
Jones showed virtually no growth in his second season, as his numbers stagnated or declined across the board. He missed two-plus games with injuries and led the league in fumbles for the second consecutive season. The best arguments that he's an NFL-caliber starting quarterback consist of his frame and the fact that at least one team thought he was worth the sixth overall pick in the 2019 draft. I'm not sure anybody is higher on Jones than the guy who would be trading him away, Giants general manager Dave Gettleman.
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Jones is still young enough to improve, but he hasn't been good enough for the Texans to plan their future around him, which leaves the Giants in a bind. Would they be willing to send three first-rounders and Jones to get a deal done? And after seeing one former Pats coach sink his franchise, would Watson want to go play for another Bill Belichick disciple in Joe Judge?
11. Atlanta Falcons
Falcons send: Fourth and 98th overall picks in 2021, 2022 first-round pick, 2023 fifth-round pick, WR Calvin Ridley
Texans send: QB Deshaun Watson
The Falcons have a lot the Texans would want. They would be able to give the Texans the fourth overall pick in April's draft, which Houston could use on its quarterback of the future. They could send Houston's long-term replacement for DeAndre Hopkins in Ridley, who is eligible for an extension this year. A Ridley extension could be too costly for a Falcons team that already has so much invested on offense. Ridley is a valuable player in his own right, and the high draft pick in 2021 keeps the Falcons from needing to offer three first-rounders.
To make the money work, the Falcons wouldn't be able to include Matt Ryan. Atlanta would need to release its starting quarterback with a post-June 1 designation, which would free up $17.5 million in cap space this year. Trading Ryan before June 1 would leave $44.4 million in dead money on Atlanta's cap, a non-starter for a team $33.2 million over the threshold next year. Ryan would seem like a natural fit for the Colts or Patriots in free agency.
10. Minnesota Vikings
Vikings send: 14th and 90th overall picks in 2021, 2022 first-round pick, 2023 first-round pick (to Texans), QB Kirk Cousins (to Patriots)
Texans send: 2023 fourth-round pick, QB Deshaun Watson (to Vikings)
Patriots send: 2022 fifth-round pick, 2023 fifth-round pick, QB Jarrett Stidham (to Texans)
If the Vikings want to get out of Cousins' two-year, $68 million extension and make a massive upgrade at quarterback with Watson, it's going to cost them the full freight price of three first-round picks. They'll also have to swap a third-rounder in 2021 for a fourth-rounder two years from now. The Texans would come away with three first-rounders, although none of them would be higher than the 14th overall selection. New Houston general manager Nick Caserio also would take a flier on Stidham, who got a handful of snaps in garbage time for the Patriots this season.
Minnesota would free up $11 million in cap space by trading Cousins and get away from his 2022 salary, which would guarantee on the third day of the league year, and pencil in Cousins for a $45 million cap hit in 2022. The Vikings would likely need to give Cousins another extension or add voidable years to mitigate that cap number. Trading him would mean that the Patriots would have Cousins on their books for $21 million in 2021 and $35 million in 2022; that's maybe a tad more than what he would get as a free agent, although New England is in a position where it probably would prefer to lock in a high floor at quarterback.
9. Las Vegas Raiders
Raiders send: 17th overall pick in 2021, 2022 first-round pick, 2023 first-round pick, QB Marcus Mariota (to Texans), QB Derek Carr (to Colts)
Texans send: 2022 third-round pick, QB Deshaun Watson (to Raiders)
Colts send: 84th overall pick in 2021 (to Raiders), 2022 fourth-round pick (to Texans)
Back-to-back three-way trades! Do you think Jon Gruden left the broadcast booth to go .500? The Raiders improved for the third consecutive season, but after their disastrous collapse in the fourth quarter against the Dolphins, Gruden's Raiders have yet to post a winning season or make it to the playoffs. Carr has been the least of their problems for most of that stretch, but the 29-year-old wasn't drafted by Gruden and has two years left on his existing deal. The former Bucs coach has stuck with Carr, but he has also had a wandering eye with quarterbacks and glowing things to say about Watson since he entered the league. Watson's mobility and improvisational skills would give the Raiders another element on offense.
