When a player requests a trade it makes the news in some capacity. We talk about it for a little bit but then we move on. When a star player or a franchise quarterback requests a trade, it doesn't just make the news, it blows up the friggin news.
One of the biggest stories this offseason is the Deshaun Watson situation in Houston. For those who are new to the drama, basically, Deshaun is unhappy about how the Texans handled the GM/head coaching search this offseason.
As it’s reported, Deshaun wanted current ESPN analyst Louis Riddick to come in as the GM for the Texans.
Riddick, a former 9th round pick as the Steelers (yes there were nine rounds), is the assumed number one GM candidate around the NFL. Basically, Riddick has his choice of suitors, except for Houston, who went out and hired Nick Caserio, the former Director of Player Personnel for the New England Patriots. With the Texans signing Caserio to a cushy six year contract, it's safe to say Riddick won’t be going there.
The other bigger thing was the fact that the Texans didn’t interview his ideal head coaching candidate, Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy.
As someone who predicted Bieniemy would take the Texans job, I was surprised as well. Imagine what Eric Bieniemy could do with a quarterback like Deshaun Watson. I would assume it’d be must see TV.
Funny enough, Houston did recently request to interview Bieniemy. This, I believe is their last chance attempt to try to keep Deshaun Watson. But, if I'm Deshaun, I look at this as the damage is already done, I'm done and there's nothing you can do to make me stay.
As the franchise quarterback, Deshaun feels that he should’ve been more in the loop in these hirings, especially after Houston essentially told him that they would. Oof.
Now, obviously this has been big news this offseason, and as I said before, Deshaun Watson is the franchise quarterback. Not only that, I’d say he’s a top 5 QB in this league. In my opinion, I feel Deshaun has every reason to be upset with the Texans upper management.
Though this is what’s making headlines right now, I don’t believe this is the only reason Deshaun wants out, I feel this is the result of multiple issues throughout the franchise.
Throughout their entire existence as a franchise, the Texans, similar to the Detroit Lions in a sense, have always struggled keeping their star players happy. Seeming to be completely inept when it comes to surrounding those players with other good or even compitent players. Andre Johnson was first, then DeAndre Hopkins, and now Deshaun.
In a recent report done by ESPN, after the Texans traded away DeAndre Hopkins for essentially nothing, Deshaun’s “anger level” was at about a two, now, it’s a ten.
Trading away your quarterbacks top weapons is one thing, getting nothing in return to make up for the fact you just traded away a top 15 player, that’s a whole other issue.
Throughout Bill O’Brien’s illustrious tenure with the Texans, they traded away picks like they were cancerous, moving them like they were worthless. And when they traded away players for picks, they never got any good picks in return. So do I understand Deshaun’s frustration? Yes.
One of the issues though when it comes to this whole situation is the fact Deshaun signed a new contract not that long ago, a contract with a “no trade clause.”
This contract though, was done prior to this season, after Deshaun essentially carried them to back-to-back 10+ win seasons. As an outsider looking in, I feel like he signed the contract with some assurances, like that’d remain competitive and/or that they’d surround him with weapons to help him succeed. The Texans have done neither.
The fact of the matter is that because of Bill O’Brien being the GM and essentially trading away everything, they had no capital to move for pieces, and the biggest piece they moved, DeAndre Hopkins, if I remember correctly, they traded after Deshaun signed his extension.
Oh, what did Bill do with the second round pick they got for DeAndre Hopkins? Traded it for a receiver who contemplated retirement the season prior due to concussions. Now, no disrespect to Brandin Cooks, dude had a great year, but you don’t do that.
So, after an abysmal 4-12 season, a season where they were so bad they captured the third overall pick, their first draft pick will come in the third round. This is essentially the same situation the Brooklyn Nets were in when they traded all their picks to Boston.
The future right now in Houston is bleak to say the least. The only way they can save their future, and Deshaun, is to trade him away. The only problem is, it won’t be that easy.
There’s a quote from Eagles GM Howie Roseman that says, “there is no price for a franchise quarterback.” What about a franchise guy who is also a top 5 QB in the NFL? Let’s just say this, the price would, normally, be very steep.
To get Deshaun Watson, one would assume your team is going to have to send more than what the Minnesota Vikings sent Dallas for Herschel Walker (eight picks plus three first rounders). That would be the case, again, normally, but there’s a tiny issue here.
The issue here on Houston’s side is the fact that Deshaun seemingly wants out, and has been vocal about wanting out, meaning the Texans essentially have no leverage in the situation. They honestly could risk getting fleeced by a team because of how mad they've made Deshaun, and I can't say they don't deserve it.
The facts that they've pissed Deshaun Watson off so much that he won't even talk to them tells me one thing, we will be traded at some point this offseason.
One big thing to look at as well is does your team have enough cap space to complete the trade? Because of Deshaun’s big contract, you’re going to have to send the picks as well as have the space to pay him. So, who has the picks and the cap space to get a guy like Deshaun.
