The Broncos have become the most rumored Aaron Rodgers trade destination. No close second has emerged. Prior to Rodgers-Broncos connections, Deshaun Watson loomed on the team’s radar. The younger of these Pro Bowl quarterbacks remains interested in a trade to the AFC West.
Ex-Watson Texans teammate Kareem Jackson said, during an appearance on Aqib Talib‘s Catchin’ Fades podcast (audio link), Denver is where Watson wants to end up. This might be a slight exaggeration, with NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport noting Watson remains open to being traded to the Broncos but does not necessarily have them as his unquestioned No. 1 destination (Twitter link).
[RELATED: Texans’ Deshaun Watson Still Wants Trade]
Jackson said earlier this offseason Watson was interested in the Broncos, and a subsequent report indicated the Texans quarterback was intrigued by Denver’s situation. In speaking to Watson in recent weeks, Jackson said the three-time Pro Bowl QB expressed interest in Denver in March and that Colorado remains where he wants to play. Per Jackson, Watson inquired about Jackson’s free agency plans — between the Broncos cutting him and re-signing him in March — and after Jackson re-signed asked the safety to communicate to the Broncos his own interest in the team. Watson has a no-trade clause, once this matter again becomes relevant.
Prospective Watson trades, of course, have been on the backburner for several weeks. Twenty-two women have accused Watson of sexual misconduct, with some alleging sexual assault took place during massage sessions. Watson has been linked to nearly 50 masseuses, with some coming out in his defense. The 25-year-old standout is a candidate for the Commissioner’s Exempt List and a suspension, which certainly stands to reduce his trade appeal.
The Houston Police Department is investigating Watson. So is the NFL. It is highly unlikely a team trades for Watson until more clarity emerges about his status for the 2021 season. Depositions in Watson’s civil case are slated to begin in September, though the quarterback is not set to be deposed until after the 2021 NFL season.
While the Broncos expressed interest when Watson was merely a disgruntled NFLer and not at the center of multiple investigations, it is unclear if they remain one of his suitors. The Panthers also appeared prepared to be more aggressive than the Broncos on the Watson front. Carolina ended up trading 2020 starter Teddy Bridgewater to Denver but did so after acquiring Sam Darnold. Although the Panthers picked up Darnold’s fifth-year option, Watson could still be on the team’s radar. The other teams most closely linked to Watson this offseason — the Dolphins, Jets and 49ers — have top-five picks invested at quarterback.
Watson and Rodgers are each represented by the Athletes First agency, CBS Sports’ Joel Corry notes (via Twitter). Rodgers placed the Broncos as an acceptable destination in April and remains interested in the Packers trading him to Denver. Watson is 12 years younger, but the Broncos prefer Rodgers as a trade target. Considering Rodgers’ accomplishments and Watson’s off-field issues, this makes sense. Neither the Packers nor Texans have relented, though Houston’s moves — signing Tyrod Taylor, drafting Davis Mills in Round 3 — point to the franchise preparing not to have him this season.
This news is irrelevant at the moment. Watson needs to worry playing in 2021 before what team he’s on.
The massage therapists in Denver are not interested in you Watson.
The mental therapists are VERY interested, however. I’m sure they’d just love to study how that brain works
When you don’t take No for an answer, does it matter if they are interested or not? He should be traded to Las Vegas so he can go to the bunny ranch daily and pay like a normal scumbag where it’s legal.
It’s all about the BBC for Deshaun.
Is Deshawn Watson really that clueless as to the magnitude of the situation he is in? He not only apparently thinks that he’s going to play this year period, but he also foolishly thinks that some team is interested in trading a package significant enough for Houston to consider trading him? My god this guy is as ignorant (and/or arrogant) as a guy could possibly be!
KCJ To be fair, fame, money, and status do tend to get you out of many situations where the average person would be screwed.
Have you heard him talk?
