If you’re a fan of the New York Giants hoping that the team would somehow kick DeShaun Watson out of the Houston Texans, your dream probably died with Matthew Stafford-Jared Goff’s box office success on Saturday night.
The Rams gave up on Goff, a third-round pick in 2021 and first-round picks in 2022 and 2023 in exchange for Stafford. Stafford, 32, is good, but he is seven years older and not quite the player Watson is.
If Detroit Lions did that for Stafford, Texans are getting a lot more than Watson if they finally decide to change it.
If you’re the Giants, that probably means Daniel Jones, three choices in the first round and one or more choices in Day 2.
Here is a projected asking price from Houston:
The Rams-Lions trade will have nothing to do with a Watson trade if Texans do. They will want 2 units, 2 doubles and 2 young defensive beginners at a minimum. Watson, 25, hired, great QB, team leader, beloved by the fans, a pillar of the community. Start with the Jets.
– John McClain (@McClain_on_NFL) January 31, 2021
My guess? It can be bigger if you involve two or three teams in the bid.
Now, I admit that my philosophy is that when you meet the defender that you think can give you a chance to compete for titles in the next 10 years, you do what you have to do. The giants, however, simply don’t have much to offer. Not, at least, without destroying his ability to put a good team around Watson.
The Giants have no extra choices in the first few rounds. The New York Jets, for example, have six choices in the top 100 this year and one extra choice in the first round of next year’s Jamal Adams trade. The Jets could make that switch and still have enough early choices in the coming seasons to have a chance to put some talent around Watson. The Giants would end their ability to add young talent.
As for trade itself, it is an impressive “everything to win now” move for the Rams. And, in my opinion, a good one. They have a great defense led by Aaron Donald, one of the best they have ever played. They have a first-rate head coach. The quarterback’s game was holding them back. They don’t need to add much to be a title contender now, they just needed a championship-level quarterback. Stafford is much more likely to be that way than Goff.
The lions? They carry picks and there are only two seasons of guaranteed money in Goff’s business. If he isn’t the long-term solution in Detroit, he at least gives Lions time to find that guy.
More things I think
- I can’t worry that the Giants have added dismissed Tennessee coach Jeremy Pruitt to the coaching staff. Some people are outraged that Pruitt was fired for cause when the school reportedly discovered serious NCAA violations under his supervision. This does not make Pruitt a kind of monster that should be treated as an outcast. This makes him the most recent guy to reach a level above his real capacity, proven when he was unable to win or maintain control of his program. Apparently, Pruitt is a great defensive coach. If he can help Patrick Graham, great. As far as I’m concerned, whatever happened in Tennessee has nothing to do with it.
- I think Chris Pflum, Joe DeLeone, Nick Falato, Mark Schofield and Emory Hunt [YouTube video recap] crushed our Senior Bowl coverage. All I had to do all week was sit down and hit “publish”. Good job, guys!
- I think Giants veteran Jonotthan Harrison, for a reserve / future contract at an unusual price of $ 2 million is an interesting move. I doubt that means competition for Nick Gates. It probably means the end of the Spencer Pulley reserve center, as the Giants can save $ 2.725 million by cutting the cap by cutting Pulley. It doesn’t seem like much money, but in a year when the limit is falling, saving up to $ 725,000 can be worth it.