The sweepstakes for Houston Texans embattled quarterback Deshaun Watson is intensifying, and it appears that two NFC South rivals are in a prime position to complete a blockbuster trade. According to multiple reports, the three-time Pro Bowler isn't interesting in joining the Cleveland Browns, which means that the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons are now considered frontrunners.
The Saints' interest in Watson is undoubtedly strong. The team reportedly met with him for a second time on Wednesday, and on Thursday, they restructured the contracts of four players, creating nearly $30 million in cap space. Prior to free agency, New Orleans happened to have the least amount of cap space in the NFL. As for the Falcons, they're also navigating cap issues, and earlier on Thursday, tight end Kyle Pitts deleted a cryptic tweet that teased a big move.
"It doesn't have this sort of, all-in feel. Whoever signs him, it's going to barely be a Super Bowl contender," Maggie Gray said during the Maggie and Perloff show on Thursday. "Teams already this far down the line obviously accepted the reality here -- which is, he's most likely going to be suspended. But he's also a franchise changer... I'd think he might want to play in his hometown, and that'd sway him toward Atlanta. But it's not that way for every guy."
"Is either team a Super Bowl contender with him? Not quite sure we're there yet," Andrew Perloff said. "It's definitely not ideal to miss Deshaun for half a season if he's your savior... I was willing to bet the Saints, as of noon. Then the Pitts tweet made me believe that Atlanta is a frontrunner, too. I still think the Saints have an edge -- I think they have a complete team... But being in Atlanta, his hometown, is that really what the final straw will be?"
Watson, who won't face criminal charges for sexual misconduct allegations, still faces 22 active civil lawsuits against him. Due to ongoing legal matters, the 26-year-old didn't play a single snap for Houston in 2021 -- he was listed as a healthy scratch each week. When Watson last saw playing time, back in 2020, he threw for a career-high 4,823 yards with 33 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He signed a four-year, $156 million contract extension in 2020, and also has a no-trade clause.
Maggie and Perloff's complete thoughts on Watson can be accessed in the audio player above.
You can follow the Maggie and Perloff Show on Twitter @MaggieandPerl and Tom Hanslin @TomHanslin.