Deshaun Watson 3 landing spots as trade rumors start to heat up
Deshaun Watson is a free man. There’s no doubt that several NFL teams are vying for his services — however, he controls where he goes.
All off-season, you couldn’t turn on a sports show without hearing the name Deshaun Watson. Speculation about where he would go dominated headlines. That was until chargers were filed against the Houston Texans signal-caller.
After months of speculation, news reports, and headlines, the NFL finally got an answer when it comes to Deshaun Watson’s legal trouble. According to ESPN, a grand jury will now indict Watson.
"“A grand jury has declined to indict Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson following a police investigation sparked by lawsuits filed by 22 women who have accused him of harassment and sexual assault.”"
The first lawsuit filed against Watson took place on Mar. 16, 2020. The former Heisman Trophy was a healthy scratch for all 17 games of the 2021 season. However, it’s important to note that he received his $10.54 million base salary. Now, it’s time to examine what’s next football-wise for Watson. One thing’s for sure, Watson controls his destination thanks to his no-trade clause.
We know he’s not returning to the Texans, given his previous feelings about the franchise. One team you won’t see on this list is the Miami Dolphins. The Fins were the front runners to land Watson, but they fired the coach Watson wanted to play for Brian Flores got fired. If that doesn’t convince you, Chris Grier told the media, he shut the door on any Watson trade talk. Just because the Fins don’t want him doesn’t mean there aren’t 20+ other teams interested in Watson services.
Deshaun Watson destination no. 3: Cleveland Browns
Baker Mayfield did a solid job for the Browns, but a guy like Deshaun Watson doesn’t come along very often. Mayfield is a valuable trade piece for a team that needs a quarterback — the Texans need one. They also have a couple of defensive players they can auction off as well. They can throw in a couple of Day 1 and Day 2 picks in the mix to ensure his services.
There were reports that Jarvis Landry was unhappy, but Watson can cure-all. The Browns have enough cap space to entice another wideout like Allen Robinson, Will Fuller, or possibly Antonio Brown — if they dare.
The glaring strength for the Browns is their offensive line and running game. Watson wouldn’t have to carry the load either. There’s no better duo in the NFL than Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt.
The Cleveland Browns need a dynamic quarterback to come in and elevate the franchise. Baker is solid, but this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the Browns.