Deshaun Watson is focused on matters more important than football at present. Rightfully so. It isn’t a great look when 22 massage therapists come forward accusing you of inappropriate sexual advances. It remains unclear where his status is with this situation. He could be looking at jail time or the very least a lengthy suspension by the NFL. This is why teams have put their pursuit of him via trade on hold.
Then again, if somebody were willing to take a major gamble they might be able to score Watson for cheaper than originally expected. Former team president Joe Banner appeared on the Ross Tucker Podcast to discuss the situation. He said there is a way for a team to still trade for the star quarterback while protecting themselves against the threat of suspension.
So this is a VERY interesting idea by @JoeBanner13 for a team to make a trade offer to the Texans for Deshaun Watson with contingencies for if he gets suspended or placed on the commissioner’s exempt list pic.twitter.com/bg4vLS8C3y
— Ross Tucker Podcast (@RossTuckerPod) April 13, 2021
In essence, the picks a team would send would be conditional.
Say the Bears send Houston their 20th pick in 2021, 2nd round pick in 2022, and 2nd round pick in 2023. Those two 2nd rounders would have conditions attached to them. If Watson doesn’t get suspended or placed on the commissioner’s exempt list, both automatically become 1st round picks. Either way, it’s a win-win for the Bears.
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If he doesn’t get suspended? Great, he plays immediately and the Bears are in business for 2021. If he does, they’ll have to wait out the suspension but ultimately still end up with Watson long-term and at a much lower rate than anybody would’ve expected. The risks are obvious but the potential reward might be worth it. At least in the eyes of Ryan Pace and Matt Nagy who, remember, are fighting for their jobs.
Would the Bears trade for Deshaun Watson now?
That is a difficult question. This franchise has always tried to hold itself to a high moral standard regarding players with off-the-field problems. Those who experience issues tend not to last long on the Bears roster. They even go out of their way to avoid players with “character concerns” in free agency or the draft. Pace and Nagy always put a premium on culture guys.
Prior to this year, Deshaun Watson was considered one of the ultimate good guys in the NFL. Somebody with a spotless reputation on and off the field. Now? Unless he is cleared of these accusations by the courts, this could end up being a major stain on his record for the rest of his career. Would the Bears be willing to compromise some of their high standards in pursuit of what remains one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL?
They should.
At the end of the day, this is a business. It’s about winning championships. No team who wins a title is completely made up of boy scouts. Ask the Kansas City Chiefs. They knowingly retained wide receiver Tyreek Hill after he was accused of beating his girlfriend. Nobody seems to regret that decision these days. If the Texans are willing to make Watson available at such a conditional price? The Bears need to swallow their pride and push to make a deal.