If Woody Johnson longs for a 38-year-old Brett Favre like he did when Chad Pennington was put on the air before the 2008 season, you better believe he wants to do something with Deshaun Watson now that Johnson is back.
Watson is a top five full-back who is only 25 years old, and he is an immediate outlet for every time the day graciously dawns that MetLife Stadium can be full again with the long-suffering Jets fans. And suffering Jets fans too.
Jets GM Joe Douglas has the concept capital and allure of New York Bleeping City to seduce Watson now that the word is out he wants out of Houston.
This is a dual sales attack for Douglas and the Jets:
Make the Texans an offer they can not refuse.
Sell Watson on why the Jets are the most popular landing spot for the first years of his career.
This is how:
The Jets have not made the playoffs since the 2010 season. The franchise is a true cemetery for franchise backers. It is not necessary that Douglas refer any of it.
But he can remind Watson that there is no better place to win than New York City, even if the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center is in Florham Park. NJ And by the way, this is a lovely facility.
Watson does not have to shy away from the expectations that he would be the Jets’ Savior.
Watson’s championship days at Clemson tell us he likes the bright lights and the big stage, as Michael Jordan did earlier. The Jets were one of the teams that did not listen to Clemson coach Dabo Swinney when he compared Watson to MJ, but rather drafted Jamal Adams because Mike Maccagnan, at the time, apparently thought Christian Hackenberg would be Jordan. But Douglas can take a hint from Mark McGwire – he’s not here to talk about the past.
He would rather talk about Robert Saleh. Watson will like Saleh a lot; all he has to do is ask Richard Sherman if he has not already done so. If anyone’s kind of hospitable, without brakes, it’s Deshaun Watson.
And Saleh has an important branch of the Kyle Shanahan tree in offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur. Watson would thrive in his offense.
According to overthecap.com, Douglas has $ 63,475,814 in the space, and he will be a free-market player for a no. 1-receiver (Allen Robinson, Chris Godwin) to work with Denzel Mims and Jamison Crowder. He gets him Playmakers and Protectors.
Watson’s blind side is protected by Man Mountain Mekhi Becton, who may remind Watson of Laremy Tunsil, his left-hander in Houston.
Douglas can imagine the culture he started building – no IK Enemkpali, so no reason for Watson to fear someone breaking his jaw in the locker room.
If Joe Namath had ever appeared in a pantyhose ad, the air would have been the limit for Watson in the endorsement field.
Douglas has to call Namath and ask him to send the team and the city to Watson.
And now for the other part of the Texans two step:
Douglas must be willing to pick at least three first-round picks: the second overall pick and the 23rd pick in 2021, and the Jets pick in 2022, which will almost certainly be a more valued pick than the one received by the Seahawks in the Adams Agreement. Douglas can sweeten the pot with copies of Namath’s most recent book: ‘All the Way: My Life in Four Quarters’.
New Texans GM Nick Caserio could then field Zach Wilson, Justin Fields or Trey Lance with the second overall pick.
Douglas can recover draft capital – no less than a second round – by trading Sam Darnold in one of many quarterback-desperate teams: the Bears, Lions, Panthers, Colts, Washington Football Team, Steelers, Saints, perhaps the Rams. , maybe even the Jon Gruden Raiders, but not the Patriots, thank you very much.
“He’s an incredible talent,” Saleh said of Darnold in the podcast “Huddle and Flow.”
A win-win statement from Saleh. Darnold will obviously benefit from the coaching change, but he can also benefit from the change of scenery. Saleh speaks to him in case the Jets plan to trade him is smart business. It is a smart business to express faith in him and at the same time build his trust.
Any trade would leave Douglas in 2021 with a second and two third rounds, a first round in 2022 and a second and a third, plus everything he could fetch for Darnold.
Douglas may have to fend off the Dolphins if they decide to upgrade over Tua Tagovailoa, and Watson wants there to be no government revenue in Florida.
As early as 1997, the Jets traded the first, second, third and fourth rounds to the Patriots for what was apparently three years of Bill Parcells on the sidelines.
Watson (26) in September will give the Jets only their best player since Curtis Martin, their best quarter since Broadway Joe.
If pressure comes and he is forced to surrender that fourth first player – probably in his twenties – Douglas will have to swallow hard and do so while insisting on a second or third player as part of the deal. Deshaun Watson makes everyone around him better and changes the perception of the organization. And he will be a valuable recruiting tool for Saleh because players in the league want to play with him.
For the beleagured Jets, this would be the dawn of a new day. Or Deshaun of a new day. It’s elementary, my dear Douglas.