Rams-Lions quarterback swap sets high ceiling for potential Deshaun Watson trade
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When the Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Rams swapped quarterbacks Matthew Stafford and Jared Goff on Saturday night, it established an extremely high ceiling for any potential trade involving Texans star quarterback Deshaun Watson.
With Stafford heading to Los Angeles in exchange for Goff and first-round draft picks in 2022 and 2023 in addition to a third-round draft pick this year, the market for Watson, who has requested a trade and is disgruntled toward the Texans, got even more expensive.
One source theorized that now it could be even more difficult for Watson to get traded considering how much it would cost a trading partner to land the three-time Pro Bowl passer and how much that could weaken his new team.
The Texans’ position on Watson, signed to a $156 million contract extension that includes $111 million guaranteed with a no-trade clause that essentially allows him to pick his own destination?
A team source characterized the situation this way: “Our quarterback is under contract. He is going to be our quarterback.”
That doesn’t mean other NFL teams – perhaps the New York Jets, Miami Dolphins, San Francisco 49ers, Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears and the Washington Football Team, may not try to entice the Texans.
So, what would it take to get the Texans mildly interested?
It would take at least three first-round draft picks in addition to more draft capital and/or starting players for the offer to be even taken seriously, according to league sources not authorized to speak publicly.
One source theorized it would require the equivalent of four to five first-round draft picks to turn the Texans’ head given that Watson is one of the most dynamic, proven players in the game, is an extremely high-character individual and is in the prime of his career at 25 years old.
What if the Jets offered, say, three first-round draft picks, quarterback Sam Darnold and defensive lineman Quinnen Williams and/or safety Marcus Maye?
Whether all of this ultimately leads to a deal remains wholly unclear with multiple league sources still casting doubt that Watson ever plays another down for the Texans. What’s clear, though, is this high-profile staring contest has shown no signs of reconciliation.
The latest negative sign between the Texans and Watson: He removed all mentions of the Texans from his social media profiles, the equivalent of no longer being Instagram official in a relationship.