Deshaun Watson has officially requested a trade and according to various reports as many as half of the teams in the NFL are interested.
Could the Falcons be among the teams interested and should they be interested? Yes and Yes!
The Falcons not only should be interested in Deshaun Watson, but could actually be among the teams who truly have enough capital to make a deal the Texans would accept.
With so many teams in the league interested, the price of a Watson deal is going to be sky high and the Texans are going to be looking for a few things specifically to get a deal done.
Without a doubt the Texans are going to require some first round picks and it's assumed they would also like a QB in return.
There are very few teams that are in better position than the Falcons to put together a package for Watson.
With the 4th overall pick in the first round and the 3rd pick in the second round (35th overall), the Falcons could potentially package those two picks, along with Matt Ryan and their 2022 first round pick for Watson.
There are a few key elements to this major package that would force the Texans to consider it.
One popular mindset is that the Texans want a starter-ready QB in return for Watson and Matt Ryan would serve that role.
The Texans want at least two first round picks in this deal, and with the Falcons at 4 overall this year there's obviously not many options for better draft position.
The last key to this deal would be the Falcons having to part with their 2nd round pick this season. The Texans first pick in the 2021 Draft isn't until the 3rd round due to previous trades with the Miami Dolphins, so juicing up a deal with a 2021 2nd round pick could be a major selling point, especially a 2nd rounder that is as high as the Falcons is (35th overall).
Is that a package that the Falcons could afford to part with? Seems so.
Is Deshaun Watson the type of QB who can be a franchise player? With half of the league interested, you would think multiple teams view him that way.
Unless a team offer a trio of 1st round picks, and a QB, and a 2nd this year, the Falcons might actually have the strongest package available.