To avoid making the situation even more ugly, it’s time for general manager Nick Caserio to hear the offers that Texans are receiving for quarterback Deshaun Watson.
So far, Caserio has been thanking, but not thanking the teams asking about Watson’s switch. That answer will have to change soon.
To Watson’s credit, he finally met with coach David Culley. Watson preferred a conference call with Zoom and Culley agreed.
Watson explained why he is determined to be traded. Culley heard and explained the plan that he, Caserio and executive vice president of football operations, Jack Easterby, would have to turn the Texans into a playoff team again.
Watson heard and reiterated that he wants to be traded and will not play for the Texans again.
Based on what we think we know about this ongoing saga that has sparked controversy across the country, Watson seems willing to sit back and lose millions in fines and unpaid wages in an attempt to get what he wants.
The Texans seem willing to let Watson sit down to force his hand and try to get him to play. This is not a healthy way of doing business.
Yes, Watson is under contract until 2025 because of the $ 156 million extension he signed six months ago, but teams cut players under contract all the time. Now Watson wants to eliminate the Texans and start over with a new team. And that is what Texans should do.
Let’s make something perfectly clear: Texans don’t want to change Watson. They love Watson. The fans too. Watson is not only a great player, but also a team leader who donates time and money to the Houston community. He earned all respect on and off the field.
Caserio, Culley, Easterby and President / CEO Cal McNair know they have a better chance of rebuilding with Watson as a full-back than starting from scratch with a newbie or veteran acquired in a negotiation.
Texans are trying to sell sponsorships, suites, club seats and tickets at a time when faith in the way the franchise is run has plummeted to its lowest level ever. McNair knows that they are a more attractive team with Watson than without him.
At some point, however, reality has to be established. If Watson is traded for several high-draft options that should bring another quarterback of the franchise – unproven, of course – to Houston, the Texans would be much more interesting and attractive than if Watson was sitting outside, creating a colossal distraction with AJ McCarron and Josh McCown as their two main defenders. Talk about a difficult sale.
Caserio must prioritize the Jets and Dolphins as the main candidates to acquire Watson and make the rivals of AFC East face off.
Add Watson to the Miami team after a 10-6 season, and the Dolphins may be the favorites to take Buffalo down as the AFC East champion and compete for the Super Bowl.
Add Watson to the Jets with new coach Robert Saleh, and they would gain immediate respect in the New York / New Jersey area and around the NFL, steal some of the Giants’ thunder and become a possible playoff candidate much faster.
Watson’s ban on trading clause may limit Caserio’s options. There are reports that Jets and Dolphins are two of his favorite teams, although he has not said anything publicly.
We heard reports about teams like Carolina, Denver and San Francisco having a chance to negotiate with Watson. Why would they do it?
Texans would not be stupid enough to replace Watson with Teddy Bridgewater, Drew Lock or Jimmy Garoppolo with teams that have the eighth, ninth and 12th choices in the first round, respectively.
The problem with trying to predict what Caserio will do is that we have no track record in his decision-making process because he is in charge for the first time.
Here’s what we know about Caserio. He knows the Jets and Dolphins as well as anyone outside their organizations. During his 20 years in New England, he watched Jets and Dolphins closely – observed and trained against them twice a year and in the playoffs.
Jets have the second overall choice in the project. Switching Watson to the Jets is the only way the Texans are guaranteed to get the second best potential defender in the draft, behind Trevor Lawrence, who has a ticket to Jacksonville.
Or maybe Caserio thinks that quarterback Sam Darnold just needs a change of scenery to live up to his stature of being the third overall choice in 2018. Darnold will be playing in his fourth season and he is still only 23 years old.
To motivate Caserio to do the deal, the Jets could start with Darnold, his first round picks this year (second and 23rd overall) and the first and second round picks in 2022. That would be three ones, one two, Darold and maybe the defensive side Quinnen Williams.
The Jets would moan, of course, but they would have Watson for more than a decade, at least.
Watson should prefer the Dolphins because they are a better team than the Jets. If Caserio was high with Tua Tagovailoa last year with the Patriots, he could ask for the second year quarterback, two choices in the first round (third and 18th overall) and two choices in the second round (36 and 50 overall) this year . And demand another high choice in 2022.
It never hurts to ask, right?
By the way, the Dolphins got third choice in the first round and fourth choice in the second round of the Texans in exchange for offensive attack Laremy Tunsil and former receiver Kenny Stills.
If the Texans decide to open a line of communication with teams interested in Watson, it will create a frenzy like the NFL has never seen, but that is what they have to do. It is unprecedented for a great 25-year-old defender and hired for another five years to be available.
Today, Texans say Watson is unavailable, but who knows what tomorrow will bring? For Texans, it is necessary to bring some sanity. If you don’t and they let you sit, it can be a decision that will have repercussions for years.
Texans are rebuilding, anyway, and although they don’t want to negotiate with Watson, it’s time to leave him and start with a new quarterback.