It doesn’t look like a Deshaun Watson trade is imminent, and it certainly doesn’t look like he’ll be playing for the Texans anytime soon. A third, and perhaps most likely, option has now emerged.
Houston is “prepared to have Deshaun Watson on the 53-man roster and inactive every week,” sources told veteran NFL writer Aaron Wilson (Twitter link). That echoes the sentiment from Albert Breer of SI.com, who has some additional details. Notably, Breer reports that “packages involving three first-round picks (and then some) were discussed by interested teams,” before the sexual harassment allegations against Watson came to light.
Breer says, like we’ve heard before, that teams now want to make any draft picks traded for Watson conditional based on his availability to play. Breer writes that he hasn’t “gotten any indication that the Texans are willing to tie their return to those sorts of contingencies,” leading us to the current impasse.
To make it even more firm, Michael Lombardi of The Athletic tweets that Houston “has no intentions of trading Watson” right now, and that the team “turned down a huge offer” from a rival franchise over the summer.
If interested teams and the Texans are both locked in on those positions, which makes perfect sense, Houston holding on to Watson until his off-field issues are resolved would seem to be the logical move.
One reason the Texans might be incentivized to hold out until the offseason would be that they would know the precise value of any 2022 draft picks they were trading for, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network points out (Twitter video link). They wouldn’t have to guess about where their trade partner would end up in the draft order.
On the other hand, Rapsheet also points out that there’s no guarantee the civil (and potentially criminal) proceedings against Watson are wrapped up by the spring either. Even still, it now sounds like the Texans paying Watson $10.54MM to not play for them in 2021 might be the likeliest scenario.
okay, I’m starting to get confused why he isnt on the exempt list
It’s because the exempt classification can only come from a commissioner’s office decision.
The team is basically doing the same thing but they have to carry him on the 53 roster.
Plus, it’s because he hasn’t officially been charged with anything.
I read Drew had a deal in the works and it was imminent. Would he be the type to get a desperate team to make a move so they don’t lose him? I could never see him do that.
Because some people can’t see sarcasm when it is very obvious I will let you know that was obvious sarcasm.
Any of the 32 teams have to deal with the fallout, so why trade him? Draft picks are a crap shoot at best. Mayfield, Burrow (injured), Goff, & Winston are all recent #1 picks & not not succeeding. So why trade a great QB?
Mayfield is doing well.
He’s a game manger, not a HoF caliber QB. Wasted pick. Both J Allen and Lamar are better than him.
Mayfield finally has the same coaches for a second straight year. He’s the reason they made the playoffs last night year. 14 touchdown passes and 1 interception in the last 9 games.
How about the 1st 7 seven games? Coaching turnover is done every year by every team, including colleges. Keep coming up w/ excuses.
He isn’t a top QB, but he isn’t bad either. Baker is solid. He can win you games.
I really wouldn’t call that a compliment.
Winston bout to Brady and burrow was balling till he got injured
Not quite sure it’s fair to put Burrow on that list. Looked great prior to his freak injury, one that could have been avoided if his OL wasn’t a sieve. Also, not sure prime Brady or Peyton Manning could succeed with that Bengals team, much less Watson.
Yes! honor him & that clown No Trade clause.
I’m willing to not play for the Texans this season for a lot less than $10.54MM.
I’d sit for $1.54M
I’d sit for $154k 🙂
I’d sit for $154.
I’d sit for 15.40 and just live off the government.. When’s my next stimulus?
Too bad no one wants you to.
I know I could look it up, but it would be more to fun to find out this way…
Who is the backup in Houston?
3rd round QB they got in the draft Mills(?) I believe.
Tyrod Taylor, then maybe Mills. They also had ex-Bengal Jeff Driskel, not sure if they still do.
Actually, I was expecting it to be a punchline, but Tyrod Taylor is about as good as you could hope for in this situation.
I’m not positive, but I think wasting an active roster space on this guy for an entire season when they already have maybe the worst depth in the NFL is categorically stupid.
If they trade him for 3 1st’s, that roster still sucks. So why? Franchise QB’s are hard to find.
I mean this works, I’m just wondering why they’re not starting Davis Mills instead of Tyrod Taylor at this point.
Still looking for an article to point out that even if Watson were to be completely exonerated of all these charges, it’s not a “happily ever after” ending; everything goes back to where it was before the first accusation
He STILL doesn’t want to play for Houston
There’s no scenario where Houston has any negotiating leverage with other teams.
Why in the world an NFL franchise would trade for Watson in his current status – first he has to settle his legal cases out of court which of course will happen then he has to face the shield take that punishment then his market will be determined at that time. I say maybe 18 months? Not before unless you just give him away for peanuts.
The NFL is hosing Houston, as they have suspended other big name players without pay for much less, and yet are slow walking their investigation of these 22+ incidents. I wonder why…
This is nothing more than a play by Houston to try and get someone to pay their bs ransom for Watson. What team will the be the idiots who trade for a player who took their team to a 4-12 record and then QUIT on them? Also, what NFL QB has to get off using massage parlors?? Sad