Deshaun Watson has become one of the league’s top players four years into his NFL career.
Last season, he led all quarterbacks in passing yards with 4,823 and threw for 33 touchdowns.
So far, the former Clemson standout already has 104 passing touchdowns and only 36 interceptions.
But as good as he is, the Houston Texans are falling apart.
The team went 11-5 and 10-6 in the first two seasons that Watson became the team’s starter.
Things took a drastic turn in 2020 as they finished with a 4-12 record.
The Texans traded their top receiver, DeAndre Hopkins, to the Arizona Cardinals, for meager returns.
Then there’s that famous press conference response by J.J. Watt regarding players who don’t put in the effort during practices and games.
Despite the dysfunction hovering above the team, Watson shined by putting up a season for the ages.
However, the marriage started to unravel when the star quarterback demanded a trade.
While the reasons remain unspecified, front office mismanagement seems to be his foremost grievance.
At first, the Texans were in denial and they tried some changes that could persuade him to abort trade calls.
Meanwhile, some teams inquired about his availability and the team’s asking price.
Yet the sexual assault allegations against Watson doused the fire on what might be a completed trade.
Legal experts should be the ones dissecting the cases he will be facing.
The Dolphins are front-runners to trade for Deshaun Watson, per @CharlesRobinson
Teams are seeking pick protections in the event Watson is prosecuted or suspended in relation to sexual assault and harassment allegations from multiple women. pic.twitter.com/AXvtpK0ioB
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) August 28, 2021
What’s worth noting, however, is that the trade talks for Watson are resurfacing.
Houston is stern that they want three first-round picks and two second-rounders for Watson.
The Miami Dolphins were also anointed as frontrunners to land the three-time Pro Bowler.
But several factors dictate that acquiring him now is a faulty decision, despite his ungodly talent.
The Price Is Steep, For Now
Any NFL team that would like to get Watson will essentially pay a king’s ransom.
However, the tradeoff of this is getting him during his prime years.
Sure, it would be nice to have Watson on your squad.
But those picks are also important to get players who complement him.
That said, why get him now if you can acquire him later for a friendlier cost?
Miami can wait if they want Watson because there’s no other team that has the draft capital to give what the Texans want.
It’s better to evaluate what they have with Tua Tagovailoa first before pulling the trigger for the transaction.
Delaying the trade also lessens Watson’s trade value, especially if he ended up being a healthy scratch for the first few games, if not the entire season.
The Deshaun Watson NFL Top 100 clip is so gloomy and awkward. Video lasts just one minute and 20 seconds, they had no players talk about him, and they started off with: "Nobody knows when Deshaun Watson will take the field again. His future is uncertain." pic.twitter.com/S0OGD4ADjz
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) August 22, 2021
Money-wise, Watson does not come cheap either because he signed a four-year, $156 million deal before the 2020 season.
Playing the averages, that will make him worth $39 million per year until 2023.
Restructuring the deal is possible to soften the financial blow, but if a trade were to happen now, interested teams must clear some payables to stay within or under the cap.
For now, teams will be able to make some room because they must trim their rosters to 53 active players.
But those who want to acquire Watson will be forced to clear more space which can disrupt the chemistry built during the preseason.
Supposing that an NFL team was able to clear all barriers, Watson’s no-trade clause is the final ace up his sleeve.
He gets to dictate where he goes only when he waives that contract provision.
Therefore, patience is a virtue for general managers who would like to bring Deshaun Watson to their city.
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