Texans Need to Fix Watson Relationship, or Commerce Him to Dolphins for Tua

In the closing quarter-century, no longer a single quarterback below the age of 29 with more than one Pro Bowls on his resume has been traded. DeShaun Watson is finest 25, he’s received three Pro Bowls on his file, and he’s the 2nd-best doubtless-rated passer in NFL history.

A commerce bright Watson would per chance maybe well be unparalleled in the stylish NFL era. That’s no longer the more or less history the Houston Texans ought to be appealing to offer.

There might per chance be been chatter for a ways of the week that Watson is disenchanted with the Texans for various reasons, basically the most newest being the scheme the crew undertook when hiring unique frequent manager Slash Caserio. That came from ESPN’s Adam Schefter, who reported Sunday that “Watson is claimed to be aroused over the decision” sooner than adding, “Some around the league assume that Watson would per chance maybe well opt to withhold his services this season.”

Past that, ESPN’s Chris Mortensen experiences that Watson, who has a no-commerce clause in his contract, would per chance maybe moreover merely be open to a commerce to the Miami Dolphins:

First things first: Houston’s unique-survey regime—comprised for now of Caserio, high executive Jack Easterby and chairman and CEO Cal McNair—would per chance maybe moreover merely still bend over backward to heal its relationship with Watson.

There might per chance be a motive we now acquire now below no circumstances considered a quarterback as young and finished as Watson commerce teams. Because the Texans can attest per their experiences with David Carr, Matt Schaub and Brock Osweiler, or no longer it is extraordinarily powerful to search out a franchise quarterback on this league. In general, no larger than about a dozen exist in their top at once, and the percentages of discovering but any other one rapidly after shedding or trading one are no longer favorable.

Here’s the greatest space in knowledgeable sports. Fifteen of the closing 17 Tremendous Bowls were won by guys named Brady (5), Manning (four between the brothers), Roethlisberger (two), Brees, Rodgers, Wilson and Mahomes. The finest distinctive cases since 2003 belonged to Joe Flacco and Slash Foles, both of whom became legendarily hot in some unspecified time in the future of Tremendous Bowl runs in the closing decade.

Or no longer it is miles no longer relevant that the Texans correct handed Caserio a six-yr, $30 million deal. If ripping up that contract is the finest means to expose Watson they’re dedicated to building around him and along with his enter, then that’s precisely what McNair would per chance maybe moreover merely still produce. As humiliating as that might per chance be, it would per chance maybe well very doubtless beat the substitute that involves trading a vital person correct months after making him the 2nd-best doubtless-paid participant in NFL history.

This crew is more doubtless to take a Tremendous Bowl in the next decade with Watson and without Caserio than with Caserio and without Watson.

But dropping Caserio would per chance maybe well no longer even be obligatory if the Texans merely permit Watson to get half in the scheme of securing a novel head coach. Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reported this week that Watson used to be in particular pissed off by the reality that the crew left out him when he advocated for Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy. Bieniemy has proved to be larger than licensed for a head educating job, and the Texans were the finest crew with a emptiness that did no longer no longer no longer as much as inquire to interview him.

But Bieniemy also has but to be employed in other locations. Houston still has time to repair its mistake by calling both Watson and Bieniemy and offering an olive division to the aged along with a blockbuster contract to the latter.

Will that require the swallowing of satisfaction? Completely. Will or no longer or no longer it is extraordinarily costly if they’ve to sever ties with Caserio and/or pay an incredible increased top price to Bieniemy to persuade him to get their job as a substitute of one with the Atlanta Falcons, Current York Jets, Los Angeles Chargers, Jacksonville Jaguars or Detroit Lions? Potentially.

Will any of that topic if Watson and Bieniemy are elevating the Lombardi Trophy in some unspecified time in the future in the 2020s? Nope.

And while it appears the quarterback’s frustration spans beyond basically the newest hiring direction of, that might per chance expectantly be ample to persuade Watson that they’re prioritizing him and listening to his concerns.

All of that being mentioned, if the relationship can’t be reconciled and Watson is pointless insist on discovering a novel football residence, ironically, the Dolphins would per chance maybe well certainly be the finest commerce accomplice.

The irony stems from the reality that Miami possesses Houston’s No. 3 overall get in the 2021 NFL draft—a resolution the Texans gave to the Dolphins as segment of a commerce package that sent standout left address Laremy Tunsil from Miami to Houston in 2019.

The Dolphins would per chance maybe well feel that after falling correct brief of the playoffs merely a yr after tanking and launching a rebuild, they’re correct one main half brief of contending. After 2020 No. 5 overall get Tua Tagovailoa in most cases struggled along with his consistency and gigantic-play ability in his rookie season, Miami shall be appealing to swap out a still-unknown commodity for a confirmed asset at quarterback.

The Dolphins acquire the wage-cap location and draft capital to get it done. Although they gave Houston’s No. 3 get inspire as segment of that deal, they still withhold the No. 18 overall resolution to boot to Houston’s 36th overall get in Round 2.

The Texans, meanwhile, would rid themselves of the Watson mess while a dinky bit symbolically retrieving one of the well-known highest picks dealt away by the earlier regime. Tagovailoa still has neat upside as a aged vital person at Alabama, they would per chance maybe moreover merely add a key supportive half cherish broad receiver Ja’Marr Stir or linebacker Micah Parsons at the high of the draft, and they’d acquire more cap location with which to operate.

It remains a ways-fetched, nonetheless or no longer it is juicy and logical and even doubtless a doable take-take if the relationship between Watson and the Texans entrance workplace is beyond repair and Tagovailoa pans out in a novel atmosphere.

But again, although, that ought to be scheme of the finest of the worst-case eventualities for the Texans, who acquire committed a series of evident missteps and unnoticed one of the well-known finest young gamers in the game. Sooner than giving up and calling the Dolphins in hopes they’re going to bail them out, they’re going to finally show some humility and produce it clear that Watson is the group’s high precedence.

It would per chance maybe well no longer be too unimaginative, nonetheless they’re going to acquire to act speedy.

Brad Gagnon has covered the NFL for Bleacher File since 2012. Be aware him on Twitter: @Brad_Gagnon.