As expected, the Panthers will make a run at Deshaun Watson. According to ESPN’s David Newton, the Panthers are planning to make an “aggressive” trade offer for the Texans quarterback.
[RELATED: No Criminal Charges For Deshaun Watson]
Of course, the Panthers’ offer would be contingent on Watson being willing to waive his no-trade clause. When the Panthers tried to negotiate a trade before the trade deadline, they were told that Watson was focused on Miami and wouldn’t waive his no-trade clause for Carolina. However, Newton says the clause isn’t anticipated to be an issue, and The Athletic’s Joseph Person writes that the Dolphins’ decision to close the door on a Watson trade has renewed belief within the Panthers organization that Watson will reconsider his no-trade stance. Person also adds that Panthers owner David Tepper “has arguably been the driving force behind the team’s interest in Watson.”
The Panthers were prepared to make a major push for Watson last year, and after initially backing off after the off-field trouble surfaced, they were believed to have made the Texans an offer. Carolina’s quarterback situation moved Matt Rhule to the edge of a hot seat last year, and the team has not had stability at the position since Cam Newton‘s injuries began to pile up. The Panthers still have Sam Darnold‘s fully guaranteed $18.8MM salary on their payroll, but for a player like Watson, the QB-desperate team likely would not view that as a hindrance.
After yesterday’s update to Deshaun Watson‘s legal situation, it is expected his trade market will intensify very quickly. A number of teams have long been known to be interested in the Pro Bowler, with the Panthers, Buccaneers, Browns, and Seahawks already mentioned as potential suitors. As Person points out on Twitter, there’s be an interesting side-story if both Carolina and Seattle ultimately emerge as preferred destinations: Panthers GM Scott Fitterer would be bidding against his former bosses in Seattle, John Schneider and Pete Carroll.
Unlimited massage package?
That would be from Kraft in New England.
I’m always a bit wary of owners being “the driving force behind a team’s interest”. Billionaires like to get what they want. Not that Watson would be a bad trade, but an owner might be so fixated that they overpay.
Anyone who wants him will have to “overpay” 3 first rounders a couple 2nd rounders and a package of players plus paying his contract is a huge package to give up. Not saying he isnt worth it, but it is a massive haul.
No doubt it will take 3 1st rounders plus. But my point was just about anxious owners who overrule the football guys paid to make those decisions because they have to have the guy. Urban Meyer is an example. What he was paid was lunacy.
No chance they get that. It will be less then the Russell Wilson trade.
Lol. The Wilson trade was a starting point. He’s much younger than Wilson.
I think the deal with Carolina that would work for both teams is Watson and Tunsil going to Panthers with 4 1s, 1 2nd, and Darnold (to save Panthers 18 million in cap space. That way Panthers solidify QB, and LT, while clearing cap space. Texans can use Darnold as comp for Mills and rebuild in this draft with 2 1st in the top 10 picks. I think Panthers pick would be a likely trade back for a 1 this year and a 1 next for someone looking to trade up for a QB.
They’re not allowed to trade four firsts. You can’t trade draft picks that far in the future.
Not worth it
Absolutely right Skoldad. Whatever team picks up Watson will be on a two-year window with the ship sinking going forward, win or lose. Watson will be in a new system, after not playing for year. Don’t expect miracles in year one. Hence, in exchange for the entire future of a franchise, there is a one year window open to the team who trades for Watson.
Price would have to be half of that to be worth it. Two firsts and a second. Maybe throw in a fourth in two years.
As a Texans fan I love hearing owners involved. Will only increase the package.
Is there anything that the Panthers do that isn’t aggressive these days? Including long term shortsighted decisions?
Tepper really shouldn’t bothered with the facade of hiring Fitterer as GM. He seems about as independent as Dmitry Medvedev.
Well Tepper clearly has no feelings what so ever towards the massage parlors in the Charlotte area.
Carolina? There was a day not too long ago that character matter on this team? I guess with new ownership comes new lows.
After seeing what Russel Wilson went for itll be interesting to see what they get for Watson.
The good news is they already have a QB replacement in Mills. Id also put Tunsil and Cooks on the trading block.
Trading back from #3 and possibly out of the 1st round all together to accumilate 2022 and 2023 draft picks would set Houston up nicely after years of mortgaging the future under Bill O Brien.
Main priority should be investing draft capitol to help Mills next couple years. Some picks on offensive line. Some picks for WRs. Maybe a TE. Similar to what Cincy has done. They spent a lot of draft capitol on offense in recent memory on offense since 2017. 9 out of 10 picks in rounds 1 or 2 went on offense
Saying nothing of the obvious non-football questions and arguments, this would be disastrous for the Panthers if they succeeded in getting him. It would A) decimate their ability to cheaply add talent around Watson via the draft for years; B) seriously hamstring their ability to add over-priced talent around him via FA due to the already mismanaged cap situation becoming worse; and C) cut the strength of the sole bright spot of the team, the defense, by giving up at least one if not two young talented defenders like Brown, Burns, Horn, and/or Chinn (according to most reports).
And that’s not even addressing the (loser) elephant in the room: Rhule. What’s the point of aggressively pursuing Watson when you’re not even close to being one player/QB away from a SB team, you have a terrible O-Line, your lone star offensive player is not guaranteed to even see the field every week, you have no draft capital, your cap situation is wildly leveraged, your defense is young and talented but necessarily must be weakened to acquire said QB… and your head coach is a JV rah-rah guy and not a serious NFL-caliber decision-maker.
Honestly, sometimes it strains the mind to ponder how Tepper was so successful in other professional contexts.
Funny thing is Carolina is also the team that could most desperately use Tunsil. Too bad they gave up their second and fourth round picks and committed $19 million this year for Darnold. They could use the money and picks.
I also wonder if Watson wants to play for what sure looks like a lame duck coach. On the other hand, the NFC looks so weak that they could probably make the playoffs with him.
It’s stating the obvious, but the NFL is a tad bit inconsistent with their disciplinary stands.
Jerry Richardson had to sell the Panthers for sexual harassment in the workplace.
DeShaun Watson is “only” being sued by 22 women for sexual harassment, not being charged criminally, so make him the new starting quarterback of…the Panthers.
This. ^^^
The NFL’s disciplinary actions are inconsistent as well. Ray Rice and Kareem Hunt were suspended 2 and 8 games for hitting a woman, with video evidence. Calvin Ridley gets suspended at least an entire season for betting on games he had no affect on.
Watson is only being sued by 22 “women” for sexual harassment….. Consider the source(s) before we crucify this man.
In their chosen line of work it’s hard to believe these upstanding women were only ever “harassed” by DeShaun Watson. Not that it’s right — if true — but could there po$$ibly be another agenda here?
If true, what other agenda would they need…?
But, this comment shows why Watson was not indicted…only takes 1 of 12 to be this guy and the case is over before it starts.
Gut your team while showing how much your organization sucks at the same time great move. Maybe they can have a sexual assault day for everyone to join in the fun
And that’s the bottom line cause stone cold said so
Watson has a no trade clause. Carolina likely isn’t his first choice.
But if he really wants out of a Houston he will accept it.
If I were a Panther fan, I’d have a hard time rooting for them if Watson came aboard.
Please Carolina, go all in on this clown and save Philly from dumping their draft capital on this guy when they have so many other holes they need to plug with those picks.
I was just reading today that Seattle is going to make a serious run at Watson as well.