It feels like Deshaun Watson’s time in Houston is finally nearing its bitter end. If the Broncos decide to try to trade for him, what would they offer?
The NFL trade deadline is just six days away. The Houston Texans seem ready to trade quarterback Deshaun Watson, but only for the right price. The question right now for the Denver Broncos or anyone else who would even remotely consider making this deal?
What is the right price?
No NFL team really wants to trade a king’s ransom for Watson considering he has 22 sexual misconduct allegations against him and that off-field situation — at the time of this writing — is unresolved.
3 Broncos trade offers for Deshaun Watson the Texans should take
Watson hasn’t been suspended by the NFL or placed on the Commissioner’s exempt list, and according to what has been reported on NFL Network, that won’t happen in the 2021 season.
As of this particular point in time, the Denver Broncos’ interest in Watson simply isn’t there.
According to Benjamin Allbright, who has been reporting the Miami Dolphins as the favorites to land Watson for months, the Broncos simply don’t want to trade for Watson unless his legal situation is resolved.
Been up in the mountains without service.
— Benjamin Allbright (@AllbrightNFL) October 24, 2021
Re: the D. Watson report...
1. Broncos were interested PRIOR to legal issues. Not since.
2. Been told multiple times Watson would NOT waive his no-trade to go to Denver.
The difficult reality facing the Denver Broncos and first-year general manager George Paton is this: If you don’t trade for Watson now, you won’t be trading for him at all.
At least, in all likelihood.
Due to the allegations against Watson right now, many in Broncos Country are simply fine with that. What came to light about Watson this past offseason was nothing short of shocking, disturbing, and flat-out disappointing.
As far as his football future is concerned? Right now, that is the primary reason teams are not lining up to trade for him.
The Houston Texans are holding firm on their asking price for Watson regardless of the off-field circumstances. They want at least three first-round draft picks and they’ve made no guarantees to Watson or any NFL team that he will be traded.
To be clear: There's no guarantee Deshaun Watson gets traded before the deadline of Nov 2nd of course..
— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) October 27, 2021
Yes, the no-trade clause has only been waived for MIA, so far....
Other teams have made calls.
Can't really flush them out until waiver is expanded.
Again this is chess. https://t.co/5WrbKSeE4w
The Denver Broncos are in a weird spot right now. Trading for Watson is much more complicated than just sending a hoard of draft selections to the Texans.
The ownership situation is in flux. The coaching staff is on the hot seat.
Although George Paton will remain beyond this year, how might a trade for Deshaun Watson impact those two particular situations?
If Paton has the go-ahead to trade for Watson, there is no denying the impact he can have on the field. On the field, Watson is an MVP-caliber playmaker at the QB position.
Unless the Broncos can guarantee themselves a shot at Aaron Rodgers or Russell Wilson in 2021, could they really pass up on that chance? Maybe they could.
If they decided to try and make a move, what might the cost look like? What kind of offer would be too good for Houston to pass up on?
Let’s take a look at three possibilities.