The first domino in the expected QB carousel has fallen. Matthew Stafford swapped Picks and Jared Goff for the Rams. It’s a hell of a way to start an off-season before the 2020-21 season is even over.
It was an interesting trade-off because the immediate reaction among Jets fans focused on what it means for Watson. If Stafford gets you a QB that has two Pro Bowls to his name, 107 passing touchdowns and 18,000 yards in 5 years, what will it take to get Watson, a much better player?
There are many aspects of Lions / Rams. The Goff contract, which is short-term but could very easily be left by the Lions along the way, and the fact that the first two to head to Detroit are likely to be between 25-32.
After a cooling-off period, several analysts, including Houston, authors said the Stafford deal did not really move the needle in terms of Deshaun Watson’s costs.
John McClain of the Houston Chronicle reiterated that the cost to Watson would be at least two firsts, two seconds and two defensive entrees, which reminded me of Quinnen Williams.
I asked my Twitter fans if they would make a trade consisting of two firsts, one second and Quinnen Williams.
If the Texans said they would accept two firsts, 1 second and Quinnen Williams, would you do that for a Franchise QB?
– David Wyatt-Hupton (@DWyattHupton) 31 January 2021
This morning, 58% said yes, unwilling to trade. However, 42% said they would not trade. This means that the inclusion of Quinnen Williams was essentially an agreement for many.
I was waiting to give my opinion on this to prevent people from swinging in any way. However, I found it very interesting that a large part of the base would not defend with a defensive attack and three picks for a 25-year-old franchise QB coming off a great season in a horrible team.
Let me put it this way, by saying that if I were GM, I would do everything in my power to make sure Quinnen Williams was not included in this agreement. That would be a last resort, where Houston said it was Williams, or that we were trading him elsewhere.
Williams is an excellent talent, with the potential to be an ordinary All-Pro. In 2020, he had 40 tackles, 8 sacks, 2 forced fobbles, 23 QB rushes, 8 QB hits and 38 stops. He is 23 years old and the expectation is that he will only get better and better. To Saleh’s defense, the expectation is that he will be a force within DT.
No matter how good he is from a DT, it will allow you to prevent him from getting a QB that is 25, and that comes from a season in which he threw 4823 yards for 33 touchdowns and 7 distinctions, while for 444 yards chase and 3 more scores?
In my mind it comes down to a simple question, is it easier to find a very good replacement defensive attack or a franchise QB? Think about the defensive line the Jets have had over the last ten years, and then look at how many playoff games we’ve made.
Ideally, you have both. You manage to get Watson without giving up Williams, that’s the perfect scenario. With this hypothetical, however, I find it interesting that many people were ready to give up Watson for Williams (and of course the first round).
If you are Houston, you need all the help you need. You do not have a hood, you do not have a draft and you do not have a defense. I mean, their defense was historically bad last year. So Quinnen Williams and a few firsts can be very attractive to them.
I wanted to get your opinion on these GGN members, would you move Williams, two firsts (let’s say # 2 and Seattle’s first next year) and a second round for Watson? There is no guarantee that Houston would accept the deal, but let’s just say for the sake of discussion. You tried to take them first from Seattle this year to the valuable no. 2, but they are not moving. You tried to include other players, but they insisted on Williams again, do you make the deal?