Deshaun Watson reportedly has teams in mind when it comes to where he potentially would like to be negotiated and two AFC East organizations are at the top of that list.
The New York Jets and the Miami Dolphins are at numbers 1 and 2, respectively, on Watson’s list of commercial destinations, the Miami Herald reported on Saturday. The Jets are at the top of the list because of the recent hiring of Robert Saleh as their next head coach, the Herald reported.
Although the Houston Texans did not make it to the playoff this season, they have done so twice since Watson became the team’s full-back. Watson joined the league before the start of the 2017 season. Neither the Jets nor the Dolphins made it to the playoffs during that period. Both teams have made it to the playoffs only once since the 2010 season.
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It is unclear exactly what it would take for either team to switch to Watson. Predictably, both teams would have to mortgage their futures and potentially lose a rookie quarterback or wide receiver in the spring. Trevor Lawrence, Justin Fields, Zach Wilson, Devonta Smith, Jaylen Waddle and Ja’Marr Chase will all be in the same group of players.
Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) reacts to a move during the first half of an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, September 29, 2019 in Houston. (AP Photo / Eric Christian Smith)
Watson’s unhappiness with Houston has been closely documented since the end of the 2020 season.
Watson “just wants to leave” the Texans, a source told Sports Illustrated in a story published last week. The former Texas quarterback, arguably the best quarterback the organization has ever had, considered comments by team owner Cal McNair about his “patronizing” relationship.
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Another issue that came up was Watson’s opinion of the Texans’ next coach. Watson reportedly expected Houston to interview Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy for the position of coach, but the team did not and must now wait until next week to do so. Patrick Mahomes told Watson that Bieniemy was the one who helped direct his career towards what it is now, a source told Sports Illustrated.
Watson’s growing frustrations were documented last year after DeAndre Hopkins was negotiated with the Arizona Cardinals. Watson offered his views on potential general manager candidates, but Texans did not consider the franchise’s quarterback in the process, ESPN reported. The Texans did not tell Watson that they had hired Nick Caserio as the team’s next GM.
The quarterback met discreetly with his teammates to request an exchange, Pro Football Talk reported.
San Francisco 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman went so far as to say that Watson should try to force a deal with the Jets.
“If I were Deshaun, I would get out of there as soon as possible. I would go to New York … The Jets,” Sherman said in a recent episode of “The Cris Collinsworth Podcast”.
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“It would be the most beautiful. Decent offensive line. They would have to find some threats, they would have to find some offensive weapons, but I think there would be a lot more excited people to be there. I think the free ones – the agency market this year it will be supersaturated because of the salary cap, but that’s what I would do. I would be out of there the first thing that smoked. “
Watson signed a $ 156 million contract extension for four years in early September. He is expected to earn $ 10.5 million in 2021, and then $ 35 million in 2022. He has the potential to leave after the 2023 season.
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Despite Houston’s 4-12 record in 2020, the Clemson product proved to be one of the elite quarterbacks in all of football. Watson set a career high with a completion percentage of 70.2, he played for the best NFL 4,823 yards with 33 touchdowns and just seven interceptions.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.