Report: The Texans’ asking price for a revealed Deshaun Watson transaction originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
The future of Texas defender Deshaun Watson in Houston remains uncertain, and if any NFL teams are going to acquire it through exchange in the off-season, they must prepare to meet a very high price.
Houston Chronicle’s John McClain tweeted the quote requested by Watson over the weekend
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
Wowza.
In all seriousness, this asking price is not surprising when you consider Watson’s talent, his age and the great importance of the position he plays.
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Watson is coming out of his best professional season. He set career records in 2020 with a completion percentage of 70.2, 4,823 yards and 33 touchdowns, along with seven interceptions, the minimum of his career.
The 25-year-old quarterback reportedly requested an exchange, so this story should dominate the off-season until something happens.
The New York Jets, which McClain mentioned in the tweet above, are a potential destination for Watson being speculated on.
The Jets could choose Sam Darnold in the first round of 2018 in a potential package, which would give Houston another young quarterback to build. New York has not been very successful in the first round in recent years, so it might not be the worst thing for them to mortgage a large part of their future to get Watson.
The Jets getting Watson would be a bad scenario for the New England Patriots, who lost a deal with Matthew Stafford and still don’t have a viable quarterback for 2021 and beyond.
The Miami Dolphins are another potential destination for Watson, and that would also be bad for the Patriots, who are trying to regain their former dominance in AFC East. Dolphins have choice # 3 in the NFL’s 2021 Draft and QB Tua Tagovailoa of the first round of 2020 to use in any trade, and these are two main assets.
Texans, if they really want to negotiate Watson, must get him a Herschel Walker type of transport. You cannot negotiate with one of the best defenders in the league at the beginning of your peak and fail to get multiple players in the first round at the absolute minimum.