Houston Texans: Trading Deshaun Watson is best path to rebuilding
By Dak Brown
The Houston Texans have become a dumpster fire but, if they can change the course and play their cards right with Deshaun Watson, the path to rebuilding is easier than many might expect.
The Houston Texans are not in a good spot right now. Bill O’Brien traded away DeAndre Hopkins. J.J. Watt is gone. Deshaun Watson wants to leave. They have a defense that ranked 27th in points allowed per game (29.0) and last in rushing yards allowed per game (160.2), per Team Rankings.
On the offensive side, we have a fractured receiver corps with Will Fuller missing the last five games of the season and now not expected to return next year. Additionally, the run game ranked only ahead of the Steelers in rushing yards per game (91.6) in the 2020 campaign.
This isn’t to rub salt in the wounds of any Texans fans. However, it does highlight the bigger picture. Keeping Deshaun Watson doesn’t solve the problems in Houston, even if he’s by far the best player on the roster and a generational talent. If you gave Usain Bolt a pair of sandals to work with, he’s not winning gold medals.
Houston has needs at cornerback, defensive line, running back, offensive line, wide receiver and tight end, in that order. As of right now, though, they don’t have the draft picks necessary to fill the holes. Trading Watson gives them a legitimate chance to do so, however.
Carolina appears to be the team in pole position for landing Watson, assuming the deal is something akin to two first-round picks, one second-round pick and Teddy Bridgewater. Taking on that type of draft capital, the Texans would then have a game plan to actually build a complete roster.
Patrick Surtain II and Caleb Farley should both be available by the No. 8 selection (currently owned by the Panthers) and, by the second roundl the Texans could have their pick (or close to it) of the top running back prospects in the country.
The only other team that can offer a more immediate solution to the Texans is the Jets. If New York offered and Houston accepted two first-round picks (both in 2021 thanks to the Jamal Admas trade), two second-round picks and Sam Darnold, the Texans could take an offensive lineman from a stacked class. They could also improve the defense with guys like Kwity Paye and Christian Barmore in the draft or the likes of Larry Ogunjobi and Everson Griffen in free agency.
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No matter which route they choose, though, the Texans have options for how to get back into playoff contention in the next couple of seasons. Of course, they both begin with trading Deshaun Watson. It’s ironic that, in order for Houston to get better, they must trade their best player. But given the complexity of this situation, that’s where the Texans sit and it all but forces their hand.