The position of the Houston Texans has not changed. New GM Nick Caserio is not interested in trading disaffected quarterback Deshaun Watson.
Watson, who is a very, very smart player, used his leverage by threatening to delay the 2021 season if the Texans don’t agree to a trade. Caserio could be planning to cut off his GM teeth in a showdown with the three-time Pro Bowler, or he could just wait for that offer he can’t refuse.
Maybe the Denver Broncos are that team that blows back Caserio’s hair. The new GM George Paton was a man of his word and involved in “every deal” in the off-season QB market.
With the latest QB domino falling in the form of Carson Wentz trading to Indianapolis, the Broncos’ options for a day one upgrade over established starter Drew Lock have diminished. The good news?
Current bets are favorable for the Broncos as the clubhouse leaders to win the Watson sweepstakes, according to FanDuel
Two things have been made clear about the Denver Broncos off-season: They want to leave Drew Lock, and they are interested in a Deshaun Watson deal. With the Houston Texans’ quarterback available, Denver could take a huge step towards getting their next franchise star.
This represents a huge move for Denver, who was outside the top five in the odds for Watson’s next team just under two weeks ago. However, there is more and more noise connecting the QB to the Broncos, so it’s not too surprising that Denver has worked its way up.
The futures odds for players on FanDuel Sportsbook (available in Colorado only) will continue to support a Watson-to-Denver trade. Their probability has only increased to +300 a few days ago and they are on the road again. The Broncos are now the favorites to land Watson at +150.
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Meanwhile, John McClain, who had been in Houston for a while, refuted the idea that Denver was the chance of a favorite to land Watson.
“I guarantee you the Denver Broncos will not get Deshaun Watson from Texans,” McClain said earlier this week during a performance at KOARadio in Denver.
Time will tell. McClain considers the New York Jets, and that team’s nest egg of multiple first-rounders, to be the real leader in landing Watson.
Meanwhile, Lock hears all the buzz and sees his new GM openly chasing every available veteran QB in the marketplace.
Word on the street is that the third year signal caller strives to keep the noise out, head down and nose to the grindstone at Broncos headquarters. It would be a big shock to see a tectonic QB trade take the road to Denver off-season.
The most likely scenario, given that head coach Vic Fangio is in a ‘win or else’ season, is that Paton will have to settle for a free agent journeyman such as an Andy Dalton, Jacoby Brissett, or Ryan Fitzpatrick, and it leads. back with Lock for another year.
As attractive as a QB may be in April’s NFL draw, a rookie won’t save Fangio or the Broncos from whatever fate awaits them in 2021. If there isn’t Watson to be had, or (an even less likely one) Russell Wilson, there’s a good chance Paton and Fangio would see Lock as the QB to give the Broncos the best chance of winning in 202.
After all, this would be Lock’s second year in offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur’s plan, and his 18 NFL starts have earned him a more than solid sample size of league exposure and his best defense. If Denver loses the sensational QB trades this spring, don’t be surprised to see Paton manage it again with Lock.
And when / if that happens, don’t be surprised to see Lock show a marked improvement, winning some ball games for the on-the-hot-seat Fangio and Shurmur.
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