Add veteran NFL Reporter Tyler Dunne of GoLongTD.com to the list of authors who have heard it Texas QB Deshaun Watson is not fulfilling his desire to trade, and that he continues to ignore every call from buyers from Houston. Of course, Watson has a non-trade clause he can use to help dictate where he’s going – assuming the Texans give in and treat him, which they insist they are not going to do – and we recently heard that 49ers and Broncos is on his destination list.
Dunne’s source indicates that the Dolphins – which is considered one of the forerunners for Watson since trade speculation began to turn – and the Niners are Watson’s two leading clubs. According to Dunne, a trade to Miami makes too much sense not to happen, and he believes the ‘Finns and Texans’ could make a deal that sends Watson to South Beach in exchange for overall number 3 and no. 18 this year’s concept along with Miami’s first series in 2022.
Now for more rumors from the AFC East:
- Recent reports have shown Raiders QB Marcus Mariota generates legitimate commercial interest, and Mike Reiss of ESPN.com believes the Patriots may be in the mix. New England obviously needs a quarter, and Mariota is attached to a reasonable $ 10.6 million salary for 2021 and will not cost much to acquire in terms of draft capital. Although he may demand an increase if he is acquired to serve as an appetizer, his current salary will not prevent the team from continuing to explore other options, such as Jimmy Garoppolo – if the the 49ers land another QB and release Garoppolo – or a fellow passerby.
- Reiss does not expect the Patriots to enter into an agreement with the division competitor Jets for Gang Green QB Sam DarnoldWhile what the Jets are doing with Darnold could certainly have a big impact on New England (if New York, for example, trades Darnold to San Francisco, Garoppolo could become available).
- The Jets they only have $ 70MM the best ceiling in the league, and they can easily create even more flexibility, thus giving a huge advantage in what could be a copper market, given the reduced salary ceiling. Connor Hughes of The Athletic believes New York will release DE Henry Anderson, who spoke to a December report. The move will save the club $ 8.2 million, and Hughes suggests guards watch. Greg Van Roten and Alex Lewis can also be goners (their versions will save $ 3.4MM and $ 5.1MM respectively).
- Meanwhile, the Jets do not have too many of their own free agents to be retained. Hughes expects safety Marcus Maye to be re-signed, and he also says OL Pat Elflein – who played well in 2020 after leaving the Vikings – is a logical candidate to return to, especially if the team of Van Roten and / or Lewis moves on.
- Vic Carucci of Buffalo News does not provide the Bills laying out large free dollars. Instead, he expects the club to spend most of its cash on an extension for QB Josh Allen, which means that the Bill is likely to allow LB Matt Milano to test the open market – unlike GM Brandon Beane‘s assertion that a franchise label could be in play – and would not run for a top-pass rusher like Shaquil Barrett or Bud Dupree.