Despite the uncertainty surrounding Deshaun Watson’s status this season, the Houston Texans have not budged from their high asking price for the star quarterback.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Houston sought a package involving a combination of six players and draft picks from interested teams this summer — a price no team is willing to meet without attaching conditions to the picks due to the ongoing investigations by the FBI, Houston police and NFL into Watson over sexual assault and misconduct allegations.
It was previously reported the Texans were seeking at least three first-round picks for Watson.
Among the teams that appeared close to a deal but ultimately did not follow through due to the asking price was the Miami Dolphins, according to Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.
Florio noted that the Texans were looking for four first-round picks (Miami has two first-round picks in 2023) and two second-round picks in return, which falls in line with Schefter’s reporting of six picks and players (in this case it was all picks).
The Dolphins also were in communication with the league office to get intel on Watson’s status, but those efforts were reportedly fruitless.
Watson remains on the Texans active roster but is not expected to play this season while facing 22 civil lawsuits from massage therapists alleging sexual assault and misconduct.
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Watson, who has denied the allegations, remains active because the league does not need to decide to place him on the Commissioner Exempt list if the Texans continue to pay him to not play.
No criminal charges have been filed against Watson, although Houston police have received at least 10 complaints, which has prompted the Harris County District Attorney’s office to subpoena witnesses to testify before a grand jury, which could ultimately indict Watson.
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