Carr wouldn't make much sense for the Texans as they rebuild. Trading Watson to the Colts would be one thing, but a three-way deal where Carr ends up on the Colts wouldn't be as troubling to swallow for Texans fans. (Texans fans might not want another go-round with a member of the Carr family.) The Colts would get a short-term, high-floor solution at quarterback, the Raiders would get the quarterback they need to get over the top, and the Texans would start over with three first-round picks, a midround selection, and the opportunity to buy low on Mariota. This trade doesn't fix Las Vegas' disastrous defense, but it won't matter if Watson and Gruden score enough.
8. Los Angeles Chargers
Chargers send: 13th overall pick in 2021, 2022 second-round pick, 2023 second-round pick, QB Justin Herbert
Texans send: 2023 fourth-round pick, QB Deshaun Watson
As a successful rookie quarterback set to make less than $5 million combined over the next two years before even becoming eligible for an extension, Herbert is one of the most valuable trade pieces in the league. I'm not sure the Chargers can justify attaching even two first-round picks with Herbert given how much flexibility he affords them elsewhere on the roster. Los Angeles realistically needs to use this offseason to grab offensive linemen around him, but if it trades for Watson, it probably doesn't have the cap room to expand the trade out with more first-rounders to try to also include someone such as Laremy Tunsil in the deal.
For a team that was having trouble selling tickets in a soccer stadium, though, Watson gives them a marquee name to build around as the Chargers try to sell season tickets in SoFi Stadium this year. Herbert exceeded expectations as a rookie and looks like a really exciting prospect, but he's not the sort of sure thing that Watson is after a much larger sample of pro passes. Starting over with Herbert would be close to ideal for the Texans, although they probably didn't scout the Oregon product much in 2019 given that they already had their quarterback and didn't have a first-round pick.
7. New York Jets
Jets send: Second and 23rd overall picks in 2021, first-round pick in 2022
Texans send: 2022 sixth-round pick, QB Deshaun Watson
In terms of the draft capital, this is the easiest deal to make. The Texans would be able to draft any quarterback not named Trevor Lawrence with the No. 2 pick. Caserio would probably hold out for the Jets' first-round pick in 2022 as opposed to Seattle's pick, but if they can get a Watson deal done, I don't think Jets general manager Joe Douglas is going to let that stand in the way. The sixth-rounder is a small offering for the Jets making that sacrifice.
Both the teams would be willing to make this deal work. Would Watson, though? The Jets have a franchise left tackle in Mekhi Becton, but the rest of their line is subpar to go with one of the worst receiving corps in football. Watson reportedly wanted the Texans to interview Robert Saleh, but the star quarterback hasn't crossed paths with Saleh for any extended period of time. Most importantly, the Jets have been one of the most dysfunctional franchises in football over the past decade. Is Watson really confident enough in Saleh to come to New York for a Jets team in a seemingly endless rebuild? I would be surprised if it was his first choice.
6. Washington Football Team
Washington sends: 19th and 74th overall picks in 2021, 2022 first- and fourth-round picks, 2023 first-round pick
Texans send: QB Deshaun Watson
Ron Rivera's team went 7-9, but it made the postseason despite starting three different quarterbacks in the regular season and a fourth in the playoffs. Washington is likely to move on from 36-year-old Alex Smith this offseason, and Watson would give it the best chance of controlling a wide-open NFC East again in 2021. This organization has tried to find and retain a superstar quarterback for the entirety of the Daniel Snyder era. Watson would give Washington the passer it has long sought.
The Texans would get three first-round picks and an extra third-rounder for their troubles, but again, there's a legitimate question about the no-trade clause. Watson might not be willing to go to an organization that has spent most of the past two decades in disarray.
