While the NFL is gearing up for the playoffs and the networks are still going off on Doug Pederson’s “Tank You” gift to Washington, a rumor popped up that the Houston Texans might be shopping star quarterback, Deshaun Watson.
After Bill O’Brien traded away star receiver DeAndre Hopkins in a ridiculous, lopsided deal with Arizona for their 2020 second-round pick (#40), a fourth-round pick in 2021, and running back David Johnson, nothing should be surprising coming out of Houston. But rumblings of the team shopping their best player, Deshaun Watson, was startling.
Per Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk:
“Rumors already are circulating, and we’ve already heard them from multiple different people, that Watson has quietly broached with teammates the possibility of requesting a trade. If that’s happening, it may just be a strategic effort to ensure his views are respected by ownership. Regardless, it raises the stakes and crosses a bridge and potentially sets the foundation for Watson eventually to decide that he’d like to continue his career elsewhere.”
Without a star receiver or consistent run game, Watson only went on to lead the league in passing yards this season, throwing for 4,823 yards with 33 TDs and 7 INTs, and made the Pro Bowl. But apparently, that’s might not enough for Houston as if these rumors prove true, the team is in full rebuild mode. Remember, this is the team that four months ago gave Watson a four-year, $156 million extension.
It appears that the team isn’t moving their star. “Under no circumstances will the Texans trade Watson,” wrote John McClain of the Houston Chronicle. He also noted that even if Watson asks for a trade, “he’s not going anywhere.”
Watson just wants the respect he clearly deserves and is simply asking for some clarity and inclusion in the discussions around the team’s new coach.
“We just need a whole culture shift.” said Watson, continuing that everyone needs to get on the same page. “There’s too many different minds, too many different ideas, and too many people thinking they have this power, and it’s not like that.”
The team obviously missed that message as they went ahead and hired former New England Patriots Executive, Nick Caserio, as their new GM reportedly without consulting their star. The star QB wasn’t happy with that decision, tweeting out “some things never change….”
If the Texans keep messing up and the rumor about Watson looking for a new home continues to swell, then expect teams like the Steelers, Colts, 49ers, Broncos, Jets, and Washington to be posted up in front of NRG Stadium very soon.
