The Washington Football Team was in on Matthew Stafford ahead of his deal to the Los Angeles Rams. The question now becomes whether a Deshaun Watson trade could be in the cards in the nation’s capital.
Reports indicate that new general manager Marty Hurney is willing to offer up more than a first-round pick in order to bring a franchise quarterback to D.C. Now that Stafford is off the table, it’s reasonable to conclude that Watson could be a target.
Read More: 5 most realistic Deshaun Watson trade offers
Deshaun Watson trade still on the table
Unless you have been hiding under a rock for the past week, you already know that Watson has requested a trade from the Texans. He’s unhappy with the direction of the organization and has threatened to never play for the team again.
While the Texans have pushed back against trading Watson, it’s become clear that a blockbuster deal will happen here soon. If so, Houston can expect one of the greatest hauls in a trade in modern NFL history.
Watson, 25, is coming off a tremendous 2020 season. The former Clemson star tallied north of 5,000 total yards with 36 total touchdowns against a mere seven interceptions. He’s a generational talent and already one of the top-five quarterbacks in the NFL.
As for Washington, the team could be in the market for a quarterback. It released former first-round bust Dwayne Haskins during the latter part of the 2020 NFL season. Meanwhile, veteran quarterback Alex Smith is contemplating retirement.
There’s every reason to believe that Washington is going to look for a signal caller via free agency, the trade market or the 2021 NFL Draft. Here’s what the team should offer up in a Deshaun Watson trade.
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Offer the Washington Football Team should make in a Deshaun Watson trade
It would have to start with the 19th pick in the 2021 NFL Draft as well as Washington’s second-round pick (51st overall) and one of its third-round selections.
From there, Hurney offers up former first-round pick Montez Sweat to a Houston team that will likely be in the market for an edge rusher once J.J. Watt is traded. Sweat, 24, has recorded 33 quarterback hits and 16 sacks through two NFL seasons. He’d be a central figure headed to the Texans in this scenario.
Washington would then likely have to part with its first-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft as well as a future second-round selection while enticing Houston with another young player currently on its roster. Perhaps, wide receivers Cam Sims or Steven Sims makes sense in that regard.
Read More: 2021 NFL mock draft: New England Patriots snag QB, two-round mock after Matthew Stafford trade
If Washington can bring in Watson, it would give the quarterback a better supporting cast than he had at pretty much any point in his career with the Texans.
The reigning passing champ teaming up with stud running back Antonio Gibson and No. 1 receiver Terry McLaurin would change the trajectory of the Washington Football team in a big way. Here’s how a Deshaun Watson trade would look.
- Texans get: First-round picks in 2021 and 2022, second-round pick in 2021, third-round pick in 2021, future second-round pick, Montez Sweat and either Cam Sims or Steven Sims
- Washington gets: Deshaun Watson