The Texans rejected an offer of three first-round draft picks for Deshaun Watson just prior to the draft in April, according to Jay Glazer of FOX Sports (h/t The Houston Chronicle). In theory, that’s pretty close to the team’s reported ask of three first rounders plus second rounders and/or starting-caliber veterans.
[RELATED: Dolphins Owner Stephen Ross ‘Really Wants’ Deshaun Watson?]
There were four teams that were really interested in Watson at one point this offseason, Glazer hears. However, at this point, “most of them have all dropped out.” The Dolphins have been heavily linked to Watson as of late, though there are conflicting reports on their level of interest. While owner Stephen Ross may be high on Watson, two team insiders have heard that he won’t impose his will on the front office. Meanwhile, head coach Brian Flores says that Tua Tagovailoa will continue as his starting quarterback.
The pre-draft offer (and rejection) is certainly notable, but that mystery team may have been offering conditional picks, dependent on Watson’s availability. That’s a non-starter for GM Nick Caserio, who is willing to pay Watson to do nothing in 2021.
Watson is still on the roster, but not on the field. So far, that’s working out just fine for the Texans. On Sunday, Tyrod Taylor led Houston to a 37-21 win over the Jaguars.
Ah, yes. Another “breaking” Deshaun Watson story.
That pick Tua threw as ugly! Jumping up and falling back after getting hit, while throwing a wobbler.
He was trying to throw it out of bounds but was too off balance. It happens.
Stupid pass. Take the sack.
They won, so who cares? He was fine all game, not sure focusing on one throw while he was getting hit is productive.
Got hit as he was throwing out of bounds. Trying to make the right play. Actually should have been caught by Gesicki if you see the replay.
Alright armchair QB, try making a split second decision with pressure bearing down on you like that.
Well. That was stupid. 3 1st round picks would have gone a long way to helping rebuild the franchise.
Can’t help but feel they’d be better off trading Watson for Miami picks or jet picks and trading back to acquire more assets. Especially the Jets and the #2 pick.
Both teams better off without Watson.
I agree with Faith in the Padres, hindsight aside. Three firsts is going than you’d get anywhere else, and massive increase in cap space that would give Houston would easily cover quality free agent additions at several spots over time. Worry about getting a “quality starter” back should be irrelevant-either someone steps up and proves himself, or you’re bad and your team picks a new starter (a cheap starter, might I add). And, after that, you still have two firsts left, all for a disgruntled player. I’d like more than three firsts too, but you’re not getting that anywhere.
Texans wouldn’t have increased their cap by trading him — he would still be on their books for a few years unless the new team took on everything.
Fair, but I would guess that in getting less than they wanted compensation wise (which, again, is still significant capitol for a team who has been dealt away picks), I made the assumption that some deal would be worked out as to the cap hit. So, yes, without that, the hit applies. I personally still think that it’s worth it as opposed to Watson taking up the space on the roster anyway either refusing to play or doing so disgruntled, but that’s just my opinion.
If you’d carefully read the article it said the three firsts offered might have been conditional on Watson’s availability. That wouldn’t help right now as he probably would have been suspended if active
Yes, it’d be bad now, but at the time that would have been a terrible turndown. It still would be for another player.
If Josh Allen decided he never wanted to play another down for Buffalo, and the Bills were offered three first for him as a disgruntled quarterback that were conditional on his starting, they should take it. Allen may be alleged two years after that to have conducted sexual misconduct with numerous women. Or he may be alleged to have killed a driver in a DUI, or broken into his ex’s house-in short, anything that could cause a valuable player to miss time. Any player could have that at any time, seeing as we don’t know their private character or lives very well, and there also is to be fair always the occasional false allegation that results in punishment.
The point remains that trades still may be conducted, and if the picks are contingent on starts, nobody loses-not even the team giving up the player, seeing as they likely weren’t going to get anything out of him anyway. Three firsts is a good offer for a malcontent player in my mind. The team even could be argued to have gained by subtraction in dealing away what would an active negative public curiosity, as is the case currently with Watson.
