Miami Herald reporter Armando Salguero reported that the Houston Texans QB Deshaun Watson’s preferred commercial destination is the New York Jets. Watson’s second choice is the Miami Dolphins. That’s it – no mention of any other team, including the 49ers.
If you consider the report at face value, San Francisco is out of the running to win the star quarterback. If you read the article, there is no mention of any source. A simple control + F answers that question. Most of your article is quotes from Watson or 49ers CB Richard Sherman. A lot of conjecture in assembling puzzles is how the article is read.
Go a little deeper and this report screams as if you are coming from Houston and not from Watson’s camp. In addition to the fact that there are no sources mentioned, Salguero lists the two teams with the most to offer Houston.
Watson has been active on Twitter recently and an advocate for Jets head coach Robert Saleh. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Watson land in New York, but his camp is not providing information to Salguero. How I know? Story.
Watson is upset with Jack Easterby, who is the vice president of football operations in Texas. This is an extensive article on the history of Easterby, where several Texans were reportedly bothered by Easterby’s racial stereotypes. Last summer, Salguero had some problems remembering the constitution:
He was also one of the most vocal writers on Colin Kaepernick and had a tough position that Kap should “stick to sports”. Just a hunch, but Watson’s camp isn’t talking to this guy.
Who knows what other teams have made offers. It is a safe bet to assume that 49ers have it. Will their offer be big enough? That is the real question. Any NFC team would seem preferable to Houston, as it takes Watson out of AFC.
It would make sense for someone to leak this to Salguero so that other teams can continue to make or increase their offer. Speculation continues and, although Watson may end in Miami or New York, it is not because of this report.
Watson is unlikely to end the 49ers. If you expect San Francisco to call a quarterback in the first round, the Texans would probably choose before the Niners or have enough ammunition to trade in front of the 49ers.
You have Jets / Dolphins, Jaguars, Lions, Hawks, Lions, Panthers, Broncos and potentially Giants as teams that could take a quarterback in that draft before No. 12. That is before we talk about other teams potentially negotiating. Jimmy or Mr. Stafford are San Francisco’s most likely option to start the 2021 season.