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Well, then. After weeks of Deshaun Watson’s reported unhappiness sending shockwaves through the NFL world, on Thursday, it was confirmed that Watson indeeds want out of Houston. Officially. What’s bizarre about this request is that, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Watson actually requested to be traded “weeks ago.”
Deshaun Watson officially has requested a trade from the Houston Texans, per league sources. He actually did it weeks ago. Their new head-coaching hire, David Culley, has not and will not alter Watson’s thinking.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 28, 2021
This news comes after the Texans hired David Culley as their head coach. If you, like many people, are unfamiliar with Culley, he was the assistant head coach, wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator with the Baltimore Ravens.
So where does this leave Watson as it pertains to the 49ers?
He’s at least in play. Houston’s leverage decreases slightly, but obviously if a trade does happen, Watson will require a king’s ransom. It’s difficult to imagine a scenario that does not necessitate at least three-first round picks.
The one thing that may work in the 49ers’ favor is that Watson has a no-trade clause, and can use his leverage to direct himself to a preferable destination. He could consider San Francisco one of those preferable landing spots.
One added, massive bonus of trading for Watson in 2021 is that, if acquired, he’s only due to make $10.5 million, a shockingly low and invaluable figure with the cap set to drop.
The issue, of course, for the 49ers, is that teams like the Dolphins and Jets, with young quarterbacks, stockpiles of draft picks and top-three overall picks, can easily outbid San Francisco.
