If Matthew Stafford can get such massive transport in a trade, what will the youngest and best Deshaun Watson be worth?
That’s the question everyone in the NFL was pondering Saturday night. The problem is using the Rams-Lions trade as a measuring stick is not a complete comparison between apples and apples for a couple of reasons.
If the Texans reverse the course of this week’s “zero interest” position and decide to comply with Watson’s commercial request, they will want “at least” two first-round picks, two second-round picks and two young starters. defensive. according to the Houston Chronicle.
The Rams traded two first-round picks, a third-round pick and quarterback Jared Goff to the Lions for Stafford.
But one of the complications is that not all first-round picks are created equal.
The Rams, who have not picked the first round since 2016 due to a series of trades, have won at least nine games in each of the last four seasons and therefore typically win a selection after the top 20. This draft position could fall. lower in the future if Stafford elevates the Rams to a Super Bowl contender.
The Jets and Dolphins, two of Watson’s top contenders, have the No. 2 and No. 3 picks, respectively, in the 2021 NFL draft.
Using the old point chart created by Jimmy Johnson for the value of the draft selection, the selection of the Jets is worth 2,600 points and the selection of the Dolphins (who originally belonged to the jeans) is worth 2,200, while the selection of the Rams in the number 25 (which now belongs to the Jaguars) is worth only 720 points. In other words, a selection from the top three is worth the top three players in the Rams range.
The other complication is Goff’s contract. While having Watson hired until 2024 for a four-year, $ 156 million deal is considered fair market value, Goff’s recent performance doesn’t equate to his big business.
The Rams would have helped add to Stafford’s $ 20 million salary cap and the four-year, $ 134 million extension they gave Goff. Thus, they absorbed a dead limit of $ 22.2 million to dump Goff’s salary.
According to reports, the Lions wanted to get a bigger return to take on Goff’s contract, hence the additional draft selection when other teams were willing to participate with a higher first-round selection by Stafford.
But because the Rams are hooked on prorated bonus money, the Lions only make a one- or two-year commitment to Goff as a starter. He could be released after 2022 without any dead cover for the lions.
If the asking price for Watson is right, the Jets could break away from the draft of compensation without too much impact. They have four first-round picks, two second-round picks, and three third-round picks over the next two drafts.
The most catchy part of the Jets would be adding two young defensive starters. Jeans would almost certainly demand that rising star Quinnen Williams be one of the two.
It could be the case that asking the third-year professional at Williams is like asking for a first-round pick to accompany the rest of the pack.