Two things happened when the Seattle Seahawks traded nine-time Pro Bowl quarterback Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos: they made quarterback a need and they acquired draft capital.
Such are the conditions any team needs to qualify for the Deshaun Watson sweepstakes.
The former Houston Texans 2017 first-round pick has wanted out of the Bayou City since January 2021. His being named as a defendant in a lawsuit wherein 22 women allege he committed sexual assault has complicated matters, and it reasonable to presume he won’t be on the move until litigation concludes.
When Watson is able to move, a team that could be interested is Seattle.
Drew Lock isn’t going to be their franchise quarterback. At best, he could have a nice first month to the season like Sam Darnold had with the Carolina Panthers in 2021. If Lock were the answer, Denver wouldn’t have given up a franchise quarterback’s ransom for Wilson, nor would they have traded for Teddy Bridgewater last offseason.
With two first-round picks, two second-round picks, and players to consider such as safety Jamal Adams, linebacker Bobby Wagner, and defensive tackle Poona Ford, the Texans would find the capital necessary to complete the rebuild.
If the Texans wanted a reliable backup quarterback, they could include Lock in the trade. The former 2019 second-round pick from Missouri would also. be a decent challenger for Davis Mills as he seeks to retain his starting job following a promising conclusion to his rookie season.
Texans coach Lovie Smith echoed the sentiments of the organization on March 2 at the NFL Scouting Combine when he mentioned he is a “patient man” regarding the resolution of the Watson fiasco both off the field and in the courtroom.
“We understand this is year two, and I know Deshaun wants to play, and it will come to a head,” said Smith. “I have faith in that. We just have to give it a little bit of time, and hopefully everybody will be happy with it. I’m sure that will be the case.”
If Watson, who has a no-trade clause, sees Seattle as a contender, they at least have the roster spot and capital to acquire him.