The Deshaun Watson storm had calmed down over the past month or so, but things took an abrupt turn on Wednesday evening. Out of nowhere, the troubled Texans QB was suddenly being linked in trade rumors with the Miami Dolphins, while the Denver Broncos were dragged into a corresponding move with Miami for Tua. It’s all a little bit complicated and for the most part still rumor-based, but there is a chance that he’s moved soon and it could carry some heavy weight for Philadelphia.
The Eagles should be out of the running in the Deshaun Watson sweepstakes. Although they’re still linked to the QB, this article isn’t forecasting them as a front runner. Nothing has changed over the past few months in terms of evidence to suggest his innocence in the ongoing legal battle which sees Watson facing 22 civil suits that allege sexual assault. However there are some misconceptions regarding Watson’s current standing.
He’s actually eligible to play. He’s not on a commissioners exemption list, he’s not dealing with a league mandated suspension, and there hasn’t been a change on this stance. Teams who are now despite for a QB help may be beginning to ignore their moral compass with the idea of attaining Watson becoming more realistic.
Houston are reportedly seek three first-round picks for Watson along with a pair of seconds. This is where things get interesting.
The Miami Dolphins gave the Eagles their 2022 first-rounder to move up to the sixth overall pick in the Draft last year to snatch Alabama’s Jaylen Waddle. While it wasn’t the worst move at the time, the team now sit at 1-5, giving the Eagles the second overall pick as things stand. It’s easy to see why Miami would want to double down to get themselves out of a very deep hole, especially given that like the Eagles, their schedule lightens up massively towards the end of the season.
With 11 games left on the slate, if Miami were to acquire a quarterback who many believe to be one of the very elite in the NFL, it’s easy to see them rebounding to a record close to .500 and potentially beyond. This would see one of the three picks that the Eagles own in the first round of the 2022 Draft quickly snowball into the mid-tier.
What’s a little more worrying is that there would be obvious repercussions for Houston. If they don’t want Tua, they’re bound to use the picks gained in the Watson trade to try and bring in help from somewhere, or at least fortify their roster for the short-term as well. The Texans are also 1-5 and any kind of improvement (and sense of freeing themselves from the Watson situation) would actually benefit the Eagles. As of right now, they hold the 4th overall pick. The Eagles hold picks 2,8,9. Houston dropping back a few spots with a few wins could really benefit the Eagles.
FInally, there’s the Broncos. Currently sitting at 3-3, they could be a team on the fringe of causing some problems for Howie’s latter first-round picks. It’s not like their offense is thriving right now and with Bridgewater concussed, they might see that as a sign to bring in some additional help. If that comes in the way of Tua, who could really be a 50/50 as to whether or not he’ll change their immediate fortunes, the Eagles might have their picks knocked back a little or alternatively, it’s one less team to knock them out of the top-10.
There are a lot of dominoes that need to fall first and this is all speculative. But if Watson does end up on the Dolphins, it doesn’t just change the NFL landscape, but could sweep all three Eagles picks up in a hurricane, leaving an aftermath that isn’t as enticing as the picture we’re seeing now.
Photo by Andy Lewis/Icon Sportswire
