Texans stills have interest in trading for QB Deshaun Watson
By Ryan Ward
With all the quarterback movement around the league, Deshaun Watson’s name has cropped as a potential target.
According to Johnathan M. Alexander of The Charlotte Observer, the Carolina Panthers may express significant interest in the Pro Bowl quarterback.
If you thought this week was wild with quarterback news, next week may be get even more interesting for the Carolina Panthers.
Watson is dealing with the ongoing legal issues that could lead to significant league punishment. However, it’s believed that the Panthers will have to move at least three first-round selections, another draft pick along with a young player or two.
Carolina isn’t sold on Sam Darnold being the long-term future under center. Darnold struggled in 2021 due to inconsistent play and injury issues.
The USC product is heading into the fifth-year option of his rookie contract that is worth and holds a dead-cap hit of $18.5 million. The cap figure doesn’t make him impossible to move, but it would mean either trading or cutting before the 2022 season.
Meanwhile, Watson didn’t play in the 2021 campaign due to legal issues. He is expected to receive some extensive league punishment that will force him to miss a sizable chunk of the 2022 season.
Want $250 to bet on NBA futures?
Sign up here!
A few other franchises may enter the picture as possible landings spots. Teams such as the Seattle Seahawks and Indianapolis Colts need to address their quarterback situation.
Watson is heading into the first year of his four-year, $156 million deal that runs through the 2025 campaign. He holds a $51.2 million dead-cap hit in 2022 and only $10.8 million in 2023.
