To prevent an ugly situation from getting even worse, it’s time for general manager Nick Caserio to listen to the offers the Texans are getting for quarterback Deshaun Watson.
So far, Caserio has said thank you, but no, thank you to teams inquiring about Watson’s deal. This reaction should change soon.
In honor of Watson, he eventually met with coach David Culley. Watson prefers a Zoom conference call, and Culley agrees.
Watson explained why he is determined to be traded. Culley listened and set out the plan for him, Caserio and executive vice president of football operations Jack Easterby, to make the Texans a play-off team again.
Watson listened and repeated that he wants to trade and will not play for the Texans again.
Based on what we think we know of this ongoing saga that has created a nationwide controversy, Watson appears willing to lose millions in fines and unpaid salary in an effort to get what he wants.
The Texans appear willing to let Watson sit down to force his hand and let him play. This is not a healthy way of doing business.
Yes, Watson is under contract until 2025 due to the $ 156 million extension he signed six months ago, but teams have been cutting players under contract all the time. Now Watson wants to cut the Texans and start a new team again. And that’s what the Texans need to do.
Let’s make something clear: the Texans do not want to trade with Watson. They love Watson. So do the fans. Watson is not only a great player, but also a team leader who donates time and money in the Houston community. He deserves league-wide respect on and off the field.
Caserio, Culley, Easterby and Cal McNair, chairman / CEO, know they have a better chance of building with Watson as their starting quarterback than starting a rookie or veteran in a trade acquired.
The Texans are trying to sell sponsorships, suites, club chairs and tickets at a time when faith in the way the franchise is run has dropped to a low point. McNair knows they are a more attractive team with Watson than without him.
At some point, however, reality must intervene. If Watson were traded for several high draft picks that would again bring a franchise quarter (Houston, of course), the Texans would be much more interesting and attractive than Watson would sit. out, which creates a colossal distraction with AJ McCarron and Josh McCown as their top two backs. Talk about a tough sale.
Caserio should prioritize the Jets and Dolphins as the leading candidates to acquire Watson and outbid AFC East rivals.
Add Watson to the Miami Series after a 10-6 season, and the Dolphins may be selected to overthrow Buffalo as the AFC East champion and to compete in the Super Bowl.
Add Watson to the Jets along with new coach Robert Saleh, and they will immediately earn respect in the New York / New Jersey area and around the NFL, stealing some of the Giants’ thunder and making a playoff game faster.
Watson’s non-trading clause could limit Caserio’s options. There are reports that the Jets and Dolphins are two of his preferred teams, although he has said nothing in public.
We hear reports of teams like Carolina, Denver and San Francisco having a chance to trade for Watson. Why would they?
The Texans would not be stupid to replace Watson with Teddy Bridgewater, Drew Lock or Jimmy Garoppolo with teams that have the eighth, ninth and 12th picks in the first round, respectively.
The problem with predicting what Caserio is going to do is that we have no decision on his decision-making process, because he is in charge for the first time.
This is what we know about Caserio. He knows the Jets and Dolphins as well as anyone outside their organizations. During his 20 years with New England, he kept a close eye on the Jets and Dolphins – exploring them and coaching them twice a year and in the playoffs.
The Jets have the second overall choice in the draft. Watson to the Jets’ trade is the only way the Texans can be guaranteed to get the second-best quarterback prospect in the draft behind Trevor Lawrence, who is being offered to Jacksonville.
Or maybe Caserio, fullback Sam Darnold, just needs to have a change in scenery to meet his stature as the third overall pick in 2018. Darnold is playing in his fourth season and he’s still only 23.
To lure Caserio into entering into the deal, the Jets could start with Darnold, their first round this year (second and 23rd overall) and their first and second rounds in 2022. That would be three, two, Darold and perhaps defensive end Quinnen Williams.
The Jets would moan, of course, but they would have had Watson at least for more than a decade.
Watson should prefer the Dolphins because they are a better team than the Jets. If Caserio was high on Tua Tagovailoa with the Patriots last year, he could ask for the sophomore quarter, two first rounds (third and 18th overall) and two second rounds (36 and 50 overall) this year. And demand another high choice in 2022.
It never hurts to ask, right?
By the way, the Dolphins got the Texans’ third pick in the first round and the fourth pick in the second round for the attack on Laremy Tunsil and former receiver Kenny Stills.
If the Texans choose to open a line of communication with teams interested in Watson, it will create a nutritional frenzy like the NFL has never seen before, but that’s what they need to do. It’s unprecedented for a major quarterback who is 25 and still five years under contract to be available.
Today, the Texans say Watson is not available, but who knows what tomorrow will bring? For the Texans, it must have common sense. If that does not happen and they let him sit, it could be a decision that has consequences for years.
The Texans are rebuilding anyway, and although they do not want to trade Watson, it’s time to move on from him and start over with a new quarterback.