Deshaun Watson is in the interesting situation of being able to choose his own destination should the Houston Texans look to trade the star quarterback. That's because he has a no-trade clause in his contract and would have to approve any move. Now, the disgruntled quarterback just has to convince the Texans to let him go.
You know the story. He feels disrespected by the organization, which approached him for input on general manager and head coaching hires and then ignored the feedback. Whether the rift between player and team is irreparable has yet to be seen.
That could result in a trade.
ESPN's Bill Barnwell recently discussed the deteriorating situation in Houston and was asked which team he feels is the best fit for Watson. The Indianapolis Colts were mentioned, but may not be an option as they are in the same division as the Texans.
Barnwell then named the 49ers.
"Given the various options, given who has the cap space, who is likely to make this kind of deal, I like the 49ers as a team that has a great offensive coach, weapons across the board, and a solid offensive line," Barnwell said on Monday during ESPN Daily (via Dalton Johnson of NBC Sports). "The 49ers were a Super Bowl team last year with Jimmy Garoppolo. Watson would be a major upgrade."
Barnwell also suggests that the 49ers include Jimmy Garoppolo in any deal for Watson, which would be a no-brainer. Of course, Garoppolo needs to approve the move as he, too, has a no-trade clause within his contract for this offseason. Going to the Texans would mean reuniting with new general manager Nick Caserio, who was the director of player personnel in New England when the Patriots drafted Garoppolo.
"And on top of that, we know how much the Texans love to add former Patriots," added Barnwell, "so this would be a chance for them to add another one if they do decide to give into Watson's wishes and hit the reset button."
While the 49ers seem to be a good fit for a dynamic and exciting player like Watson, and the idea of watching him throw to Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk should excite fans, the team would have to surrender a lot to acquire the quarterback. Many have indicated that it would take multiple first-round draft picks to start the conversation with the Texans. Of course, it's not often that the opportunity to acquire one of the top young quarterbacks in the league comes along ... assuming the Texans are willing to move on.
