Deshaun Watson has publicly requested a trade from the Houston Texans. While plenty of teams should be interested in Watson’s services, the Denver Broncos should be truly considering a huge trade.
The Broncos have struggled to find their quarterback of the future through the draft, as well as through free agency. While they have put their trust in Drew Lock for the past two years, adding a player of Watson’s caliber would be a game-changer for the franchise.
Watson is a top 10 quarterback in the NFL and has the ability to elevate lesser talent around him. The Broncos assembled a strong supporting cast to surround Drew Lock with talent, and adding Watson to the Broncos’ offense could make for an elite pairing.
So the question must be asked: should the Broncos make a move for the young quarterback? I believe they should do their due diligence, and if the interests on both sides align the Broncos should execute the trade with no hesitation.
How would the trade work?
"HOU Receives: Drew Lock, Tim Patrick, Albert Okwuegbunam, 2021 9th & 71st overall, 2022 1st and 2nd round picks DEN Receives: Deshaun Watson"
This is a massive package for Deshaun Watson, but one that ultimately benefits both sides. Let’s dive into how this trade is a win-win for both Denver and Houston.
For Houston, this trade is a massive setback for the organization. The Texans lose out on their superstar young quarterback and lose out on four years of development and plenty of financial compensation through guaranteed signing bonus money.
However, it is clear that the Houston organization has crossed the line for Watson, and there is no hope of rebuilding the relationship back with Watson. So the Texans do the best thing possible: start new.
In this trade, the Texans not only receive a young quarterback with upside, but also two of his favorite targets from Denver in Tim Patrick and Albert Okwuegbunam. Both targets showed great chemistry with Lock, and bring over continuity to a brand new situation for both the Texans and for Lock.
While it may cost the Broncos a greater asset like Courtland Sutton or Noah Fant, adding in two affordable targets for Lock may help persuade the Texans to take quantity over quality.
Adding to the incentive could be a “tag-and-trade” scenario with Tim Patrick, where the Broncos extend Patrick and fill his contract with a larger signing bonus. This would allow Denver to consume some of Patrick’s salary, and ultimately make the trade more appealing to the Texans’ front office.
Losing a franchise cornerstone is a tough pill to swallow, but the return for Houston is at least intriguing. With the multiple 1st rounders, the Texans could have the ammunition to trade up in the 2021 or 2022 draft to acquire a quarterback.
For the Broncos, adding a player of Watson’s caliber immediately puts them in the playoff hunt, and should allow them to challenge and compete with Kansas City for the AFC West. Losing Tim Patrick and Albert Okwuegbunam hurts, but ultimately the decision is a no-brainer.
The biggest question for the Broncos concerning Watson in Denver would be the salary cap. The Broncos are currently sitting at around $14 million under the cap. With some reasonable cuts, the Broncos could massively increase that number.
Moving on from veterans Kareem Jackson, Jurrell Casey, A.J. Bouye, and Jeff Driskel would net the Broncos around $37.5 million of extra money for the 2021 season. This would leave more than enough to absorb Watson’s contract for 2021, as well as lock-up Justin Simmons to a long-term contract, per Overthecap.
While the Texans clearly get the short end of any trade, shipping young pieces to Houston could be a motivator in trade talks. If General Manager George Paton can pull off a trade, he will put himself in the early running for GM of the Year.
What will the Denver Broncos future look like with Watson at QB?
The Denver Broncos have the ammunition to make a blockbuster trade for Deshaun Watson, and have the salary cap flexibility to make him a Bronco for the 2021 season. What about beyond the 2021 season?
Here’s where things get tricky.
Deshaun Watson’s 2022 cap hit sits at $40.4 million dollars, followed by hits of $42.4, $37.4, and $32.4 in the following years, per Overthecap. Watson is a hands-down top 10 quarterback in the league, but George Paton and his staff will have to do some work to the Broncos’ roster if they acquire Watson.
Denver’s list of 2022 Free Agents holds some notable names but has less overall talent than the 2021 Free Agent list. The biggest name scheduled for Free Agency in 2022 is Courtland Sutton, who will likely be in line for a big time extension.
However, Sutton may be willing to work with the Broncos as a show of gratitude for bringing in Watson. Sutton will still likely command anywhere from $14-16 million per year, putting him in line for potentially top-10 receiver money.
After Sutton, the list of big-name free agents tapers off significantly. The Broncos will likely restructure Von Miller‘s contract this offseason, and Bradley Chubb will almost certainly receive the 5th-year option, covering his contract for the 2022 season.
While Watson’s contract is immense, the Denver Broncos have a strong front office assembled to work with Watson’s salary. Denver still has a window to compete before its star players are in line for extensions, and Watson will help the team exploit that window.
So, what does a Deshaun Watson-led offense actually look like?
QB: Deshaun Watson, Brett Rypien
RB: Phillip Lindsay, Melvin Gordon, Royce Freeman, 2021 Draft Pick
WR: Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy, KJ Hamler, DaeSean Hamilton, Tyrie Cleveland, Diontae Spencer
TE: Noah Fant, Nick Vannett, Troy Fumagalli, 2021 or 2022 Draft Pick
T: Garett Bolles, Ja’Wuan James, Calvin Anderson, 2021 or 2022 Draft Pick
G: Dalton Risner, Graham Glasgow, Netane Muti, Austin Schlottmann
In short, this offense would be electric.
With the return of Courtland Sutton from injury, the trio of Sutton, Jeudy, and Fant would be devastating in the passing game. Adding in the explosiveness from Phillip Lindsay and KJ Hamler would help spread defenses vertically as well as horizontally.
Watson thrived with DeAndre Hopkins in Houston and may have a similar connection with Courtland Sutton. Sutton is a contested-catch monster and tracks the ball well downfield. The duo of Sutton and Watson would keep defenders around the NFL worrying all week.
In addition to a more consistent passing attack through his arm, Watson’s mobility on designed quarterback runs and scrambles would add a new element to the Broncos’ offense. Using Melvin Gordon and Phillip Lindsay on zone-read plays would be a deadly combination and an excellent addition to what was a stale offense in 2020.
Adding Deshaun Watson would unleash a wealth of opportunities for Pat Shurmur and the Denver Broncos. Watson has excellent ability as a passer, and adds another dimension to the offense as a runner.
While Deshaun Watson will likely pick where he wants to play in 2021, the Denver Broncos make a compelling argument as to why they should be his top choice. With a potentially dynamic offense, and opportunity to face his fellow draft-mate twice a year, Watson should consider the Denver Broncos as a top choice when discussing trade talks with the Houston Texans.