It is unclear whether these calls were actually answered or whether they went directly to voicemail.
But at least five teams have called the Houston Texans to inquire about a possible exchange for quirky quarterback Deshaun Watson, Houston Chronicle’s John McClain told “BMitch and Finlay” on 106.7 The Fan in Washington Tuesday.
The teams calling were not disclosed, but McClain, who has been reporting the NFL to the Chronicle for 45 years, believes that if new Texas general manager Nick Caserio doesn’t think Miami Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa is a franchise caller, the best trade fit with the Jets.
That’s the only way you’re guaranteed to get the second-best quarterback behind Trevor Lawrence; that could be Zach Wilson, ”McClain said.
One team that doesn’t appear to be in the mix according to McClain is the Washington Football Team, which cut 2019 first rounder Dwayne Haskins before the end of the 2020 season and said goodbye to veteran Alex Smith.
The Texans insist they are not trading Watson, who insists he will never play for them again. Eventually, someone will have to blink their eyes first, and McClain says Watson, 25, “won’t report” to Texans’ training camp while he’s still on the team. Watson was able to hold out and get back in just enough games to play so that his contract doesn’t spin.
“They have to trade him for me,” McClain said of the Texans.