What Quarterback Will Be Traded Next? Carr, Garoppolo, Watson Drawing Interest

The Seattle Seahawks and Indianapolis Colts have already agreed to trade away Russell Wilson and Carson Wentz with the start of NFL free agency still a few days away. It’s likely that more starting quarterbacks will be dealt before the 2022 season.

Which NFL quarterback will be traded next? Three names stand out as quarterback-needy teams try to upgrade the sport’s most important position.

Derek Carr

Every offseason, there is speculation that Carr could be traded. Jon Gruden was thought to have his sights on landing a better quarterback. Now that Josh McDaniels is the Raiders head coach, he could be looking to bring in his own hand-picked signal-caller.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Vincent Bonsignore has reported that multiple teams have expressed interest in Carr. The Colts could make a push to acquire Carr, according to Cleveland.com. The Cleveland Browns have reportedly had Carr on their radar, as well.

The odds of a trade, however, appear to be slim this offseason. Carr just led the Raiders to their second playoff appearance in 18 years. He was even in the very early MVP conversation. If Las Vegas hopes to compete in an extremely competitive AFC West, it can’t trade Carr for draft picks and complementary players.

Jimmy Garoppolo

The San Francisco 49ers have made it clear that they are trying to trade Garoppolo. A year after giving up a haul of draft picks to select Trey Lance, the team is ready to see if Lance can be their quarterback of the future.

Trade discussions for Garoppolo have begun to heat up, NFL Network reports. San Francisco has spoken with multiple teams interested in the veteran. Indianapolis has become one of the top suitors for Garoppolo in the aftermath of the Wentz trade. The Pittsburgh Steelers could make a compelling offer for Garoppolo to replace outgoing Ben Roethlisberger.

Garoppolo has the best chance of being traded next, but recent surgery on his throwing shoulder complicates matters. The quarterback is expected to be ready for the 2022 season. His recovery time could last up to four months. A trade might be delayed, though it would be surprising if Garoppolo is back in the Bay Area next season.

Deshaun Watson

It’s almost certain that Watson will never take another snap for the Houston Texans. A healthy Watson didn’t suit up for Houston in the 2021 season, and both sides are more than ready to move on from each other. Watson’s legal issues will determine how quickly a deal gets done.

Watson won’t be traded unless it is determined that he won’t face criminal charges for allegations of sexual assault. A grand jury will hear evidence in the case against Watson on Friday. Yahoo Sports has reported that Watson is expected to remain a Texan until April as teams await the grand jury’s decision and any potential suspension from the NFL.

The Carolina Panthers have been pursuing Watson since last season. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a possible landing spot following Tom Brady’s retirement. If Watson is cleared of criminal charges, several more suitors could emerge.