How is any team better off without a top 5 qb. A lot of qbs have had off field issues. Its funny how many forget Roethlisberger, Farve and other’s indiscretions.
You still don’t trade first round picks for a top 5 QB until those transgressions have been sorted out. Depending on what legal ramifications happen he could be out awhile and then what?
They were likely conditional picks. If he doesn’t play, the Texans would have gotten late round picks or nothing at all.
While I am making no assumptions about anyone’s level of guilt, I must note that the number of those accusations did not match Watson’s. Those lawyers were also less inclined to use public media to help advertise their cases, so the focus was not as intense. I would say that Watson’s case is higher profile due to the number of plaintiffs, the public PR by the plaintiff lawyer, and the unresolved possibility of a criminal charge or charges.
Texans would be better off trading him because of the fact that Watson wants out and even without the allegations, he wouldn’t be playing for them. It’s a matter of being benched while awaiting an investigation versus him holding out. He wasn’t suiting up for them anyway.
Maybe they don’t want to trade Watson after all
Good lord………….SOLD!!!!
Seems like it would’ve been the 49ers making that offer since they basically gave up three first round picks to get Trey Lance. But who knows.
It will be interesting to see what the Texans are able to get even after these lawsuits are behind him, assuming he doesn’t get jail time.
The story says it was in April. The niners had already traded those picks.
Sorry not sure why I responded to your comment instead of the story lol
The Texans are delusional.
Glazer is just blowing smoke. Zero teams would have picked up the phone to make such an offer after the first civil suit became known in late February. BTW, if the Houston PD decides to try Watson for the other 10 criminal complaints he could get 2 years in prison for each conviction. Not sure he’ll still be a viable trade candidate in 2040…
If they turned that down after his accusers came out and pretty much tanked his value, then they deserve to get nothing out of him. Morons!
The stupidity of the move screams NFC East to me. Not Dallas because they have Dak, but I could see any of WFT, the Giants, or the Eagles making that offer.
I don’t think Philly, after making the questionable decision to move on from Wentz in favor of Jalen, is ready to further show signs of disarray and make yet another QB move (this coming from an Eagles’ fan).
WFT just caved in to the woke mob. Do you really think they’d trade for a guy with this kind of cloud hanging over him?
NYG? I don’t know how sold they are on Jones, but I bet they think the division is theirs for the taking built as they are. I think they’d stay the course and make a run with what they’ve got.
Or I could be wrong about all 3.
I don’t believe for one second that anybody was dumb enough to make that offer, or that they were just as dumb for turning it down. Ryan Pace is the only one dumb enough to make that offer for a guy he could of drafted for nothing at the time.
I’d say Les Snead would, but he just traded for Stafford and is out of picks anyway.
Serious question, interested in the discussion… If, and that’s a HUGE if, Watson’s legal problems are behind him by the end of the season… balancing his talent (and huge contract) against the undefinable “PR hit,” and factoring in that Watson wanted out before all this began…
…what does everyone think Watson would bring in a trade under those circumstances? If not much changes and he still has off-field issues to deal with, what might the Texans get for him then?
A bit more than Stafford. Even if he clears all of the legal issues, teams will use the long lay off as another excuse to lowball, on top of the “Watson wants out” issue.
No one is trading for him until his issues are cleared. Except maybe the producers of Jeopardy, but even they probably learned not to swim upstream.
These articles are getting worse than the Colin Kapernick non-sense every other day….. MOVE ON.. And quit writing articles without the “source” being listed. Man up and list your source or we just assume all this is just bs..
“Yeah, stop it with these articles that consistently get the most clicks and the most comments EVERY SINGLE DAY…day after day.”
Misapplication of the free market at work here.
“I am COMPLETELY incapable of scrolling past articles I don’t care about, so stop writing them.”
– eyeofthebeholder13
I think I speak for the Texans organizations when I say, I just hope there’s a happy ending.
If that’s true this team is extremely dumb
Noone did that … Altho if I was the dolphins I’d trade for him tui is trash