Deshaun Watson being cleared of criminal charges Friday will not prevent an NFL suspension, and the Texans quarterback still must navigate the 22 civil cases that emerged from allegations of sexual assault and/or sexual misconduct. But several teams are interested in the Pro Bowl passer, pointing toward a big trade haul for Houston.
In addition to the Panthers, Seahawks, Buccaneers and Browns, the Saints and Vikings have emerged as Watson suitors, Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com reports. They join a suddenly robust market, one that does not include the Dolphins, who moved on despite being runaway favorites for Watson last year. The Texans have sought a trade package fronted by three first-rounders. With Friday’s lack of a grand jury indictment a “game-changer” in this pursuit, per Wilson, Houston might land its desired haul or something close to it.
The Browns are “incredibly interested,” Wilson notes, adding that up to 10 teams are monitoring the embattled QB. The Saints paid close attention to Friday’s developments, NFL.com’s Jane Slater tweets, though they have a tricky cap situation. New Orleans has reached out to Houston, however. The Vikings are in on Watson “for the right price,” Wilson adds. Watson was said to be interested in Minnesota and Tampa Bay as destinations last month.
Minnesota has a rather expensive quarterback in Kirk Cousins, who is tied to a fully guaranteed $35MM base salary. Cousins would obviously need to be moved in a Watson-to-Minnesota scenario, and that may mean the Vikings eating some of his contract. That could be tricky, given Watson’s $39MM-per-year deal. Watson is also due a $35MM base salary in 2022. Sitting $15MM-plus over the cap, the Vikings are actually in slightly worse shape than the long-cap-strapped Saints ($6MM over) as of Saturday afternoon.
Still in on Watson, after emerging as a suitor in early 2021, the Panthers are preparing an aggressive offer. David Tepper hired an investigator to look into Watson’s legal matters, Wilson notes, adding that the Texans still want draft assets in addition to the three first-rounders and at least one player for their quarterback. Jameis Winston extension talks have been on the Saints’ radar, and that would better fit New Orleans’ cap situation. But the team has never been shy about executing winter cap gymnastics. Watson would be a considerable upgrade on Winston for the Saints, whose passing game took a major hit after Drew Brees‘ retirement.
This market’s new additions notwithstanding, the Panthers and Seahawks are still viewed as the likely favorites, Wilson tweets. Seattle has a quarterback need for the first time in 10 years and now has three first-round picks over the next two drafts, including this year’s No. 9 overall choice. The Seahawks’ Watson interest surfaced not long after Tuesday’s Russell Wilson trade.
The Eagles are no longer believed to be a key player here. Watson has not shown interest in Philadelphia as a destination, with Wilson adding he has never waived his no-trade clause for the Eagles. The Steelers and Giants also remain pointed in other directions, but many offers could still come the Texans’ way in the coming days.
3 1sts seems like a foregone conclusion. Panthers with 6th overall this year has to be frontrunner. What sweetens the pot?
He has to waive his no trade clause. He co tells where he goes at this point
Ultimately it’s up to Watson where he wants to go with that no-trade clause. He tells them he only wants to go to one place, it’s gonna limit the package the Texans will get back.
Then he ends up staying in Houston and it becomes a legal battle on if he gets paid while he sits out. If he wants to leave Houston as bad as it sounds he will waive it very easily. He doesn’t hold all the cards, like some seem to think.
I hope Seattle stays away from this wait till next year. We have other holes to fill before we get another QB. Said it a few times drop down in the draft to get a 1 next year and have 3 1st. That gives you a lot of options.
That presumes someone is going to be so motivated to trade up to #9 that they include a future first. Not sure that’s gonna happen. If someone is that motivated to grab one of the QBs, they’re probably trying to trade up ahead of them.
Not buying either the Saints or the Vikings. Sounds like the Texans are trying to pump up the market. They probably think he’s worth more than Wilson and are getting Wilson-like offers.
Or it’s being blown out of proportion that a ton of teams are doing their due diligence, which of course they are.
Once Cousins is traded, his new cap hit is just over $35 million. If Washington was willing to give up two draft picks and take Carson Wentz’s $28 million cap hit, Cousins should be tradeable without eating any money.
My guess is the Vikings have a Cousins suitor lined up if they can make a deal for Watson, and if they can’t they hold onto cousins unfortunately.
I wouldn’t be surprised if the Vikings move is to trade Cousins to Indy and just hit reset.
That actually wouldn’t be a bad deal for either team if Indy isn’t giving up much of anything (ie. Copper to Browns).
If MIN isn’t getting Watson though it makes little sense for them of course.
Indy would have to give up a 1st. Then the Vikings could trade two first and a second this year plaid a 1st, 2nd and 3rd next. Probably a young player as well.
Indy doesn’t have a first to trade this year.
I think clearing Cousins out to restart the roster makes sense on its own terms. That’s not even a knock on Cousins. They just don’t have enough maneuverability or core talent to build a real contender around him and that contract.
I don’t quite understand the dislike for cousins. I mean his salary is quite high but he is an above average QB. I really don’t think watson makes the Vikings better. The dude has a major character flaw. The Vikings imo need to fix their terrible defense
The problem isn’t Cousins himself as a player. He absolutely is above average. But he has the second highest cap hit of any QB in football, which was one thing when it looked like they were a QB away from winning with a talented young defense and two terrific receivers, but now the defense is declined and older and it’s going to be hard for them to rebuild all that quickly with so little cap flexibility. Indy could win their division with Cousins and that contract. The Vikings probably can’t.