5. New England Patriots
Patriots send: 15th overall pick and third-round compensatory selection in 2021 draft, 2022 first-round pick, 2023 second-round pick, CB J.C. Jackson, WR N'Keal Harry
Texans send: 2022 sixth-round pick, QB Deshaun Watson, TE Kahale Warring
Texans fans who are already upset about the Patriots-ization of their franchise would be even more furious to see their star quarterback head to New England. The Patriots might have to go a little over the odds, then, to get a deal done. The Pats would send only two first-round picks as part of this deal, but they would also attach second- and third-round picks and a star cornerback in Jackson, who intercepted nine passes this season. Jackson is a restricted free agent, so the Texans would need to negotiate a new deal with Jackson as part of the trade. Harry would be a flier after two disappointing seasons since being drafted in the first round.
Max, Stephen A. slam Texans for situation with Deshaun Watson
Max Kellerman and Stephen A. Smith break down how the Texans have fractured the relationship with Deshaun Watson, their franchise quarterback.
This is a trade totally unlike anything the Patriots have ever done under Bill Belichick, but they've never had this sort of need for a player at the most critical position on the roster. Jarrett Stidham, a fourth-round pick in 2019, hasn't looked like a viable answer. Belichick is already the most successful coach in modern league history, but he isn't getting any younger. Neither is team owner Robert Kraft. Their quickest path to another Super Bowl is getting a superstar quarterback.
4. Denver Broncos
Broncos send: Ninth and 40th overall picks in 2021, 2022 first-round pick, 2023 second-round pick, WR Tim Patrick, QB Drew Lock
Texans send: 2022 fourth-round pick, QB Deshaun Watson
Incoming general manager George Paton has said kind things about Lock, but the Missouri product hasn't shown much more than glimpses of promise over his first 18 pro starts. The Broncos have also surrounded Lock with talent, so it's hard to believe that he's about to make a Josh Allen-esque leap by adding more pieces this upcoming offseason. Anything is possible, but the Broncos aren't going to let Lock get in the way of a Watson trade if they decide the price is right.
This would be a pretty massive haul, with Denver shipping off two first-round picks (including a top-10 pick in 2021), two second-rounders and two players. Lock would be the favorite to start in Houston in 2021, while Patrick is a restricted free agent who impressed while Courtland Sutton was out this season. With Sutton, Jerry Jeudy and KJ Hamler in the fold, it's difficult to see the Broncos making a big commitment to Patrick.
They might consider themselves to be a playoff team if they can get great quarterback play, and Watson would be their marquee name as they likely move on from Von Miller this offseason. Paton spent his time in Minnesota working for a great team that didn't always have great quarterback play. He could rectify that problem with his first big move.
3. San Francisco 49ers
49ers send: 12th overall pick in 2021, 2022 first- and second-round picks (to Texans), 2023 third-round pick, S Tarvarius Moore, QB Jimmy Garoppolo (to Jets)
Jets send: QB Sam Darnold (to Texans), 2022 fifth-round pick (to 49ers)
Texans send: QB Deshaun Watson (to 49ers)
The 49ers can credibly suggest that they're Super Bowl contenders if they add Watson, who would be moving into a quarterback-friendly scheme with weapons galore. They might be in position to add a passer on a rookie deal, but Watson would be a bet that they can outscore anybody on offense. This would be a huge package, including four draft picks and two veterans, but general manager John Lynch and coach Kyle Shanahan haven't been shy about paying over the odds for the guys they want. If they want Watson, they aren't going to let a price tag get in the way.
Garoppolo has two years and about $50.4 million remaining on his deal, and given his recent injury history, he doesn't have much trade value beyond a midround pick. He's not much use to a rebuilding Texans team, although Caserio & Co. certainly know him from their time in New England. The Jets would seem like a curious choice, but Robert Saleh just spent three years with Garoppolo (and Moore) in San Francisco. The Jets could buy low on Garoppolo if they don't like any of the quarterbacks in April's draft class and then use the second overall pick on a wide receiver such as Ja'Marr Chase or DeVonta Smith.
