In the world of Miami Dolphins rumors you probably thought had died out, the team reportedly is in the lead for a Deshaun Watson trade.
Deshaun Watson has sexual assault allegations against him from over 20 women. That’s where any conversation about the current Texans quarterback should begin. There is currently no clarity about what legal consequences or NFL suspensions will stem from that situation. But that hasn’t caused trade rumors about the quarterback to subside.
Before the allegations came to light, Watson’s trade request and possible suitors were the talk of the NFL. And one of the primary teams that were discussed as a landing spot was the Miami Dolphins. Even in late August, it turns out things may not have changed on that front.
Yahoo! Sports’ Charles Robinson reported on Saturday that the Dolphins “have emerged as the frontrunner in trade discussions” centered on Deshaun Watson. He went on to note that Houston is reportedly asking for three first-round picks and two second-round picks in trade talks.
Thread. Sources tell @yahoosports the #Dolphins have emerged as the frontrunner in trade discussions with the #Texans for QB Deshaun Watson. The Texans are seeking 3 first-round picks and 2 second-round picks in negotiations, according to a team that dropped out of trade talks.
— Charles Robinson (@CharlesRobinson) August 28, 2021
Perhaps most importantly, it’s also being reported that teams have been trying to get protections on the picks they would send to Houston in order to “mitigate a potential NFL suspension or criminal prosecution” that could stem from the allegations against Watson.
It’s important to note that none of this reporting suggests that a trade is imminent to the Dolphins or otherwise. Moreover, the asking price from the Texans is not necessarily what will end up being the compensation if a trade does fully materialize.
Deshaun Watson isn’t worth it for the Miami Dolphins
Perhaps the most succinct way to assess the possibility of the Dolphins trading for Deshaun Watson comes from The Ringer’s Kevin Clark:
There is no way a functioning, serious NFL team would meet that asking price for Watson right now. If a team does, they are not a functioning, serious team.
— Kevin Clark (@bykevinclark) August 28, 2021
Frankly, it’s shocking to see Miami pop up in these discussions. For the most part, Tua Tagovailoa has looked impressive through two preseason games. And there’s reason to believe that will only improve as the second-year player garners more reps and experience (and if the offensive line gets better).
Moreover, since Brian Flores arrived, the Dolphins have seemingly been one of the best-run organizations in the NFL, working extremely efficiently and smartly to quickly rebuild a team from a bottom-feeder to a playoff-caliber group.
On the field, there’s no question that Watson would be an upgrade over Tagovailoa. Trading for the Texans quarterback now or anytime soon, however, would be an awful decision. The legal trouble creates the picture of a player that is just not worth having on a roster, especially if it costs a substantial amount of draft capital to make it happen.
Again, just because the Dolphins are frontrunners does not mean a trade will happen nor that one will occur soon. However, fans in Miami should be concerned that the franchise is considered to be in that position.