Deshaun Watson, Houston Texans. (Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports)
The Philadelphia Eagles have surfaced as a possible suitor for Deshaun Watson, and here’s how they could actually land him.
In a broad sense, there’s probably 20-25 teams who could make a case to try to trade for Deshaun Watson once the Texans face the inevitability they’ll have to move him. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t or won’t be some surprising suitors, and Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle has added the Philadelphia Eagles to the list.
Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports first brought up the Eagles as a potential suitor for Watson.
Some in the Eagles brass would try to poo-poo the idea of their interest by noting there must be about 30 teams paying close attention to this situation, but my sense is this is much more than an idea on the periphery; I get the sense this is something ownership and management would very much like to make happen.
The Eagles trade of Carson Wentz felt like a declaration of commitment to Jalen Hurts as their starting quarterback. But Hurts is also the only quarterback they currently have under contract for 2021, and the notion they’d draft a quarterback (perhaps as early at No. 6 overall) is out there.
Deshaun Watson trade package Eagles could offer Texans
If they’re serious about Watson, here’s how the Eagles could get it done.
Eagles Get
QB Deshaun Watson
Texans Get
2021 First-Round Pick (No. 6 Overall)
QB Jalen Hurts
2021 Second-Round Pick (No. 37 Overall)
2022 First-Round Pick
The Eagles have the combination of a top-10 pick this year and a promising young quarterback they could trade for Watson. This side of the Miami Dolphins and Tua Tagovailoa, or the New York Jets and Sam Darnold for those who are optimistic about Darnold, that is a rarity among the most-mentioned Watson suitors. Philadelphia has four of the first 85 picks in April’s draft, so the second-rounder could be a differentiator among offers without having to tack on an extra first-round pick.
If the Eagles can recoup a draft pick or two via a trade to send Zach Ertz out of town, an offer for Watson should become more palatable. Sometimes where there’s smoke there’s fire, and two reports tying the Eagles to Watson is hard to ignore.