49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo doesn't have any guaranteed money left on his contract, which means San Francisco could part ways with him this offseason. Photo by Kevin Jairaj/USA TODAY Sports
The Texans would be a more logical fit for Darnold, who is still on a rookie deal and looking for a fresh start after three disappointing seasons in New York. They would still pick up the 12th pick in 2021 to add a weapon for Darnold or help on defense to go along with San Francisco's top two picks in 2022. Houston might hope for more of a sure thing than the former USC star, but there are only a handful of sure things at quarterback in the NFL, and one of them is Watson.
2. Carolina Panthers
Panthers send: Eighth and 39th overall picks in 2021, 2022 first-round pick, 2023 first-round pick, QB Teddy Bridgewater
Texans send: 2022 third-round pick, 2023 fourth-round pick, QB Deshaun Watson
The Panthers probably aren't in position to get the quarterback of their dreams at No. 8, which means they'll either need to trade up a few spots or make a massive deal for Watson. This would be a dramatic move for Matt Rhule and new general manager Scott Fitterer, but Carolina was frustrated with Bridgewater by the end of the season and might be inclined to swap draft capital for a long-term solution at the most important position in sports.
The Panthers would send their next three first-round picks and a second-rounder to the Texans, who also would get a year of Bridgewater at $18 million before having to decide whether to move ahead with him in 2022 for $21 million.
1. Miami Dolphins
Dolphins send: Third, 36th and 113th picks in 2021, 2022 first-round pick, 2023 fourth-round pick (to Texans), QB Tua Tagovailoa (to Bears)
Texans send: QB Deshaun Watson, G Senio Kelemete, 2022 third-round pick (to Dolphins)
Bears send: 20th overall pick in 2021 (to Texans), 2022 fourth-round pick, 2023 conditional pick (to Dolphins)
The most obvious trade partners for Watson are in Miami, given the possibility of getting a sure thing at quarterback for the Dolphins and the massive amount of draft capital they can send back to the Texans. That's clear. Finding the exact parameters of a trade that works is tougher. The Texans will want three first-round picks and for one of those picks to be the selection they sent to the Dolphins in the Tunsil trade, which now sits as the No. 3 overall pick. They will also probably want Tagovailoa, who is of little use to the Dolphins if they trade for Watson.
It's possible that the Dolphins just say that they're willing to give up whatever it takes to get Watson and make the deal, but that would be too much. The third overall pick alone could turn into multiple first-rounders from a team looking to grab a quarterback. Tagovailoa was the fifth overall pick a year ago, and while he struggled in 2021, that was in a COVID-abbreviated offseason coming off hip surgery. The Dolphins aren't going to treat Tagovailoa like he's Josh Rosen when it comes to trade value.
I'm also not sure the Texans would automatically accept Tagovailoa as part of a deal. Again, given that they didn't have a first-round pick and didn't anticipate that they would be replacing Watson, I'm guessing that they didn't do much more than the most basic due diligence on the Alabama star during his final year in school. They might prefer to draft a quarterback with the No. 3 pick and start over as opposed to inheriting Tagovailoa and using that pick on a receiver.
By introducing the Bears, we can make a more logical deal. The Texans get three first-rounders, including the No. 3 selection from the Fins and the 20th pick from the Bears. The Dolphins get Watson and Kelemete, who would represent interior line depth for a team that needs the help up front. Miami still has its own first- and second-round picks to add weapons for Watson, but it's in position to compete for the AFC East immediately.
The Bears send their first-round pick and a future fourth-rounder to start over at quarterback with Tagovailoa, who would be the low-cost option they need as they try to retain an expensive veteran core. He would be due about $10 million guaranteed over the next three seasons, and his ability to throw on the run would play up under Matt Nagy. Tagovailoa might just turn out to be the next Trubisky, but the Bears don't have many other options under center. Miami would get a conditional pick in 2023 if Tagovailoa emerges as a star.
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Sources: Texans hiring Culley as head coach
The Texans have hired Ravens assistant David Culley to be their next head coach, sources told ESPN, confirming a report by the Houston Chronicle.
Houston Texans hire Baltimore Ravens' David Culley as head coach, sources say
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- Sarah BarshopESPN Staff Writer
HOUSTON -- The Houston Texans have hired Baltimore Ravens assistant David Culley to be their next head coach, sources told ESPN, confirming a report by the Houston Chronicle.
