Deshaun Watson’s social media posts the last few weeks make a whole lot more sense now that various reports confirmed that the superstar quarterback had indeed submitted a trade request to get out of Houston.
Watson, through the no-trade clause in the four-year, $156 million contract extension he signed in September, can choose his destination, and despite the initial reporting that he preferred Miami, the Jets are looming as a possible landing spot. There were reports that he implored Houston management to hire Jets new head coach Robert Saleh for their own opening, and he posted an Instagram photo while attending a January 18 Brooklyn Nets game – was he in the area to scout for a new home?
It’s easy for folks to implore Jets GM Joe Douglas to “back up the truck” and deliver to Houston anything it requires to make a Watson deal happen. Watson is that good, coming off a season where he led the NFL in yards per attempt, more than a half-yard better than No. 2 Kirk Cousins. In terms of ProFootballFocus.com passing grades, only NFC Championship Game combatants Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady ranked above Watson, with AFC title QBs Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen ranked just below him. At 25, Watson has many Pro Bowl years ahead of him.
So, if Watson chooses to call New Jersey home, the question then becomes this: is there a line in the sand that Douglas won’t cross to secure a franchise QB?
Given the mainstream media takes on the subject, I’m the contrarian in this debate, believing there has to be one.
The consensus opinion is that it will take at least three first-round picks, including the No. 2 overall selection this year, as an appetizer. Given that the Texans would have the opportunity to select their new quarterback of the future with that pick on April 29, one would think they would rather aim for a player like defensive lineman Quinnen Williams, who is coming off a breakout season, than New York’s incumbent QB Sam Darnold, PFF’s lowest-graded passer.
Unless Houston is willing to substitute some lower-round picks in place of Williams, that’s too much.
Coming off a disastrous 2-14 campaign, Gang Green has holes at multiple positions besides quarterback. Upgrading from Darnold to Watson won’t suddenly boost them to Super Bowl contenders. Remember, as great as Watson performed this season, the Texans still finished with a miserable 4-12 mark thanks to a similarly dismal supporting cast.
Free agency has rarely been kind to this franchise, so it expectations have always been that Douglas will build the core through the draft. Obviously, sending out a boatload of picks in a Watson trade would hinder that effort.
In addition, the Jets may be able to clear over $80 million in salary cap space this offseason, but that won’t last long if Douglas has to spend extravagantly to get Watson a true No. 1 receiver and more able bodies on the offensive line. Moreover, while Watson’s 2021 cap charge for any acquiring team will be a bargain $10.5 million per overthecap.com, the subsequent hits will skyrocket into the mid-thirties in each of the next four seasons.
You can trust Douglas to painstakingly work through this with a clear head, but keep in mind that Woody Johnson, who has a history of going for big splash moves that have short shelf lives, just returned from his four-year assignment as the U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom to resume control of the team from younger brother Christopher.
Who knows how having divisional rival Miami, along with other potential suitors like Carolina and Chicago, as competitors in a potential auction for Watson’s services will affect Johnson’s worst impulses? Watson is under contract, so Houston has position to get the best deal despite the no-trade clause. The Dolphins, who own the No. 3 pick thanks to trading tackle Laremy Tunsil to Houston, have pretty much the same draft capital as the Jets, even given the extra picks acquired when Douglas sent disgruntled safety Jamal Adams to Seattle before training camp.
It wouldn’t be shocking, then, if Johnson nudged Douglas to overbid for Watson. The quick fix has always been the go-to scheme in the Jets’ playbook, despite its record of futility since 1969.
For a FAN’s perspective of the Nets, Devils and Jets, follow Steve on Twitter @SteveLichtenst1.
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