Deshaun Watson rumors: New York Jets QB’s preferred trade destination?

Deshaun Watson trade discussions haven’t died down but the New York Jets reportedly would be the preferred destination for the dynamic young quarterback.

Where will Deshaun Watson be traded? That’s the question that has encompassed the NFL outside of the playoffs to this point, though it does assume that the Houston Texans will trade their quarterback and former first-round pick.

Though there have been many possible suitors discussed, it appears that a hierarchy of preferred trade destinations and teams has emerged, at least in terms of a top two. According to a report from Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald, the New York Jets are at the top of the list for teams Watson would want to play for.

Salguero noted that the Jets hiring new head coach Robert Saleh weighs heavily into the franchise being the preferred landing spot for the quarterback. In fact, Watson wanted Houston to interview the former 49ers defensive coordinator in their own coaching search, a search that has reportedly been frustrating from Watson’s end.

For what it’s worth, Salguero also reported that the Miami Dolphins are the No. 2 team on Watson’s list. However, if the Jets are indeed the top club on that list, then it’s incredibly enticing to think about what the quarterback could mean for Gang Green.

The New York Jets could begin a new era with Deshaun Watson at the forefront.

The one thing that both the Jets and Dolphins, the two teams at the top of Watson’s list, have in common, it’s the draft capital to make a blockbuster deal happen. New York not only has the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft but they have another first-round pick owed to them by way of the Jamal Adams trade in addition to having former first-round quarterback Sam Darnold to trade as well.

What makes a possible Watson trade intriguing for the Jets is the fact that many assume they will take a quarterback — likely Ohio State’s Justin Fields — with the second overall pick. However, if they have the opportunity to get an established top-tier player such as Watson, they have to consider the possibility.

Trading for Deshaun Watson would undoubtedly be costly for the Jets and that’s something that must be considered. New York is not a quarterback away from competing for a Super Bowl or even a playoff spot. Subsequently, sending away draft picks that could otherwise be used to fill out the holes on the roster is a risky proposition.

While that might be true, a team is dead in the water if they don’t have a reliable quarterback and head coach. After hiring Saleh, they believe they have the latter. And pairing the new sideline leader with Watson would set the cornerstones for the franchise to build around in a way they haven’t had in decades.