Culley, 65, who has spent the past two seasons in Baltimore, just completed his 27th season as an NFL coach. Along with serving as the team's assistant head coach, Culley was Baltimore's passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach. The Ravens finished the 2020 season ranked last in the NFL in passing.
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"David is just a genuine guy," Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said in a text to ESPN's Ed Werder. "He will be who he is everyday. Has been that guy every day of his career. I'm thrilled for him. Great person. Genuine. Full of energy."
Harbaugh had previously called the Texans' opening a "great opportunity" and said he believed Culley "would be a tremendous hire for any team, maybe, especially, the Texans with Deshaun Watson."
EDITOR'S PICKS
- Grading NFL head-coaching hires: Can Nick Sirianni fix Carson Wentz?
- Barnwell creates trade offers for Deshaun Watson: Ranking all 17 from least to most likely
- Mayor: Praying Watson, Texans can stick together
Culley will join Robert Saleh of the New York Jets, Brian Flores of the Miami Dolphins, Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Ron Rivera of the Washington Football Team as active minority head coaches in the league.
Culley has never been an offensive coordinator at the NFL level. He was also an assistant head coach for the Kansas City Chiefs from 2013 to '16, and spent the 2017 and '18 seasons as the Buffalo Bills' quarterbacks coach. When the Ravens hired Culley in 2019, Harbaugh said the coach was highly respected "as a teacher, game-planner and motivator."
When the Texans fired head coach and general manager Bill O'Brien in October, Houston became the first team with an opening for either position. The Texans hired Nick Caserio as their new general manager earlier this month and gave him the reins to their head-coaching search.
David Culley's Prior Coaching Stops
�
| SEASONS | TEAM | ROLE |
|---|---|---|
| 2019-20 | Ravens | assistant head coach/passing game coordinator/WR coach |
| 2017-18 | Bills | QB coach |
| 2013-16 | Chiefs | assistant head coach/WR coach |
| 1999-2012 | Eagles | primarily WR coach, also senior offensive assistant from 2011-12 |
| 1996-98 | Steelers | WR coach |
| 1994-95 | Buccaneers | WR coach |
| -- ESPN Stats & Information |
Amid the Texans' coaching search, sources told ESPN that Watson was not happy with the process the organization used to hire Caserio. And sources told ESPN's Chris Mortensen that regardless of whom the Texans hired as their next head coach, Watson's desire to be traded was not expected to change.
The Texans are coming off a 4-12 season, one in which Watson played the best football of his NFL career. The fourth-year quarterback set career highs in touchdowns, passing yards and completion percentage. He also threw a career-low seven interceptions.
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and it could be a glorious day for new york if he's traded to the jets
they haven't had a franchise QB since joe namath
This the same muthafucka that said Bron was going to the Knicks so take this wit a grain of salt.
He wants the Jets. Send him to the Jets.
I'm thinking Darnold, 3 FRPs, 2 SRPs to start.
Then flip Darnold for more picks, trade JJ, and REALLY start the rebuild.
Strap in Houston sports fans... between the Texans Rockets and Astros it's about to be dark times in the athletic forefront.
I'm thinking Darnold, 3 FRPs, 2 SRPs to start.
Then flip Darnold for more picks, trade JJ, and REALLY start the rebuild.
Strap in Houston sports fans... between the Texans Rockets and Astros it's about to be dark times in the athletic forefront.
I'm loving that players are using their worth and talent to get out of a bad situation. Hopefully he lands somewhere and is successful. This kid can be a legend in the right set up. Right now that's the 49ers if they don't have to give up too many pieces. If Robinson stays in Chicago that would be perfect. But Nagy would have Watson playing like Lamar, instead of behind the line of scrimmage.
You can tell Shannon's sources is basically straight from Deshaun's mouth. He's done in Houston.
LOVE IT! They deserve everything coming their way.
