The Denver Broncos‘ offseason quarterback competition between Drew Lock and veteran Teddy Bridgewater is underway. Rumors regarding Aaron Rodgers have persisted since the 2021 NFL Draft but things have been quiet on the Deshaun Watson front ever since more than 20 allegations of sexual assault misconduct have been brought before the legal system.
Watson’s attorney Rusty Hardin has stated that all 22 of the women forming civil lawsuits against Watson are lying, but at this point, nothing is resolved and it feels borderline wrong to be talking about Watson as it relates to his football future.
With that being said, there are still some discussing Watson’s future in the NFL, namely some people directly connected to the Denver Broncos. The latest rumors about Watson are coming from a discussion between former Broncos cornerback Aqib Talib and current Broncos safety Kareem Jackson.
Jackson appeared on the Catchin’ Fades with Aqib Talib show and this clip has now begun circulating around the internet:
Deshaun Watson says he wants to be a Denver Bronco, according to Kareem Jackson@ReemBoi25 joined @AqibTalib21 on today's episode of Catchin’ Fades with the latest pic.twitter.com/H4DYnH6eWq
— The Volume (@TheVolumeSports) June 9, 2021
There are a few interesting things with this video.
First of all, Talib instigates the conversation about Watson by saying that he “honestly thinks” the Denver Broncos are going to get Watson “soon”. That is a fascinating statement in and of itself because, where is Talib hearing that? Who is he hearing it from?
Jackson doesn’t exactly corroborate Talib’s statement but reiterates something that he revealed earlier in the 2021 offseason which is that he has heard directly from Deshaun Watson himself that Watson wants to be a member of the Denver Broncos.
"“I’ve got a great relationship with Deshaun. I’ve been talking to him the last couple weeks, man, and all he’s been telling me is like, ‘Look, Jack, just tell ’em like, that’s where I want to be.’ He’s like, ‘That’s where I want to be.'”Kareem Jackson"
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network caught wind of the video and quickly poured some cold water on it.
#Texans QB Deshaun Watson has been getting recruited by former teammates and countless players across the NFL, and he remains open to several options, including the #Broncos. But I don’t believe Denver is “where he wants to be.” Just one possible spot. https://t.co/rTXR4CCVJM
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) June 9, 2021
Even considering what Rap Sheet is saying there, he’s also acknowledging that the Denver Broncos are one spot Watson would like to be, but again — at this point in time, how much focus can we really place on the football side of things with the Houston Texans’ star quarterback?
The Texans, for their part, seem to be planning for both the present and future without Watson. They signed Tyrod Taylor in free agency and used their top pick (a high third-rounder) in the 2021 NFL Draft on Davis Mills. Who knows what’s next for them?
A Watson trade doesn’t seem likely to happen in the very near future as Watson’s legal situation is unresolved and the Texans have not been taking calls from NFL teams about trading him. Until either one of those things happens, this is all just talk.
Interesting talk, all the same.
To recap, Aqib Talib seems to think based on whatever intel he’s getting that Deshaun Watson will be a Bronco “soon”. Jackson has, within the last “couple of weeks” talked directly to Watson about Watson’s desire to be in Denver. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network confirmed that the Broncos are one of the teams Watson would want to go to if traded though he remains open to “several” options.
Denver Broncos: 53-man roster prediction at 2021 OTAs
The Denver Broncos will have some difficult decisions to make regarding the roster leading up to the 2021 season. Who makes the final 53?
We’ll see what happens as the rest of the 2021 offseason progresses.