The Deshaun Watson trade saga has been a heartbreaking one for Houston Texans fans, but a hopeful one for New York Jets. They have seen numerous stars depart the city over the past few months, and now their franchise quarterback continues to push his way out too. Watson has broken off contact with the organization, and members within believe that he has played his final snap with the team.
Early Saturday morning, a report from the Miami Herald came out, and it the surprise of many, it included Watson’s top destination should he be traded. And it was not the team that is from Miami. Instead, it is the New York Jets.
The New York Jets, a team that passed on Watson in the 2017 NFL Draft, are one of the very few equipped with the necessary assets to make such a deal. New York is also looking to turn over a new leaf. After a miserable decade, general manager Joe Douglas and new head coach Robert Saleh are ready to rebuild this team. In fact, it is the hiring of Robert Saleh and the respect Watson has for him that makes Gang Green such an intriguing destination to him.
Since firing Adam Gase, things have continued to go in the right direction for the Jets. Without a doubt, fans are praying that someway, somehow, Watson is in gotham green in 2021. However, say the Jets acquire Watson, then what?
What Would Follow a New York Jets Trade for Deshaun Watson
Reviewing the Remaining Assets
To acquire a 25-year-old three-time Pro Bowl superstar in Deshaun Watson, the Jets are going to need to give up quite a bit. Right off the bat, the number two overall pick in the draft is going to Houston. It would allow the Texans to have their choice of quarterbacks (not named Trevor Lawrence) in the 2021 NFL Draft. They can go with BYU’s Zach Wilson, Ohio State’s Justin Fields, or even North Dakota State’s Trey Lance. Maybe they deal the number two pick later on to gain even more draft capital. The bottom line, this deal begins with that second overall pick.
From there, things get interesting. The Jets have four first-round picks over the next two years thanks to the Jamal Adams trade, as well as an extra third-round pick this year. With all that draft capital, Houston certainly will demand at least three of those firsts. That is how this negotiation will kick-off. From there, who knows what else might be needed to push the deal through. Maybe it is a second-round pick, or multiple mid-round choices, who knows? The goal for Houston if they even considered trading Watson is not giving their franchise quarterback away the same way they did DeAndre Hopkins last offseason.
Again, this deal begins with the Jets dealing three first-round picks, with two coming from this season. Chances are, one of the third-round picks this year, and another middle-round pick next year will be included, and maybe even more. Yes, that is a lot to give up for the Jets, but there are other factors in play. First, Sam Darnold, and what the team can receive in return from him. Second, they finally get their franchise quarterback. And third, how attractive of a free agent destination they then become.
Dealing Sam Darnold
New York is not going to deal Sam Darnold until they officially acquire Deshaun Watson, or they know they will draft his replacement. For months now, it has been debated what Darnold is worth, with multiple opinions.
Darnold is coming off of the worst season of his career. Of course, one can chalk it up to Adam Gase, lack of weapons, or the inconsistent blocking by anybody not 6’7” and 364lbs. At the end of the day, Darnold threw more interceptions than touchdowns for the first time in his career and had the worst QBR to date. In other words, the Jets are not going to get a first-round pick in return.
What they will likely get is a middle-day two draft picks, being either a second or third for the quarterback. Taking this into consideration, the Jets could be looking at three day-two picks this season, which would go a long way to help make up for the capital they just dealt.
Finally Having a Franchise Quarterback
For decades, this has been the dream for Jets fans. Finally having a quarterback who they can look to as a star and leader under center for years to come. Because that is what they would get with Deshaun Watson.
He is only going to be 26-years-old next season and is under contract through 2025. By then, he will be well into his prime at 30-years-old in the final year of his current deal. Douglas and Saleh have a lot of work to do to rebuild this team from top to bottom. Nonetheless, if they can stabilize the quarterback position for years, it would be a huge step.
Free Agent Attraction
Watson’s current deal is not cheap. In 2021, he has a cap hit below $16-million, before over $40-million in 2022-2023 and then $37-million in 2024, and $32-million in 2025. Luckily, the Jets are going to be among the teams with the most cap space this year and have the majority of the roster on rookie or team-friendly deals.
With all this cap space, the Jets are going to be heavily involved in the free agent market. Already through Watson, it is clear that players are taking notice of the direction Douglas and Saleh can take New York in. And he is not the only one. Chicago Bears wide receiver and to-be free agent Allen Robinson has liked multiple tweets about the Jets in recent days and one can expect Saleh to target a handful of former San Francisco 49ers who played for him.
Gang Green seemingly is heading in the right direction. Douglas is running the show, with Saleh being his partner, not an in-house competitor. Players will take notice of this, and if the Jets can bring Watson on board, things will only continue to trend in the right direction. Sooner than later, players will want to play for the Jets, something that has not been said in a long time.
Last Word on What Would Follow a New York Jets Trade for Deshaun Watson
Time will only tell if Deshaun Watson can even push the Houston Texans to actually trade him. The same can be said that if the Jets will even pursue acquiring him given how much it will take to give up. Nevertheless, he is a franchise quarterback and one that supposedly wants to play for the Jets. Trading for him would be huge in the Jets finally turning things around. And the whole league will certainly be watching.
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