Houston Texans: Deshaun Watson is officially available for trade
The Houston Texans have officially leaked to the media that quarterback Deshaun Watson is available in a trade after a wild 2021 offseason.
To say the 2021 offseason has been a wild one for the Houston Texans would be the understatement of the year, and it is seemingly about to get even crazier. According to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network, the Houston Texans are now (and have been for some time) willing to trade star quarterback Deshaun Watson.
For a price.
The #Texans are now willing to listen — and have been for some time — to trade offers for star QB Deshaun Watson, multiple sources tell me and @RapSheet. But the price is high for a player of his caliber, and should be. It’d likely take at least three first-round picks and more.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) July 26, 2021
What’s really crazy as well is that Watson’s personal QB coach Quincy Avery was on Adam Schefter’s (ESPN) podcast and predicted that Watson would be traded on Sunday, as in yesterday.
Deshaun Watson’s personal QB coach @Quincy_Avery predicted Friday, while taping the Adam Schefter Podcast, that his client would be traded by Sunday. As in yesterday. pic.twitter.com/ZrRwta5op7
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 26, 2021
While Avery’s prediction was obviously incorrect here, it’s possible that if the Houston Texans have been listening to offers behind the scenes for a while now that a deal could be struck this week.
Watson reported to camp in Houston amidst 22 active civil lawsuits from women alleging sexual misconduct during massage appointments.
Up to this point, the NFL has not placed Watson on the Commissioner’s Exempt List or anything like that, and they apparently won’t be doing so until there is more information.
The cost to acquire Watson will understandably be high, and according to Pelissero, it could cost three first-round picks and then some. Which teams are in the best position to acquire him?
The Philadelphia Eagles could have three first-round selections in the 2022 NFL Draft alone. Philadelphia, however, is in the midst of a full-scale rebuild with a new head coach. Would they really trade all of their assets for Watson, who may yet face some serious legal troubles?
Maybe.
The Miami Dolphins could send Tua Tagovailoa and a bounty of draft picks back to the Houston Texans, perhaps even disgruntled cornerback Xavien Howard.
The New York Giants have multiple first-round picks in next year’s draft, so do the Detroit Lions. Would those two teams be willing to pull the trigger on this kind of trade? Probably not. The Giants seem pretty hellbent on Daniel Jones and the Lions are all-in on Jared Goff and a rebuild.
What about the Denver Broncos? Just like every other team here, the Broncos are probably concerned about the impending legal issues and need some clarity before first-year GM George Paton is going to sell the farm for Watson.
One way or another, it seems that a trade is going to go down rather soon here, and it will send major shockwaves through the entire league.