The Texas Texans Presumably Not want to trade Deshaun Watson, a legitimate franchise quarterback, in the prime of his NFL career.
But, with all the signs pointing to a superstar wanting out of his current situation, the Texans may end up with no other choice.
The question then becomes: What can Houston realistically expect to receive in a trade in which Watson is involved?
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler recently posed this question to the front-runner across the NFL, and several judges informed him that Houston could definitely pick at least three drafts for the first round.
“Oh yeah – it’s at least worth it,” said an NFC manager. “The distance will be pretty insane.”
As Fowler noted, eight veteran NFL players have been traded for multiple first-round picks since 2000, but since Herschel Walker in 1989, no player has played three first-round picks.
It’s reasonable to think that the Texans’ asking price for Watson will be astronomical, as it’s extremely rare for a player of his caliber to be available in trade talks, especially a quarterback in today’s just-lucky NFL.
Three choices from the first round – or similar value – are perhaps a start point in negotiations.
“NFL front office staff unanimously agree on this, and several say extra capital may be needed,” Fowler wrote in an article published on ESPN.com on Wednesday. ‘It largely depends on where the choices may fall in the first round. Many have pointed out that if (Jamal) Adams, (Jalen) Ramsey and (Laremy) Tunsil earned two firsts, Watson should get a lot more because of the importance of the quarterback position. ”
Watson, the 12th overall pick in 2017, has earned three Pro Bowl picks in his four seasons with the Texans, reaching a 4-12 record in 2020, despite the 25-year-old’s outstanding performance.
He is also under contract in the 2025 campaign after signing an extension with Houston in September. So, any team that acquires Watson will do so with the understanding that he has been locked up for a quarter of a year of his stature at a reasonable rate.
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