Since he won’t be criminally charged for sexual assault and misconduct, Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson is getting more interest from multiple NFL teams about a potential trade.
It wasn’t very long ago that four teams were interested in Watson but with Watson’s no-trade clause, it really comes down to where he wants to go. And according to John McClain from the Houston Chronicle, Watson has narrowed his next destination down to two teams.
While on Sports Radio WFNZ in Charlotte, McClain revealed that Watson has “rejected everybody but Carolina [Panthers] and New Orleans [Saints],” seemingly turning down the Seattle Seahawks and Cleveland Browns in the process.
“He’s rejected everybody but Carolina and New Orleans.”
– @McClain_on_NFL to me just now on @wfnz re: Deshaun Watson’s next destination.
— Kyle Bailey (@KyleBaileyClub) March 14, 2022
This seems to differ from a report from Josina Anderson, who said that Watson is “planning to meet with ‘more’ teams” on Tuesday, the same day he’s set to be deposed on 22 civil lawsuits. On Tuesday morning, ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Chris Mortensen reported that the Falcons “emerged as a sleeper team” but were a reported “long shot” to actually land Watson. It’s probably smart for both Watson and the Texans to meet with any team who is interested but given that Watson met with the Saints and Panthers first, and the two teams have solidly been in pole position to trade for Watson, it seems like they remain the favorites.
I'm told Deshaun Watson is set to meet with the #Saints and #Panthers in Houston through Monday evening, and* I'm also told Watson is currently* planning to meet with "more" teams tomorrow, at this time, per league source. @AaronWilson_NFL with these details as well.
— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) March 14, 2022
The Falcons have emerged as a sleeper team to acquire Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson, league sources tell @mortreport and me. The Falcons join the Panthers, Saints and Browns as teams that have met with, or are interested in, trading for Watson. More to come on ESPN.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 15, 2022
Watson’s legal matters are not resolved and he can still be suspended by the NFL. That hasn’t stopped teams from looking to make a big trade so it remains to be seen where Watson actually goes.
