Deshaun Watson, the hope of the Dolphins … or some other team?

The deadline for player changes for the 2021 NFL Season is getting closer – November 2 at 3:00 p.m. Central Mexico – and a player with one of the most unstable futures is Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson, who no longer wants to play for Houston, but faces various legal issues that prevent him from moving easily from the team. In this article we tell you everything you need to know about the Deshaun Watson case and who could take a risk and try to acquire his services.

Where are we going in the Deshaun Watson case?

One of the most complex cases the NFL has had in recent years is that of QB Deshaun Watson, who last offseason made it clear to the Texans that he wanted to leave the organization at all costs, however, starting with there things took a brutal turn. Between mid-March and early April, Watson was sued by the law firm Buzbee Law Firm, being the subject of up to 22 civil lawsuits for alleged assault and inappropriate sexual conduct. However, so far, the legal case remains unsolved, and time is running out.

The deadline for trades for the 2021 NFL Season is next Tuesday, November 2 at 3:00 p.m. Central Mexico, and several teams are interested in acquiring Watson, but what does it mean to try to get his services? Without a doubt, it is risking the future of your own franchise.

Because Watson does not currently plan to play for Houston, the NFL has avoided the big problem of deciding whether the Texans quarterback should be placed on the paid leave list, and it is a decision that appears to be delayed until the last moment to be taken. However, with the legal cases pending, at this very moment, Watson should have no problem playing immediately after being acquired by some other team.

But the league is also up against the wall, having the delicate task of evaluating whether or not Watson will be allowed to play. If he plays, the NFL will be accused of not taking allegations of sexual misconduct seriously, but if he is assigned on paid leave, the same organization will come under fire for depriving a player who has not been involved. formally accused of any crime.

Therefore, it should be clear: at this moment Watson does not play because he does not want to be with the Texans, but at the moment when a trade is consummated, he is in the power to step on the field with his new team from Day 1. However, nothing assures this future new team that, eventually, the league would not decide to suspend him as soon as a trade is made. It is a decision that the NFL has not made because it has not seen the need to do so.

Also, in the long-term future, civil lawsuits will inevitably have to come to an end and the issue could escalate far beyond just being suspended by the league. It could even end up with Watson in prison, but those are just assumptions that, like the front office Of the teams interested in a trade, they should be on the radar even if there is no guarantee at all. But who are interested in mortgaging your future for potentially nothing? There is a clear leader in the race, but several teams in the mix.

Watson, the Dolphins’ only hope in 2021?

Since the beginning of the offseason it has been reported that in exchange for its star quarterback, Houston asks for 5 assets: 3 first-round picks and 2 second-round picks; or the equivalent, perhaps reserving one of the selections, but involving high-profile players in the deal to match the initial order. But for a QB that you are not even sure if he will be uniformed with your team jersey, you have to be desperate to make this move, and that is why the Dolphins aim to be the ideal destination.

Miami has been one of the biggest disappointments of this 2021. Unthinkable losses at the beginning of the year over the Jaguars, Falcons, and more, have them with a record of 1-6, and the big problem is that QB Tua Tagovailoa remains unconvinced neither to their own nor to strangers. HC Brian Flores and GM Chris Grier want to save their job; get out of hot seat before owner Stephen Ross decides to replace them, and all signs point to Watson being that spark they need to keep their job.

Via John McClain from Houston Chronicle, last Wednesday it was reported that Watson’s novel could be coming to an end. Texans and Dolphins have intensified their efforts to make a trade, which could be completed before next November 2, and Miami is the ideal destination for several reasons:

Your quarterback is far from being the team’s main problem, but nothing guarantees that it will be the answer; nothing guarantees that he will be a Top-5 QB like Watson already is, and that is why the Texans ask so much in exchange for him, because he is a player who is already proven and who is barely 26 years old. Acquiring it means securing the position for up to the next 10 seasons, if the legal issues are resolved properly.

Also, finally, when Watson signed a 4-year, $ 156 million extension prior to the start of the 2020 NFL Season, his contract included a clause for no-trade, which gives him the opportunity to choose his next possible destination, and multiple sources indicate that, although Watson has already rejected some teams that were interested in him throughout the season, he would be willing to approve an agreement with Miami, who In case of acquiring it, they should also take into account that in 2022 they will have a base salary of 35 million dollars.

Other teams tied to a Watson trade

While the Dolphins are considered the most realistic option at the moment, they aren’t the only ones in the mix. Here we leave you three other viable teams in getting Watson’s services:

Panthers

Via Joe Person, from The AthleticHeading into the trade deadline, the Panthers are expected to engage in negotiations to acquire Watson. The information came to life after QB Sam Darnold’s level of play has dropped considerably in recent weeks. However, last Sunday HC Matt Rhule replied: “I can’t see the future, but I don’t think it will happen”, when asked about a possible quarterback change in 2021.

Eagles

Too via John McClain of the Houston Chronicle, insider respected of the Texans, in Philadelphia they believe that Watson is special, however, the latter still has no interest in a trade that lands him under the command of Nick Sirianni, and having the clause of no-trade, Watson is the one who must approve the possible exchange. Everything indicates then that there is still time for QB Jalen Hurts to prove that he can be a franchise quarterback for the Eagles.

Broncos

In Denver it is clear that neither Teddy Bridgewater nor Drew Lock are the answer the team is looking for. Nevertheless, with information from Benjamin Allbright, insider For the Broncos, there are two issues: Denver was interested in Watson before the legal issues, but not since they came to light; furthermore, he adds that Watson would also not waive his no-trade clause for a move to Denver.

However, previous reports come to life by adding information from Jeremy Fowler from ESPN, who this Monday pointed out that for Watson it is not “Miami or anything”; the quarterback would be open to listening to different destinations to close a trade as soon as possible and immediately return to the action of the game. However, at this precise moment everything indicates that the two closest teams to close an agreement are Miami and Carolina.

Where will we see Deshaun Watson play after November 2? Is it worth risking so much considering your current legal situation? We read you in the comments under this article and on our social networks.

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