HOUSTON – Quarterback Deshaun Watson requested a switch from the Houston Texans, league sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Thursday.
Watson made the request to the team weeks ago, sources told ESPN.
The hiring of the Texans’ new head coach, David Culley, has not changed and will not change Watson’s thinking, sources told ESPN.
Watson did not speak to new Texas general manager Nick Caserio or executive Jack Easterby, sources told ESPN.
Watson, who signed a $ 156 million four-year contract extension in September, is under contract until the 2025 season. He has a ban on trading included in his contract, but given the length of his contract and the possibility of marking it by franchise for three years, Texans could choose not to negotiate it and would have control of their rights until the 2028 season.
The exchange request came after Watson was reportedly dissatisfied with the team’s process of hiring Caserio in early January.
After Watson signed his contract extension last year, he was thrilled to discuss how happy he was to be committed to the franchise and the city.
“It’s an incredible time for me to be able to extend my career in a place, a place, a home, I would say, that my family loves, that I love,” said Watson in September. “I want to continue to dive into the community above all and just continue to build my legacy, just build our legacy as a whole and do something we’ve never done before.”
Watson set career records last season in passing yards, touchdowns and completion percentage. He also launched seven career low interceptions. His 33 touchdowns and 4,823 passing yards were also franchise records in a single season.
The defender’s best individual season came in a season in which the team reached 4-12 and fired coach and general manager Bill O’Brien after a 0-4 start.
Although he has only played four seasons (54 games), Watson’s 104 touchdowns and 14,539 passing yards occupy second place in the history of the Texans franchise, behind Matt Schaub (124 touchdowns and 23,221 passing yards in 90 games).
Watson is currently the all-time leader in the NFL as a percentage of completion, behind New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees. In 2020, he became only the 11th player in NFL history to complete at least 70% of his passes in a single season.