Deshaun Watson trade odds: Jets, Dolphins, Panthers, 49ers, Patriots favored suitors, Cowboys sleepers, as Texans quarterback has demanded deal
Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson has officially demanded a trade.
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ESPN's Adam Schefter broke the news Thursday morning that Houston Texans Pro Bowl quarterback Deshaun Watson, one of the NFL's bright young stars, has officially demanded a trade. The fact Houston just hired its new head coach in Baltimore Ravens assistant David Culley did nothing to change Watson's mind as he's fed up with ownership in Houston. SportsLine offers NFL odds on where Watson will be dealt.
Schefter reported that Watson officially requested the trade a few weeks ago and that he hasn't spoken to new Texans general manager Nick Caserio nor executive Jack Easterby. When the Texans hired Caserio without Watson's input, that started all of this in motion.
Watson also was pushing for Houston to hire Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy as the next head coach. Bieniemy wasn't even a finalist despite coordinating the No. 1 total and passing offense in the NFL during the regular season. Culley, meanwhile, was Baltimore's passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach. The Ravens ranked last in the league in passing yards per game. Hmm.
Arguably the biggest trade in NFL history involving a player already in the league was Dallas sending star running back Herschel Walker to the Minnesota Vikings on Oct. 12, 1989, for a handful of players and, more important, a boatload of draft picks. Those picks would be the building blocks of the Cowboys' dynasty in the early 1990s; for example, Dallas picking Emmitt Smith No. 17 overall in 1990 was an offshoot of that trade.
The Watson trade likely will be unprecedented because a 25-year-old quarterback under a long-term contract who led the league in passing yards in the most recent season simply doesn't come available in the NFL. Last year, the Seahawks gave up two first-round picks to the Jets for Pro Bowl safety Jamal Adams. In theory, Watson is worth at least double that.
Perhaps the most notable situation similar to Watson's was Jay Cutler, who was a Pro Bowler in his age-25 season in 2008 with Denver before forcing a trade to Chicago. The Bears gave up two first-round picks, a third-rounder and QB Kyle Orton to Denver for Cutler and a fifth-round pick.
Watson will have only a $10.5 million cap hit in 2021, which is nothing for a player of his caliber. It's also important to note he has a full no-trade clause. There have been reports that Watson has provided the Texans with a list of where he wants to go, topped by the Jets (Watson is a fan of new coach Robert Saleh and also pushed him for the Houston job), the Dolphins (Watson is a fan of coach Brian Flores) and Panthers (Watson starred collegiately nearby at Clemson).
The Jets could offer Sam Darnold and multiple first-round picks, including the No. 2 and No. 23 this year. Reports are the Texans have little interest in Darnold but would use the No. 2 pick to perhaps take Ohio State QB Justin Fields. The Big Apple also offers marketing possibilities for Watson unlike any other city.
The Dolphins could offer a package built around 2020 No. 5 overall pick Tua Tagovailoa as well as the No. 3 and No. 18 overall picks this season. However, there are reports the Texans aren't high on Tua after his up-and-down rookie season and that it would be embarrassing for Houston to trade for the No. 3 pick because that originally belonged to the Texans but was sent to Miami (as was Houston's 2021 second-rounder) in the Laremy Tunsil trade.
Carolina holds the No. 8 overall pick, which puts the Panthers a distant third among this wish-list group. They likely would have to trade up this year to get in the conversation.
Nearly every other team in the NFL except perhaps Kansas City (Patrick Mahomes), Baltimore (Lamar Jackson), Buffalo (Josh Allen), Seattle (Russell Wilson) and Arizona (Kyler Murray) likely would inquire about Watson. Would the Chargers consider giving up Justin Herbert for Watson? That would be fascinating but seems unlikely considering the Bolts also would have to include draft picks.
Would Jacksonville part with the No. 1 overall pick and the chance at Trevor Lawrence? Unlikely as Lawrence will be on such a cheap contract his first four seasons, while Watson just signed a $160 million extension. There's almost zero chance the Texans trade Watson inside the AFC South, so rule out the Jags, Colts and Titans.
Sorry, Packers fans, Aaron Rodgers for Watson is a pipe dream because Rodgers is 37. The Rams would like to move on from former No. 1 overall pick Jared Goff but don't have enough draft capital to satisfy Houston.
Chicago, which blew it by not taking Watson over Mitchell Trubisky in the 2017 draft, probably doesn't have enough draft capital, either, with the No. 20 overall pick this year. Derek Carr and multiple draft picks from Las Vegas to Houston?
Dak Prescott (he would have to be franchise-tagged again, sign the tag and agree on an extension with Houston) and multiple picks (including No. 10 overall this year) from Dallas? The Cowboys would get Watson at a cheaper price than the amount it would take to sign Prescott. There is no more glamor position in sports than the starting QB of America's Team, so that could appeal to Watson. The Texans trading Watson to their state rival would be stunning, though.
Again, it's important to remember that Watson has a no-trade clause, so he's only going where he wants. Houston has little leverage. Reportedly, half the league already has called the Texans.
Via SportsLine oddsmakers: Favorites to trade for Deshaun Watson
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