The Deshaun Watson sexual assault allegations continue to unfold slowly, with the NFL investigation and civil lawsuits having no end in sight.
Having said that, if/when Watson resumes his NFL career, many reporters believe the Eagles are a top candidate to acquire the 25-year-old quarterback.
Longtime Texans beat reporter John McClain of The Houston Chronicle says the Eagles do make sense as a possibility.
"Well think about it—Deshaun Watson, Jalen Hurts?" McClain said to Jon Marks & Ike Reese on Thursday 94WIP's Afternoon Show. "That'd be a no brainer."
McClain says eight teams were originally interested in Watson, but now after the allegations, his value has dramatically decreased, obviously.
"The Texans have no had conversations with anybody...The plan was to start the negotiations around April 1st, see who was serious. There were going to be a lot of teams serious and then they would make the best possible deal before the draft. They thought they could get three one's, two two's and maybe a defensive starter. They're not going to get that now.
"Four of the teams that were interested—like the Jets, 49ers, Bears, and Patriots—they've moved on with first round picks. Denver and Carolina were two teams that were willing to sacrifice almost anything. And I wrote a column this week, teams like Philadelphia, Washington, New Orleans would be interested because if they had him that would make them instant contenders. Of course, everybody here [in Houston], they love Jalen Hurts because he's from here, but people here say, 'OK.' They hope Jalen fails and the Eagles would have three numbers one picks if [Carson] Wentz stays healthy and maybe the Eagles would give them two of those. Right now, until the legal situation works itself out, there's no negotiations."
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McClain added he does not believe Watson will ever take another snap for the Texans.
On May 10th, well respected NFL writer Peter King listed the Eagles as the co-favorites to land Watson.
The Eagles have plenty of cap space in the 2022 season and beyond, when Watson’s salary jumps to $35 million in 2022 and then back down to $20 million in 2023. They could also re-do Watson’s deal in a trade, something the quarterback would likely welcome considering he is trying to get out of Houston.
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Any potential trade would also require the Eagles to look into the recent sexual assault allegations against Watson, something it appears the NFL has now decided to look into. Watson has strongly denied the allegations. The Eagles would have to feel comfortable trading for Watson if they were going to trade the assets it would take to make him their new franchise quarterback.
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