Deshaun Watson's landing spots: Where could the Houston Texans' QB be traded?

Deshaun Watson is one of the NFL’s premier quarterbacks. This year, a year in which his Houston Texans went a brutal 4-12 despite Watson leading the NFL in passing yards (4,823 yards) and adding 33 touchdowns and a 112.4 rating with just seven interceptions. He was nothing short of elite this year, and had he been on a winning team he would be in the MVP discussion – he could be anyway for what it’s worth.

The Texans have one of the best franchise QBs in the NFL, and they have him under contract through 2025. That is a dreamy situation for any franchise. However, the nature of this season just passed and the seeming dysfunction of Houston’s organization have left questions about the relationship between team and player.

Days after the season came to an end rumors started swirling regarding Watson’s future in Houston. Reportedly, via ProFootballTalk’s Mike Florio, Watson had ‘quietly broached with teammates’ the possibility of seeking a trade from the Texans. For a franchise QB, months removed from signing a massive four-year contract extension, this would be quite unprecedented.

As you may expect, the Texans have already, loudly, wiped away the possibility of trading away a player who is already the best to play for the Texans at the QB position. There are many reasons why that would be reasonable; they recently signed him to a massive contract extension; they already have a sure-franchise QB, they likely won’t find an equal immediately; he’s a fan favorite and a massive draw for the team; and he is an enormous presence in the locker room and very well respected leader.

However, Watson's displeasure with the franchise is comprehensive and legitimate. His anger levels are reportedly at a 10, having been a two when the team traded wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, and is attributed to the team's insensitivity to social justice and how it pertains to their hiring process this year - something he was told he'd be a part of, but was promptly ignored. 

It will take a lot to make a trade happen, and it is a trade the Texans will struggle to justify or overcome, but if it were to happen, where may he land? 

New York Jets

The Jets represent the most likely – and least exciting – landing spot for Watson. Why? They easily have; a) the cap room; b) the draft picks; and c) the need.

At 0-13 they were seemingly locked in to be picking Trevor Lawrence at first overall come the 2021 NFL Draft. But, instead, they won two straight games against playoff teams, no less, to drop to the second overall pick and gift Lawrence to the Jacksonville Jaguars. They are still in position to draft any of the number of QBs who’ll be available and highly touted come April, but none come with the certainty of Watson.

More importantly, though, seeing as Watson would improve at least 27 teams’ QB situations, they have the resources to pull off this trade. Per NFL insider Benjamin Allbright, the asking price to maybe ‘start the conversation’ would be three ones, three twos and a player. That’s a lot.

Thanks to multiple trades, most notably Jamal Adams and Leonard Williams, the Jets hold 18 picks in the next two drafts, including four first rounders and four third rounders. They have just two second rounders, but with that many picks they could definitely pony up the type of package the Texans would be after. They could also include Sam Darnold who could present some attraction for Houston’s incoming head coach.

New York also have the cap space. Spotrac project the Jets will have around $62 million entering 2021, more than enough to take on Watson’s full contract – another big barrier to many teams acquiring Watson and the Texans moving him.

However, part of the reason Watson may be available is his being on a team gutted of talent and cap room. The trade package required to acquire Watson, and his contract, going to a team as talent poor as the Jets, would land him in almost the same situation, just in a bigger city.

San Francisco 49ers

Of any team, the 49ers are definitely the one I want to see. The 49ers have a very talented team, a Super Bowl talented team (when healthy), and they have one of the best offensive minds in HC Kyle Shanahan. With Jimmy Garoppolo at QB, Shanahan led this team to a Super Bowl, imagine if he had Watson.

The issue for the 49ers would be affording Watson, from the trade package to the contract. The 49ers don’t have all much to give up in terms of drat capital. They would likely need to give away the top of their next two drafts, maybe three.

Cap wise, this year may not be a huge issue, as Garoppolo’s contract would result in just $2.8m in dead money (if traded/cut before June 1^st), and Watson counts just $15.9m against the cap in 2021. After next year, though, Watson’s cap hit rises to $40m.

All in all it would be a stretch to make this happen, but the thought Watson on this football team is exciting at the very least.

Miami Dolphins 

While the Jets have the resources, and the 49ers have the football appeal, the Dolphins have something seemingly no other team has: Watson’s consent.

In Watson’s contract is a no-trade clause, a significant barrier to a trade as it would require Watson to accept the team he is being traded to. Per Chris Mortensen, ‘informed speculation’ reveals Watson would consider the Dolphins as a landing spot, with the trade sending Tua Tagovailoa the other way to Houston.

In the Texans case, this may also be the best scenario. In Tagovailoa they would be getting a first round QB who showed promise in his game time this year, and they would also likely recoup some/most of the draft haul they gave up to acquire Laremy Tunsil two years ago. At a minimum they could get back into the first round in this year’s draft – which could be imperative to turning this roster back around.

The Dolphins also have the cap space to make it work, and a roster which won 10 games in 2020 against all odds. HC Brian Flores is building a good team in South Beach, and has some intriguing pieces in place. Would adding Watson immediately lift this team to Super Bowl quality? Likely not in a stacked AFC, but it would get them a hell of a lot closer. 

Dallas Cowboys

I'll be honest, this option is in here purely for the lunacy of it, but how wild would it be if the Cowboys were to franchise tag then trade Dak Prescott for Deshaun Watson? 

Why would they do that? Hear me out. 

Jerry Jones and the Cowboys have shown they're reluctant to pay Prescott what he is asking ($40m a year), and despite the evidence this season provided, perhaps they don't actually view him as a truly elite QB. 

Watson, on the other hand, may be held in slightly higher regard. What's more, there would be no immediate need for a new contract. Would they be willing to pay Watson the $32-42m a year he is owed from 2022-2025? Perhaps. 

This may also be preferable for the Texans. Prescott would be the best QB available to them in a swap type of deal, and in trading with the Cowboys, the Texans would be keeping Watson out of the AFC. 

Is this trade likely? Absolutely not. The Texans probably wouldn't trade Prescott for Watson straight up, they'd most likely want to get back into this year's first round at a minimum, meaning the Cowboys would be losing a first round pick to swap QBs and not fix the issues which derailed their season. 

Nevertheless, it's fun to speculate. 

The others

As I alluded to earlier, at least 27 teams could justify trading for Watson. The Kansas City Chiefs, Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks are undoubtedly out of the market for Watson, and you could make an argument to add the Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Bills to that group, too.

And there are the Cincinnati Bengals and Los Angeles Chargers who have had great early returns on their rookie playcallers, who also figure to not be in the market (though Watson would technically constitute an upgrade in being a known, refined commodity).

The rest of the NFL, though, could absolutely benefit from adding Watson, the issue lies with whether Watson would want to go there, if the Texans will actually let Watson go (they should not), and whether the team is willing to part ways with so many resources to acquire the MVP-caliber player.

Will the Chicago Bears end their constant search for a true star QB? Could the New Orleans Saints or Pittsburgh Steelers grab their heir? Should the New England Patriots swoop in to avoid a full rebuild? 

A long offseason awaits, filled with denials, smokescreens, and rampant speculation. So buckle in, it's gonna be a ride.