Yeah I’m not trading a 1st for that cap hit. He’s good just not good enough.
They tried to jam a immobile, drop back QB into a offense designed around a mobile passer (and smaller, more mobile OL w/pulling center plays, etc.), and got the exact problems one would expect.
Might turn into a bidding war. Best case scenario for the Texans.
Lmao. No way. He has a no trade clause and will ruin any possibility of a bidding war. And I still don’t see any one giving up what the asking price is.
Stay in Houston for 2 years
Or
Go to the highest bidder and get out of Houston immediately.
He’s got two choices. Well three. Retire.
Houston isn’t interested in what’s best for Watson. They’re interested in what’s best for the franchise.
Vikings at least have weapons in Cooks Thielen and Jefferson. One of the better destinations for him honestly.
I’m not sure “stay in HOU” 2 years is an option HOU is willing to entertain to begin with, even out of spite.
They are a bunch of idiots though, so who knows.
The idiots for the most part are gone (O’Brien) or neutered (Easterby). The Texans did not trade Watson last year for peanuts, nor will they this year. Watson can pout and sit or be sued for breach of contract. Texans were willing to play nice for 10 million and the possibility of criminal charges complicating any trade. Next week Watson will be guaranteed 35 million and has been cleared criminally. He will agree to a trade of the Texans choosing or he will suit up for the Texans next year.
Lol
I live in Houston and will personally pay to see that happen if they let him step on the field.
Just don’t see it. I doubt he feels strongly enough about ONE team to really dig his heels in, but if he’s going to be picky about where he goes I’m not going yo be shocked if he fetches less than Wilson did. Keeping in mind the Scarlett letter he’ll still carry in the eyes of half the leagues fan base.
McNair is the main idiot. That’s why Easterby ever got in a position of influence.
The Vikings are 15 mill over the cap. IF they can get Watson to agree, the best partner for the Texans is a team with a ton of cap space. Yes, 3 first picks is probably the starting point for any team, but absorbing that whole contract as well as other picks, is the real sweetener. The Vikes can’t do more than swap contracts.
Vikings can certainly restructure contracts in addition to shipping Cousins somewhere to afford Watson.
Some of their higher priced guys like Thielen and Cooks would probably be amendable to contract restructures to bring in someone like Watson.
Steelers could certainly carve out room and bring in cousins. Colts make sense for Cousins. Dolphins have said theyre committed to Tua but could opt to bring in Cousins which seattle could take a flier on Tua
Hell of a faulty conclusion. Those aren’t his only two options (or three options). Houston is absolutely interested in what Watson wants as he holds the trump card. Houston will still get an excellent return though.
TB is quite similar with that talent, Evans, Godwin, Fournette if he resigns.
Is there a single team that wants to win now, needs a QB, and could realistically take on Cousins other than Indy? Because that would mean trading Cousins without getting a first this year, then having to turn around and trade (presumably) multiple firsts to bring Watson to a roster that needs a good bit of work and not much cap space (or draft capital in this scenario) to do that work. Hard to see that one happening.
Also hard to see Seattle doing it. Cutting Wagner felt like a nod toward a rebuild.
The Vikings could easily push money to next year when they have considerable cap space to free up some space this year.
They’d have to redo a couple of more contracts to do that… and of course, that just gets moved down the road.
As a Vikings fan I’d be disappointed if they gave up a haul for him, both because I don’t think they’re a QB away from winning it all (their defense needs a lot of help) and because even though he was cleared of wrongdoing it really makes me question his decision making putting himself in those situations. I’d rather go full rebuild than bring this guy and his circus in, in the hope he can drag an average team to the promise land.
I’m surprised we haven’t heard about the Lions trading for Watson. He is young enough for what would be a sped up rebuild in Detroit. They have 4 firsts over the next two years.
They have a good O line. And the consensus is that they were much better than their record indicated. I think it could be a fit.
They wouldn’t have those 4 firsts if they traded for him.
Ummm, that’s what I was saying. They could get him with 2 or 3 of those.
Watson does not like Houston or so it seems. So I would bet he will make sure the team he picks is not the one Houston gets the best value.
So, David Tepper gets to buy the Panthers because Jerry Richardson was sexually harassing people and the NFL made him sell…
…and then, David Tepper gets to buy low on (SEA likely only other real suitor, MIN and NO floated here by HOU for leverage over CAR) a franchise QB because he’s accused of sexual harassment?
Tepper has figured how out to utilize the market inefficiency of sexual harassment into some real investment opportunities.
I do NOT want that women abuser on my team!
Guilty until proven innocent?
Just a tip, you should assume any rich and powerful person used their wealth and influence to escape justice. We have two justice systems in this country, one for the rich and one for the rest of us.
I will never understand why people have the same burden of proof as one of the tightest legal systems ever invented. The bar of criminal proof is set high for a reason. If you require the same levels to formulate your personal beliefs you either lack imagination or aren’t actually interested in truth. Either way wtf is the point of being that way?
I do not want that criminal on my team!