The Panthers are still eyeing embattled Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson (via PFT). The Panthers were among the frontrunners for Watson before the lawsuits emerged and they’re not ruling out the possibility now, even after acquiring Sam Darnold. 
Watson was not present at the Texans’ Tuesday practice, a sign that he could be placed on paid leave in one fashion or another. The Texans aren’t saying much about the situation as GM Nick Caserio weighs his options.
“We make decisions every day based on what’s best for our football team,” head coach David Culley said. “Nothing new today on that.”
The team reportedly wants a combination of five high draft picks plus quality players in exchange for the embattled quarterback. Caserio isn’t in any rush — he’s willing to pay Watson $10.54MM this year to stay away from the team in order to get the best trade return possible next year.
In addition to the Panthers, the Broncos, Eagles, and Dolphins have also been connected to Watson. At this points, the ‘Fins seem set with Tua Tagovailoa as their starter and Jacoby Brissett as his safety net. The Broncos, meanwhile, are prepared to move forward with Drew Lock and Teddy Bridgewater. That might leave the Eagles and Panthers as the only real suitors for Watson, but, given all of the complications, it’s hard to imagine either team meeting the Texans’ current asking price.
So JT Ibe is anathema but Watson’s situation is no big deal? ladies and gentlemen, PR.
Why would Houston trade him now? Trading him now will make that team instantly better, and improve their record (hurting the Texans draft position).
And they finally have draft picks!
He will not be close to playing for a long time, when the lawsuits and legal stuff is done I can’t imagine he doesn’t get 8 games to a full year suspension. Though the latter I doubt just hopeful thinking.
The Panthers’ owner reminds me of Jerry. Looking at getting headline press in any fashion. They could have easily drafted J Fields, but Watson makes more news. Is that their take?
Ignoring the ethical and moral side of this, he’s a pretty valuable trade asset minus the legal trouble. He’s not on the top tier with guys like Mahomes and Rodgers, but he’s still young enough to get there. If not, he’s already a pretty solid young QB. He got a 160M extension for a reason.
Watson is a big get for a QB needy team. It’s not about grabbing (now mostly negative) headlines, it’s about locking down the QB position for the next decade. Fields is still an unknown. It wouldn’t be the first time an NFL team has thrown morals and values out the window to improve.
Rocket32 –
It’s very hard to help the team improve if the league/legal system will not allow you to take the field. Very real possibility here.
The Cowboys are by far the most valuable NFL franchise so it’s hard to fault Jerry’s strategy of always being in the headlines. Al Davis also used that approach to achieve great success but I’m not sure Tepper can.
And Jones, despite his faults, never came off as personally jarring.. Tepper doesn’t seem like the warm and fuzzy guy that Jones tries to be. I don’t think they’re similar at all.
You don’t need to be perceived as warm and fuzzy. Al Davis sure wasn’t seen that way but he had an uncanny ability to identify players who could fit into the Raider mold he was trying to create.
I didn’t say that that was inherently more or less successful, just that it’s a difference. It’s one reason that Jones and Tepper do not remind me of each other. If Jones signs a player with a troubled history, he wants to counsel him and make him a member of the Cowboys’ family and all that warm fuzzy baloney. I don’t think Tepper believes in any of that, but I think he convinces himself that what he’s doing is not wrong or bad or hypocritical in any way because he’s right all the time. That’s just my impression hearing his press conferences and watching the Panthers’ All or Nothing.
The big difference is Jerry’s at that age where you realize you weren’t always the smartest guy in the room. The younger owners like Tepper still think they are.
Texans should have bit the bullet and traded him prior to the draft.
Now they’re stuck with damaged goods.
Least they’re keeping their draft picks so far. And have a bunch of potential trade chips to acquire more picks.
Agreed. Should’ve traded him before hand, knowing the value of each pick and having multiple teams in need of a QB.
Can’t live your life in hindsight; his accusers started coming forward in the middle of March. No deal gets done before then and even if it does they get held up until the league year officially starts. Think a team would give up a ton then have this trade get announced months later after the charges came out and not try and get it nixed?
5 high draft picks +? Maybe if the picks are contingent on him not getting suspended for a prolonged period. Past NFL discipline practice says he’ll get sidelined this year and maybe more. It’s not a consistent policy it’s a PR driven policy.
I think that should read 5 draft picks from a GM that’s high.
Correct me if I’m wrong but Watson is facing civil suits right, like he can’t go to jail? Can’t imagine someone trading for him if that’s a possibility.
Civil is person vs person. Nobody is going to JAIL. Kobe Bryant had a Civil Suit with the woman in Denver. The trouble will be the public back lash whoever he winds up with.
There are some criminal complaints. So technically he could go to jail, if charges are pressed and he’s found guilty.
I thought there was still a criminal investigation on going…. But I’m assuming not if he’s not on the exempt list
I believe there is one ongoing
Didn’t the Panthers (the NFL really) basically fire their last owner for sexual harassment?
That was part of it, but mostly Richardson was senile by that point and they wanted him gone. That was the public reason, and I believe there were also workplace harassment claims. Not nearly anywhere close to Watson’s count or severity accusation-wise however.
I just need to ask…. How the hell is he not on the exempt list?
Monitoring him? With what, an ankle bracelet?
Sounds like a better idea than having Robert Kraft following him around to massage parlors.
Well played! Comment of the day!
I don’t think any of us would be surprised if Kraft requested a list of Watson’s accusers…with business phone, e-mails, mailing addresses…
It this report is accurate, then Zach Links just pooped in Sam Darnold’s Cheerios.
Hope he can put all this behind. But, character comes pretty high with many GM’s.
A lot of baggage, here. In the long run it could hurt a Franchise’s value in many ways
Look, one of the civil suits is for him asking a massage therapist to put her finger inside his bunghole.
If someone asks you to do that……. don’t.
Or….. sue ‘em.
As for the criminal complaints, if they find him guilty of breaking the law then punish him. But in reality, does anyone really get punished anymore. You can literally be in the US illegally, with Covid, shoot someone, and walk free. The USA is a good time for all right now, baby.