Yeah, whether Watson did it or not the situation is serious. Regardless of what he thinks he deserves, he needs to realize that this isn’t a parking ticket or even just a DUI. If he’s going anywhere, he needs to resolve his personal issues, and do so in a way that does not attach a noxious cloud to his name. I get that Watson did not give a quote himself and that obviously Jackson supports his ex teammate’s character, but it does not look good to be planning your next move while your current situation is what it is.
He won’t play a down this year. Maybe not ever.
A trade is on the “back burner”?? No kidding. There is no PR team that could ever spin their way out of the blowback of trading for that guy and that’s if and when this mess is resolved. And Watson preferring anywhere is laughable right now.
If Antonio Brown can play in the NFL again, so will Deshaun Watson.
Rondon is accurate about the PR blow back, but settlements are likely to be Watson’s way out. Similar to Big Ben.
No one on this discussion board and no one outside those massage rooms, other than Deshaun Watson and the masseuse, really know what happened.
Purely from a football standpoint, I would trade Drew Lock for Deshaun Watson straight up. Winning seems to make people forget about the bad things. Even if Deshaun Watson was on the commissioners exempt list, the Broncos can still roll with Teddy Bridgewater this year until Watsons situation is resolved. Really nothing lost for Denver. Everything lost for the Texans.
As terrible as I think Antonio Brown is, Watson has like 10x the number of accusers. I could see him being gone for multiple seasons or possibly his career if his civil suits go the wrong way. Then again, players have some pretty bad stuff (and a guy like Vick went to prison for some pretty heinous stuff) and come back. Not sure which team would want his baggage, though.
Vick actually went for tax related offenses tangent to the dog fighting operation, if I am not mistaken. Watson, if discerned to be criminally liable in the police investigation (or at least prosecutable), will go for much more serious offenses and at the very least sill not be in “football shape” when he gets out. I am not assuming his guilt of course, but the offenses he is accused of are much weightier than Vick’s.
On the other hand, Donte Stallworth did something much, much, much worse than any of these guys, and he played again with New England. Stallworth also was guilty without a shadow of a doubt, making his playing again all the more noteworthy. We live in a different NFL now, though, and publicity is harder to shake. The 22 plaintiffs are all represented by the same lawyer, but he publicized this case in a way that most past cases haven’t been. There’s no way someone will forget this-not because of the offenses necessarily (because Watson is hardly the first accused not the player with the highest number of accusers-see Darren Sharper) but because the case was so well publicized. Buzbee worked the media first, and opposing counsel second. If he simply filed his paperwork and corresponded with opposing counsel, this would not be nearly as big as it currently.
The media attention will ensure that Watson will be trailed by these accusations the rest of his life, whether that’s right or wrong.
I think Vick went to jail on those charges, simply because that’s all they could get him on technically. His friends and co-conspirators wouldn’t testify against him actually being a real participant of the dog fighting ring, only that it was funded using Vick’s money.
I’m pretty sure that’s why he never actually got convicted, but I could be mistaken and remembering it incorrectly..Not 100% positive..
21 settlements doesn’t get Watson out of court and a trial, Big Ben only needed one. Not absolving either person, just saying
Watson’s name is kryptonite for a franchise’s PR department and does Denver’s women leadership (future owner) and GM want to bring in a guy who is likely guilty of being a serial offender?
Love the player but no way am I trading a massive package of assets for Watson and taking on that risk of crisis. Dumb.
Watson’s recent contract makes him untradeable until 2023, regardless of the outcome of his 22 trials.
Watson is the dog sitting in a burning house sipping coffee saying “This is fine.” He’s a living meme.
Sometimes, and especially in today’s world, perception is reality, and Watson has to realize he’s a PR nightmare right now, and more importantly the media and fans alike mostly see him as a sexual deviant that used his power to force himself on multiple women…Right or wrong..
For now, his career is completely on hold, which sucks because he could be completely innocent, but as a celebrity, and especially one with alot of money, you have to guard against putting yourself in these situations nowadays..
He’s certainly guilty of poor judgment; otherwise, he wouldn’t be in this mess, but his entire focus should be on his case, not which football team he’s going to play for next. Because, depending on how this plays out, it may be awhile before he plays football..