There is no substantial report that the Houston Texans intend to negotiate with Deshaun Watson. There is also no substantial information that Watson owns or requests a trade. However, Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reported Thursday Watson is not happy with the jeans after some of his off-season maneuvers and he has not spoken to the club during the last days. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the same.
Watson is a player shocking enough that any word of his possible move is something the 49ers should keep in mind.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan has expressed his support for Jimmy Garoppolo and intends to be the starter, unless there is a massive update on the table.
In the event that Watson enters the commercial block, he will immediately jump to the top of a short list of potentially available quarterbacks that represent this massive upgrade. He may be the only player on the roster depending on how the team feels against other veteran quarterbacks in the league.
San Francisco overtook Watson when he picked third place in the 2017 draft, opting to bolster his defensive line with Solomon Thomas. An opportunity to end Watson while he is still in the mid-1920s would help alleviate the ramifications of the significant swing and waste that John Lynch’s term as general manager launched.
A barrier to a 49ers-Watson connection would be the cost of acquiring such an important quarterback at its peak. There aren’t many teams that don’t make any calls about the Pro Bowler. It is not unthinkable that its price includes three or more first round selections, several second day selections and a first level of quality. It’s steep, but securing a franchise signal call while you’re 25 would be well worth it for a team like San Francisco that is still looking for its long-term answer.
It’s worth noting that Watson isn’t on the trading block, but Rapoport reports represent the first signs of smoke. And the 49ers would be prudent to keep a close eye on a potential fire.