Deshaun Watson has moved from a trade ban clause to a trade demand.
Five months after signing a $ 156 million four-year extension, Watson reportedly asked the Texans for an exchange.
Texans can play “Chicken” with Watson and see if their quarterback is willing to resist and lose a lot of money – or throw a wide net and demand the king’s ransom (three choices in the first round?) In return. Watson must sign the fate because of its no-trade clause, but it would be against his best interest to limit the Texans’ initial advantage with a pre-approved list, league sources told The Post.
Here are five trade destinations, based on these conversations, that make sense, along with some factors that can shine the wheels or be an obstacle in every situation. It is still possible for Texans and Watson to resolve their differences ahead of the season, but the late April date for the NFL’s 2021 Draft acts as an unofficial deadline for resolution.
1. New York Jets
Jamal Adams could have done the Jets a huge favor with his commercial demand.
The two additional first-round choices acquired from the Seahawks provide the luxury of negotiating high choices for Texans, but retain the resources to improve the team around Watson.
Start an offer with choice # 2. Texans may see this as a place to scale Watson’s successor in a package with striker Quinnen Williams and other choices in the draft. Or the Texans could take Sam Darnold back, use choice # 2 to tackle another premium position and add more to the bunch of choices. If the Texans don’t get Darnold, the Jets can trade him separately to recover the capital.
Given Watson’s problems with the culture established by the Texans’ property, the return of owner Woody Johnson – and his thirst for a star as a defender – is variable. Johnson denied allegations of making racist comments while serving as the United States’ ambassador to the United Kingdom under the Trump administration.
2. Miami Dolphins
Unlike others, Dolphins can offer two premium assets – second year quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (choice # 5 in the 2020 draft) and choice # 3 in 2021 (originally owned by Texans) – without subtracting from the base of a improvement 10-team win.
Future first rounds are commodities, but it is difficult to predict whether a choice will be the top five or the number 20-30 – a huge difference in value – especially if this team has Watson winning games and falling in order next year.
Miami coach Brian Flores made the most powerful statement in the NFL condemning racial inequality, so that socially aware and charitable Watson and Flores could find immediate common ground outside of football.
3. New England Patriots
Despite many veteran quarterbacks available, there is some belief that Bill Belichick’s preference is to shape a young man with a maximum salary contract.
As a league source summed it up: After years convincing Tom Brady to accept less money for the good of the team, assuming Watson’s future limits (between $ 32 million and $ 42.4 million each season in 2022-25) and again sharing credit for any return to the domain with his starter would be an impressive reversal for Belichick.
It would be very different from the Patriots to speed up the “process” by subtracting straws – the more doses in the apple, the better – and there is little more to offer as a potential customer. Negotiations are generally straightforward when the parties know each other as well as Belichick knows the Texan chiefs previously under his command: Nick Casiero and Jack Easterby.
4. San Francisco 49ers
Joining Belichick-backed quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo with Caserio makes sense for both teams. It would have two years of control for the Texans with $ 26.4 million and $ 27 million limit settlements, respectively, but it cost only $ 2.8 million in dead limit space for the 49ers.
But Garoppolo cannot be the main player in a business. Start with choice 12 in 2021 and continue. Or tap into young game creators like wide receivers Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel. General manager John Lynch has boldness in his blood.
5. Carolina Panthers
Watson is not going home to Atlanta due to Falcon restrictions, but how about going back to Clemson territory?
The Panthers could add second-year defensive star Jeremy Chinn to a package of choices starting with No. 8 in 2021. Unless the Texans take back Teddy Bridgewater as a replacement, he is a huge sunk cost ($ 20 million dead limit) in 2021.
Owner David Tepper did not spend a small fortune on coach Matt Rhule to waste time being conservative with defenders.