It is unclear whether these calls were actually answered or whether they went directly to voicemail.
But at least five teams have called the Houston Texans to ask about a possible switch for quarterback Deshaun Watson, John Chrclain of the Houston Chronicle told “BMitch and Finlay” on Tuesday at 106.7 The Fan in Washington.
The teams that called were not revealed, but McClain, who has covered the NFL in the Chronicle for 45 years, believes that if new Texas general manager Nick Caserio doesn’t think Miami Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa is a franchise caller, the best deal is with Jets.
“This is the only way you can be guaranteed to get the second best defender, behind Trevor Lawrence; it could be Zach Wilson, ”said McClain.
One team that does not appear to be in the mix, according to McClain, is the Washington Football Team, which eliminated Dwayne Haskins in the first round of 2019 before the end of the 2020 season and is separating from veteran Alex Smith.
The Texans insist that they are not changing Watson, who insists that he will never play for them again. Someone will have to blink first eventually, and McClain says Watson, 25, “will not be performing” for the Texans’ training camp if he is still on the team. Watson could resist and return to playing just enough that his contract would not close.
“For me, they have to negotiate it,” said McClain of the Texans.