New Denver Broncos GM George Paton said in his opening statement announcing his appointment that he intends to be “aggressive but not reckless” in putting the roster together. Just over a day later, Paton told the team site that the Broncos “will be involved in every deal.”
That sets the stage for the latest buzz in Deshaun Watson’s trade rumors. While Watson has still officially filed for an exchange from the Texans, ESPN reports that Houston sources believe the disgruntled quarterback played his last moment for the team that drafted him as No. 12 overall in 2017.
This buzz has led the oddsmakers to start taking serious bets on where Watson could land next – if indeed he’s traded. According to SportsBetting.com, the Broncos have a 5/1 chance of landing the three-time Pro Bowler who is fourth best in the NFL.
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The teams leading Denver in the Watson trade sweepstakes are the New York Jets (2/1), Miami Dolphins (3/1) and Chicago Bears (4/1). Again, the Broncos check in at number 4 with a 5/1 chance, followed by the Indianapolis Colts at number 5 with an 8/1 chance.
What once seemed like a pipe dream at best has suddenly become more and more realistic. 10 days ago, the idea of the Texans trading in Watson was unthinkable.
After all, the Texans may have had a forgettable season, but they are just months away from giving them a four-year contract extension worth $ 156 million in new money. He was fully guaranteed $ 73,716 million upon signing.
That’s a big commitment to the QB, which made the Houston owner’s behavior all the more confusing. Watson was reportedly told by the McNair family that he would help select the Texans’ next GM and head coach.
Houston hired ex-Patriots staff, Tsar Nick Caserio, to back up the Brinks truck to make it potentially the highest paid GM in the NFL. Watson was not consulted about the lease.
That’s what knocked out Watson and now the Texans are in a pickle. Time will tell that Houston can save this thing with 25-year-old Watson, but trading him in, based on the most recent insider reporting, has become a clear possibility, so much so that the oddsmakers are taking bets.
Is that level of a blockbuster trade something Paton would approve in his first off-season as the Broncos GM? I have my doubts, especially because of the king’s ransom money that would be needed to get Watson out of Houston.
Paton could check to see what Houston’s demand will be, but suffice it to say that the Broncos should not only be willing to take over Watson’s hefty contract but also give up the proverbial farm. Such a move would require saying goodbye to at least two first-round draft picks, if not three, and maybe even a few seconds.
“You really need to know where you stand as a team and that in turn determines your aggressiveness,” Paton told the team site last week. “But I think you’re involved in every deal out there, and then you can discuss and work together and just decide if you want to make that leap. It’s really important to be involved in everything so you don’t miss a single deal. come over. So we’ll be aggressive – engaged – but that doesn’t mean we’re going to jump. ”
Meanwhile, Denver insiders like Woody Paige are reporting that Drew Lock will be the starter for the Broncos again and that John Elway and Vic Fangio are campaigning for Paton to play with. Another year with Lock below center is the likely end result, but if Paton looks around the league, explores the 2021 draft class, and ultimately decides Lock is the best option, expect the Broncos to hire a more capable and proven veteran to take him. to support. up.
As for Watson, it’s a situation to keep an eye on. But Broncos fans really, and I mean really, shouldn’t hope.
Follow Chad on Twitter @ChadNJensen and @BuienRadarNL.