Deshaun Watson’s discontent with the Houston Texans adds another layer of intrigue to the 49ers quarterback situation entering the offseason. While there have been no reports of jeans offering a 25-year-old quarterback in a trade, nor has Watson made any commercial demands, the conversation about his potential move has taken over the conversation about San Francisco’s low season.
Legendary WR Jerry Rice of the 49ers on Monday joined ‘The Morning Roast’ at 95.7 The San Francisco Game and talked about Watson’s possible chase for the 49ers.
“It all starts with the quarterback,” Rice said. “If the quarterback can’t stay healthy, we have problems. If Deshaun Watson, if he’s out there and he’s not satisfied in Houston, I think we have to take that into account. “
When asked how much he would be willing to give up on a commercial stage, Rice, who played with a couple of quarterbacks at the San Francisco Hall of Fame, stressed the importance of the position.
“The quarterback is the most important piece of the puzzle,” Rice said. “If you don’t have a quarterback, you won’t win. You will build your dynasty around this quarterback. So how much? I don’t know, but if we get a chance to incorporate a player of his quality, we have to look at it because the game also goes totally in a different direction, guys. Quarterbacks are becoming more mobile, can get out of pocket, extend plays, and can still deliver the ball down. Now you have to have a mobile quarterback. So I don’t know what’s too much, but if we get a chance to get a player of his height or something like that, we have to go get it“.
It’s hard to argue with any of Rice’s points. The NFL is now a quarterbacks-driven league whose number one priority for all teams is to find the person who calls the franchise signal. The right player in this position can cover many warts that could appear if a lesser talent occupied him.
If Watson is available at a store, Rice is right, San Francisco should do everything possible to try to bring him to Santa Clara.