NFL Rumors: A Deshaun Watson Trade Demand Could Be On The Horizon

Following a miserable losing season, the Houston Texans also might have to worry about losing their star quarterback. Rumors are beginning to spread that Deshaun Watson is contemplating asking for a trade.

Multiple people told ProFootballTalk that Watson has “quietly broached with teammates” the idea of asking to be sent elsewhere. Houston finished the 2020 NFL season at 4-12, giving the Texans the third-worst record in the entire league.

There’s no doubt that Watson would be highly sought after by several teams if he becomes available. The quarterback is coming off the best season of his career in which he led the NFL with 4,823 passing yards and ranked second with a 112.4 passer rating.

Had he been surrounded by a better roster, Watson might have been in the MVP conversation. Instead, the lack of support has him exploring his options.

Just prior to the start of this season, Watson inked a four-year, $156 million contract extension. The 25-year-old is signed through the 2025 season, making him and even more attractive option for possible suitors.

With Watson under contract for the next half-decade, Houston might have very little incentive to move the signal caller. It would likely take a massive haul of draft picks in order for the Texans to pull the trigger on a trade.

Despite finishing near the bottom of the standings, the Texans are without their first-round pick in the 2021 draft. Houston’s selection, the No.3 pick overall, belongs to the Miami Dolphins as part of a 2019 trade the Texans made to acquire offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil.

Houston traded wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins to the Arizona Cardinals before the start of the 2020 season in a deal that was widely criticized. Bill O’Brien, who executed the trade while serving as the Texans’ head coach and general manager, was fired in October.

It’s possible Houston would consider trading Watson in an attempt to rebuild its roster and acquire much needed draft equity.

There have been no reports of active trade talks between the Texans and other teams, though it isn’t difficult to come up with a long list of suitors. The New England Patriots, Washington Football Team and Indianapolis Colts are just a few teams that are in need of a quarterback for the future and likely won’t be able to find one with a high draft pick this year.