There is no substantial report that the Houston Texans intend to trade Deshaun Watson. Nor has there been any substantial notice that Watson has or will request a transaction. However, NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport reported this on Thursday Watson is not happy with the Texans after some of their off-season maneuvers and has not spoken to the club the past few days. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the same.
Watson is a player of such impact that every word of his possible move is something the 49ers should keep an eye on.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan has expressed his support for Jimmy Garoppolo and plans for him to be the starter unless a massive upgrade is on the table.
In the event that Watson goes on the trading block, he immediately jumps to the top of a short list of potentially available quarterbacks representing that massive upgrade. He may be the only player on the list, depending on how the team feels about other seasoned quarterbacks in the league.
San Francisco overtook Watson when they picked third in the 2017 draft, opting to bolster their line of defense with Solomon Thomas. A chance to also end up at Watson while still in his mid-twenties would help alleviate the consequences of the big swing and miss that launched John Lynch’s tenure as general manager.
A drag on a 49ers-Watson connection is the cost of acquiring such an important quarterback in his prime. There aren’t many teams who wouldn’t call about the Pro Bowler. It’s not inconceivable that his prize would include three or more first round picks, multiple Day 2 picks, and a quality starter. It’s steep, but securing a franchise caller while he’s 25 years old would be well worth that price tag for a team like San Francisco that’s still looking for a long-term below-center answer.
It’s worth stressing that Watson isn’t on the trading bloc, but Rapoport’s reports represent the first signs of smoke. And the 49ers would be wise to keep a close eye out for a possible fire.