Deshaun Watson hasn’t fully made it clear he wants out of Houston, but the many reports and his actions seem to be headed toward a divorce with the franchise. If that is the case, there are reportedly several teams interested in trading for one of the NFL’s budding superstars at the quarterback position.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler noted there are a few sleeper teams as well.
“The Chicago Bears. I know there are people in that building that are very high on Deshaun Watson,” Fowler said. “Even though they passed on him in 2017, general manager Ryan Pace could maybe get a mulligan.”
“Carolina Panthers, I’m hearing, would gauge interest if he was indeed on the market,” Fowler went on to say. “This is a team that wasn’t completely sold on Teddy Bridgewater – they’ve sort of made that clear.”
And the final darkhorse made the playoffs this season and recently moved on from former first-round pick Dwayne Haskins.
“Washington Football team is another that is mentioned as going to be busy this offseason trying to get their future quarterback,” Fowler said.
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Watson’s relationship with Houston’s front office have many deeming it unsalvageable.
“Teams are calling,” ESPN NFL insider Dan Graziano said this week. “Right now, Houston is taking the position that they still think they can get it fixed. They haven’t even hired a coach yet. They’re hoping that he cools down and they don’t have to trade him. Right now, people around Watson don’t think it’s salvageable and they’ll end up having to (trade him). Look, the Jets are going to run that same offense. They’re bringing in Mike LaFleur as their offensive coordinator … if you’re the Jets you have to think two first rounders this year, two first rounders next year.
“The way (Watson’s) contract is structured, he is scheduled to earn $10.5 million next year. If you trade for him, that is the cap hit for Deshaun Watson. Yes, it goes up to $35 million, $37 million after that. But for next year, you’d get Deshaun Watson for the price of an off-ball linebacker.”
