The Houston Texans probably won’t would you like to negotiate Deshaun Watson, a legitimate quarterback in the franchise at the height of his NFL career.
But with all the signs pointing to a superstar who wants to get out of his current situation, Texans may have no other choice.
So the question is: What can Houston expect to receive in a deal involving Watson?
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler recently asked the NFL front-line staff that question, and several reviewers told him that Houston could definitely get at least three choices in the first round.
“Oh yes – he is worth at least that,” said an NFC executive, according to Fowler. “Transport would be very insane.”
As Fowler notes, eight veteran NFL players have been switched to multiple choices in the first round since 2000, but technically no player since Herschel Walker in 1989 has brought back three players in the first round.
It is reasonable to think that the Texans’ asking price for Watson will be astronomical, however, as it is extremely rare for a player of his caliber to be available in commercial negotiations, especially a quarterback in the current happy NFL.
Three choices in the first round – or similar value – can be a starting point in the negotiations.
“The NFL frontline people are unanimous in this, with several saying that additional capital may be needed,” wrote Fowler in an article published on ESPN.com on Wednesday. “It depends a lot on where the choices from the first round may fall. Many pointed out that if (Jamal) Adams, (Jalen) Ramsey and (Laremy) Tunsil managed to get two first places, Watson should get much more because of the importance of the defender’s position. “
Watson, the 12th overall choice in 2017, won three Pro Bowl selections in his four seasons with the Texans, who posted a 4-12 record in 2020, despite the 25-year-old’s excellent performance.
He is also under contract during the 2025 campaign, after signing an extension with Houston in September. Therefore, any team that acquires Watson would do so with the understanding that he is in prison for several years at a reasonable rate for a quarterback of his stature.
Miniature photo via Kevin Jairaj / USA TODAY Sports Images