Sources: Texans hiring Culley as head coach
The Texans have hired Ravens assistant David Culley to be their next head coach, sources told ESPN, confirming a report by the Houston Chronicle.www.espn.com
Houston Texans hire Baltimore Ravens' David Culley as head coach, sources say
play
0:57
/
1:40
9:54 PM ET
- Sarah BarshopESPN Staff Writer
HOUSTON -- The Houston Texans have hired Baltimore Ravens assistant David Culley to be their next head coach, sources told ESPN, confirming a report by the Houston Chronicle.
Culley, 65, who has spent the past two seasons in Baltimore, just completed his 27th season as an NFL coach. Along with serving as the team's assistant head coach, Culley was Baltimore's passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach. The Ravens finished the 2020 season ranked last in the NFL in passing.
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"David is just a genuine guy," Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said in a text to ESPN's Ed Werder. "He will be who he is everyday. Has been that guy every day of his career. I'm thrilled for him. Great person. Genuine. Full of energy."
Harbaugh had previously called the Texans' opening a "great opportunity" and said he believed Culley "would be a tremendous hire for any team, maybe, especially, the Texans with Deshaun Watson."
EDITOR'S PICKS
The Ravens will receive two third-round compensatory picks (one in 2021 and another in 2022) for Culley getting hired from their staff. This comes from a resolution adopted in November that is meant to incentivize NFL teams to develop and hire minority candidates for head-coaching and general manager positions.
- Grading NFL head-coaching hires: Can Nick Sirianni fix Carson Wentz?
- Barnwell creates trade offers for Deshaun Watson: Ranking all 17 from least to most likely
- Mayor: Praying Watson, Texans can stick together
Culley will join Robert Saleh of the New York Jets, Brian Flores of the Miami Dolphins, Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Ron Rivera of the Washington Football Team as active minority head coaches in the league.
Culley has never been an offensive coordinator at the NFL level. He was also an assistant head coach for the Kansas City Chiefs from 2013 to '16, and spent the 2017 and '18 seasons as the Buffalo Bills' quarterbacks coach. When the Ravens hired Culley in 2019, Harbaugh said the coach was highly respected "as a teacher, game-planner and motivator."
When the Texans fired head coach and general manager Bill O'Brien in October, Houston became the first team with an opening for either position. The Texans hired Nick Caserio as their new general manager earlier this month and gave him the reins to their head-coaching search.
David Culley's Prior Coaching Stops
�
Along with Culley, Houston interviewed Bills defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier, Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, former Detroit Lions and Indianapolis Colts coach Jim Caldwell, Colts defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus and current Texans quarterback Josh McCown after Caserio took over. The Texans also interviewed Rams defensive coordinator Brandon Staley before he was hired by the Los Angeles Chargers.
SEASONS TEAM ROLE 2019-20 Ravens assistant head coach/passing game coordinator/WR coach 2017-18 Bills QB coach 2013-16 Chiefs assistant head coach/WR coach 1999-2012 Eagles primarily WR coach, also senior offensive assistant from 2011-12 1996-98 Steelers WR coach 1994-95 Buccaneers WR coach -- ESPN Stats & Information
Amid the Texans' coaching search, sources told ESPN that Watson was not happy with the process the organization used to hire Caserio. And sources told ESPN's Chris Mortensen that regardless of whom the Texans hired as their next head coach, Watson's desire to be traded was not expected to change.
The Texans are coming off a 4-12 season, one in which Watson played the best football of his NFL career. The fourth-year quarterback set career highs in touchdowns, passing yards and completion percentage. He also threw a career-low seven interceptions.
they would set up the only Black head coach hire to fail ..
dude will b fired in 2 yrs ...
He would win a Super Bowl with the Rams or 49ers.
they would set up the only Black head coach hire to fail ..
dude will b fired in 2 yrs ...
YUP
and man if Watson leaves?
What he gonna have?
JJ Watt?
aint Geoff about to be outta there too?
Props on this ph...
you already know fam.
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They already extended his contract but they don't seem to be fully sold on him.
They can probably package him and a few picks to get Watson.
