Would Texans need in a Deshaun Watson trade?

by

The Houston Texans have maintained a public front that Deshaun Watson is not going anywhere.

In private, they prepare for the seemingly inevitable, according to John McClain of the Houston Chronicle. The Texas beatwriter reported on Sunday that the team has an idea in mind about the returns they would look for in a deal for Watson.

As expected, it is quite demand. According to McClain, the team would want a Watson deal: two first-round draft picks, two second-round selections, and two young defensive starters. And that would be a starting point.

Is Watson Worth It?

While that’s a huge flight, it’s also reasonable given that Houston’s hypothetical trading partner would get a 25-year-old three-time Pro Bowl quarterback. Watson-level QBs simply won’t be available at this point in their career. That’s a testament to Houston’s dysfunctional front office.

A historic trade purchase would rightly require a huge package in return.

Deshaun Watson # 4 of the Houston Texans responds to an action during a game against the Tennessee Titans at NRG Stadium on January 3, 2021 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato / Getty Images)
What does it take to pry Watson away from the Texans? (Carmen Mandato / Getty Images)

Who could pay the price?

So who would pay that price? That is largely unclear.

Count the New York Jets as the first candidates. Watson – who has a trade ban in his contract – reportedly prefers the New York Jets as a destination about the Miami Dolphins – or another team. According to the Miami Herald, Watson likes the idea of ​​playing for new head coach Robert Saleh, whom the Texans reportedly disregarded in their quest for coaching.

The Jets have the No. 2 pick in April’s draw, which supposedly would come with the option of selecting a quarterback like Ohio’s Justin Fields or BYU’s Zach Wilson.

Any NFL team that doesn’t have Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson or Josh Allen in line every Sunday should at least kick the tires on a trade.

A win-now team in need of an upgrade at the quarterback, like the San Francisco 49ers, would also be an intriguing trading partner. Should they give up Nick Bosa in return? It seems likely.

No matter what comes from trade talks, the Texans shouldn’t be short of suitors. When and if a transaction fails, it becomes a blockbuster.

More from Yahoo Sports:

Source