Well, the first one that comes to mind for me in the New York Jets. Reports were right after the season that the Jets were going to be involved in a “big trade.” Is that “big trade” for Deshaun Watson?
With questions regarding Sam Darnold within the organization, this trade could make sense on the picks and money side. The problem is, if the Jets traded for him, wouldn't that put Deshaun in a similar predicament?
Though the Jets have those big things, they won’t be able to surround Deshaun with anyone because all their picks are with Houston. The Jets just finished 2-14, I don’t know if that’s the most desirable destination for Deshaun.
I’ve seen teams such as the 49ers, Bears, Saints, the Washington Football Team, and God forbid, the Patriots, but I feel the most logical spot for him, money and picks wise, is Miami.
As of right now, the Dolphins hold two first round picks within the top 18, and as far as cap space is concerned, the Fins rank in the top 10 in that regard, coming in at 10th. The Dolphins also have a very strong defense with a good defensive head coach, with a younger o-line, an athletic tight end, a couple solid wide receivers, and decent running backs. It could work.
Reports are that Deshaun would be willing to remove his aforementioned no-trade clause in order to move to Miami, and even though I would hate this with all my heart, I could see this happening.
One thing I hate is seeing players that I love watching go to teams that I despise. I never want to see a player I love go to the Patriots, Jets, Dolphins, Chiefs, Steelers, Cowboys, etc. It makes me sad, but sometimes it happens.
I would also hate this because the one year the Bills are competitive in my lifetime, three teams are linked with a franchise saving quarterback. The Bills could go from facing Sam Darnold, Tua Tagovailoa, and Cam Newton to possible Justin Fields, Mac Jones, and Deshaun Watson. I don’t like that. Can’t these teams just be bad for a little while longer?
So, how would this trade go down? Well, obviously Tua would be a part of it. If the Texans trade Deshaun they’re going to want a quarterback in return, right? And with the recent reports coming out of Miami, I think they’re tired of Tua too, especially HC Brian Flores, who didn’t seem to be interested in taking him in the 2020 Draft, instead being rumored to want Oregon’s Justin Herbert.
Here are some article clips about Tua’s situation in Miami via the Miami Herald:
Though it seems Miami don't want Tua, which could hurt his trade value, he is still a former top five pick who did put up decent numbers on a 10 win team. That saves Miami in this instance.
If Tua was absolutely horrendous or just bad this season, you may have seen him plus thier two first round picks head to Houston, but, he was good at times and still holds value as the number five overall pick, so again, that helps Miami a lot.
So we’ve already thrown in Tua. Because of his value still intact (somewhat), the third overall pick, surprisingly, may not be involved. If it was, that means the Texans essentially traded Deshaun for Laremy Tunsil. Now, would the second first round pick be involved? Yes, of course.
So far we have two first round picks and Tua going to Houston. With Tua being the number five overall pick last year, that could honestly help Miami keep some of their future draft picks. There will have to be some mid-round picks go in there as well and a future first, maybe even a player as well.
If I’m Miami, I am sending Tua Tagovailoa, a 2021 first round pick, my 2022 first round pick, a day two pick this year (2nd round), and day three pick in 2022. If they get Deshaun, honestly, that first round pick next won’t be crazy valuable as they’d be targeting a deep playoff run. Here’s my proposed trade;
- Miami receives
Deshaun Watson
- Houston receives
Tua Tagovailoa
2021 first round pick (3 or 18, my guess would be the 18th pick, but we shall see)
2021 second round pick (36 or 50, probably 50)
2022 first round pick (late first rounder)
2022 late round pick (4-7)
That equals four picks plus Tua (a former top 5 pick) to gain a top five quarterback in the NFL. That's it? Crazy right? That's why you don't piss off franchise quarterbacks.
If I’m being honest, they may throw in a player to keep some of those picks, someone like Xavien Howard, Christian Wilkins, or someone like that, because the Texans defense is awful.
The Dolphins may also push Houston for a late round pick, in order to make the deal “more fair” on Miami’s side. Or maybe Hoston sends someone like Duke Johnson along with it, I don’t know.
If the reports of the Dolphins “distrust” in Tua are true, this is an absolute win for the Dolphins. The reports coming out doesn’t help Tua’s trade value that much either, so that could hurt them in regards to the amount of picks they end up giving up.
Honestly, I think this works well for both teams. Miami gets a real franchise quarterback, a top 5 one at that, and Houston gets a chance to trade and rebuild a franchise that previously looked like they had no real future.
As a Bills fan, I hate that Deshaun is rumored to come to the AFC East. But, as a Deshaun fan, I do think this is best for his career. Miami has pieces to be good on both sides of the ball, a quarterback as talented as Deshaun Watson could help them reach big highs.
Houston already lost one star player this year, they better get prepared to lose another one. The morale of this story, don't piss of your franchise quarterback.
Comments