Now, we all know that Deshaun Watson wants to leave Houston. Unless you are living under a rock, you have heard it sick in the past two weeks. To say that rumors, forecasts and theoretical trade proposals have spread is an understatement. And rightly so, as genuine superstar quarterbacks in their 20s, they rarely reach the commercial block (and that presupposes that Texans give in and eventually make Watson available).
When discussing potential business partners, Raiders were rarely mentioned, if at all, and when they were, it was in passing, rather than something with real substance. This is until yesterday, when Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported that Jon Gruden and company were interested in acquiring the disgruntled Texan defender through an exchange of three teams. The biggest obstacle? What that would mean for Raider holder Derek Carr, who just produced the best season of his relatively short career, casting 4,103 yards to go with 27 touchdowns, nine interceptions and a 101.4 QB rating.
Over the past two years combined, Carr has accumulated 8,157 yards, 48 touchdowns, 17 interceptions and a 101.1 rating. It is safe to say that he officially found his foot like an NFL star. And it is because of this success that Carr has become a sought after commodity in a league where most teams are always looking for an answer in the most important position in all sports. It is also the reason why such a complex transaction would be possible.
For Watson to finally land in Las Vegas, the Raiders would have to stock, realistically speaking, four first-round choices to send to the Texans. This is where a third team comes into play. Reportedly, the Colts, Bears, Patriots, Saints and the Washington Football Team (still strange to say) made calls to check on Carr’s availability. In theory, for Chicago to acquire Carr, they would have to give the Raiders two first-round choices that Las Vegas would send the Texans along with their own first-round players in 2021 and 2022.
Of course, in a perfect world, the Bears would go directly to Houston to make a deal for Watson. But thanks to the Rams, who sent two choices in the first round, a selection in the third round and Jared Goff to Detroit in exchange for Matthew Stafford, the Watson price may simply be too bitter a pill for the Swallow Bears. That’s why an exchange for Carr, while still expensive, is more sensible and would give Chicago a greater opportunity to fill several gaps in the squad of the team. This becomes even more important when you consider how age is becoming a factor in defense.
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In recent years, the Bears have been short of capital due to the Khalil Mack trade, losing their first round selections in 2019 and 2020, as well as a third round selection in 2020. If it weren’t for that, I would be the first in line crying out for the Bears to correct their brutal miscalculation by choosing Trubisky over Watson / Mahomes. And, since Bears chose not to sink, instead of returning to the playoffs, they currently hold 20th choice in the draft, at which point the best quarterback players will, in all probability, be off the board.
Which brings us back to Carr, who, despite his gaudy numbers over the past two years, comes with red flags affixed, mainly, as pointed out by my colleague Lucas Perfetti, Carr’s propensity for poor performance in cold climates. Last season, he continued this trend when the Raiders visited Cleveland in Week 8, playing for only 111 yards with a touchdown and a score of 87.3 in a game that Las Vegas somehow won by 16-6.
However, at week 13, he showed signs that he was getting out of the cold weather against the Jets when he made 381 yards, three touchdowns and an interception with a rating of 97.9 (playing time temperature of 39 degrees). At Week 17, he followed up with another solid performance (371/2/2 / 91.0) in Denver. If he were to join the Bears, he would obviously have to carry that momentum into the next season, as temperatures in Chicago tend to start dropping in late October.
However, in addition to the first two rounds that would be required to acquire Carr, the risk is minimal in terms of age (30) and the contract, which expires in 2022. If it doesn’t live up to expectations, you let him go. If he continues to present the numbers he has produced in the past two years, you either extend him or apply the franchise label that allows the team to work on a long-term agreement or exchange it to recover the draft choices they would forgo to obtain it. it first.
Probably, the Raiders chose to stay strong and maintain their attack from the top ten, while using their draft choices to improve defense. After all, many within the Raiders feel that they are just a few defensive players from usurping the Chiefs for the AFC title. But if, and when, an opportunity to add a player of Watson’s caliber comes up, it’s intoxicating and the Raiders have a history of daring. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if they put all their chips in the center of the table.
If they did, the Bears to drive your attention to Carr? Just the time wheel tell.
I said I would stop. I lied.