Fresh off a disappointing 4-12 record after the trade of star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, rumors circulated that quarterback Deshaun Watson has quietly begun to approach the idea of requesting a trade from his NFL home of four seasons. Unhappy with the current ownership and front office situations of the team, the 25-year-old should have no shortage of suitors on the open market. This, after leading the NFL in passing yards while posting over 30 touchdown passes and fewer than ten interceptions. Taking a look at potential new NFL homes, if he does indeed make his trade request known to management, here are some possible landing spots for Deshaun Watson.
Possible Landing Spots for Deshaun Watson
San Francisco 49ers
Home to one of the best young offensive minds in football in Kyle Shanahan, the 49ers are one year removed from representing the NFC in the Super Bowl after a 13-3 season. With plenty of talent up and down the roster and on both sides of the football, San Francisco has been hindered by the health of current starting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. Over the last few seasons, the former second-round pick has missed time with a torn ACL and a sprained ankle.
After appearing ready to move on from him in the offseason with the opportunity presented to acquire one of the most talented and durable signal callers across the league to pair with Shanahan, look for GM John Lynch to be ultra-aggressive in trying to acquire the Texans star as the puzzle’s final piece in the bay area.
Chicago Bears
The perfect opportunity for redemption after passing on Watson for Mitchell Trubisky in the 2017 draft, Chicago possesses potent weapons on the offensive side of the ball in Allen Robinson and David Montgomery to entice the Texans quarterback.
Along with this, the Bears have one of the best defensive units in pro football and are no strangers to pulling off blockbuster trades after acquiring star pass rusher Khalil Mack from the Raiders. Headed to the playoffs this year after holding onto the final spot in the NFC, the team remains searching for their franchise quarterback after choosing to bench Trubisky for veteran Nick Foles earlier on in the year.
Ending the torture and speculation about what could have been amongst their fan base if they can spark a deal, Ryan Pace and the Chicago front office should be all in as one of the potential landing spots for Deshaun Watson.
New England Patriots
Among the handful of teams in need of a quarterback after a disappointing season by Cam Newton as they look to fill the shoes of Tom Brady, Watson would instantly propel the Patriots to contender status once again.
Currently holding the fifteenth selection in the draft, the franchise remains in a unique spot with no guarantee that a quarterback will fall. Along with this, New England has an abundance of cap space available at their disposal over the next few seasons to absorb the large-cap hits associated with the star quarterback of over 30 million dollars.
With a front office connection between the two teams after Houston hired former Patriots director of player personnel Nick Caserio as their new general manager. Look for Bill Belichick and company to engage in trade talks with the Texans to land their hands on the star signal-caller.
Indianapolis Colts
Home to one of the best young rosters in the NFL, the Colts currently have a gap quarterback in place in Philip Rivers. Presently in a conundrum at the position after the shocking retirement announcement by Andrew Luck, general manager Chris Ballard could solve the team’s most important problem if he can land Watson away from their AFC South rival.
Currently projected to hold over 60 million dollars in cap space next year, Indianapolis would provide Deshaun with the best supporting cast of his career with an elite offensive line, running game, and a capable cast of receivers. Likely to ask for an extra sweet package from the Colts if they wanted to keep Watson in the division if Frank Reich‘s team believes he is the final piece in their super bowl-contender puzzle, expect them to be active. Though they would be one of the more unlikely landing spots for Deshaun Watson, it would be intriguing.
Washington Football Team
Having already chosen to move on from former first-round pick Dwayne Haskins, the team will rely on veteran quarterback Alex Smith as they aim to make a run in the NFC playoffs.
With the option to move on from the 36-year-old at the season’s end leading to cap savings of 13 million in 2021 and 21 million in 2022, Watson would provide the franchise with a truly elite quarterback for the first time in a long time. Home to the league’s third-overall defense and enough pieces on the offensive side of the ball to truly join the elite in the NFL if they were to upgrade at quarterback, Washington rounds out our final team of possible landing spots for Deshaun Watson.
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