It was reported at the trade deadline that Deshaun Watson could have ended up on the Miami Dolphins if he settled of all his pending civil lawsuits. We are now finding out that it was very close to happening.
According to Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk, the Carolina Panthers would have traded for Watson without a civil settlement, but he would not waive his no-trade clause to go there.
The below report then stated that 18 of the 22 plaintiffs suing Watson for sexual misconduct were ready to settle with him in late October, but those four held him up in being traded.
Via Pro Football Talk:
“As the Dolphins stand within one game of making the long climb act to .500 after a 1-7 start, they came very close to having a different quarterback during the ongoing five-game winning streak.
Per a source with knowledge of the situation, 18 of the 22 plaintiffs suing Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson for sexual misconduct during massage therapy sessions were ready to settle with him in late October. Four holdouts prevented a deal from being done.
In turn, that prevented the Dolphins from trading for Watson.
Miami owner Stephen Ross wanted Watson, but only if Watson settled all of the pending civil actions. Without 22 of 22 resolving their claims, the Dolphins wouldn’t do the deal.”
As we later found out, the Texans found out that Watson was settling his lawsuits and promptly shot their price up for him.
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In October, CBS Sports insider Jason La Canfora said the Panthers are “still eyeing” Watson.
“League sources said the Panthers are willing to part with three high picks and All Pro running back Christian McCaffrey in a package for Watson; the Texans are very high on several of the Panthers’ young defensive standouts (still on their rookie contracts and younger and cheaper than McCaffrey), and the sides have yet to reach a compromise,” La Canfora said.
He led the Texans to consecutive AFC South titles in 2018 and 2019. Watson signed a four-year, $156 million contract just beofre the 2020 season.
In 2020, Watson threw for an NFL-best 4,823 yards with 33 touchdowns and only seven interceptions.
