The Houston Texans have devolved into the most dysfunctional organization in professional sports, and not surprisingly on Thursday night, quarterback Deshaun Watson officially requested a trade, as many expected he would.
If Watson is officially on the market, the NY Giants must act boldly, aggressively, and do whatever is necessary to try to pry away one of the NFL’s premier quarterbacks who would instantly vault this franchise into a position to compete for a Super Bowl berth.
Second-year quarterback Daniel Jones significantly regressed in 2020, passing for just 2,943 yards with 11 touchdowns, 10 interceptions, while absorbing 45 sacks. Jones did not pass for over 300 yards in a single game and surpassed 255 yards only twice in his 14 games.
The biggest question becomes whether the Texans believe they can fix Jones, and if the price is worth it.
“Even if you include Jones,” an NFC personnel executive tells GMenHQ. “It’s going to wind up being like the Herschel Walker trade all over again.”
Given the limited talent on the Giants’ roster that the Texans might covet, it could take as many as three first-round picks along with Jones.
It’s still the right move.
Quarterback is the most important position on the roster, and as the NFL’s final four teams; the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Green Bay Packers, Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs illustrate, you need an MVP caliber quarterback to make a legitimate run. The Giants would join that club with Watson.
Here’s a look at the ramifications, and reasoning that the Giants need to get involved in the Watson sweepstakes:
Salary cap ramifications
Trading for Watson would certainly hamstring the Giants’ ability to build around him in the NFL Draft in all likelihood for the next three seasons, pulling off a blockbuster deal would also make it difficult — but not impossible — to improve the roster via free agency this offseason.
Watson will cost his new team approximately $10.5 million against the cap in 2021, a figure that could be restructured to create new cap space if Watson’s new team is able to come to terms on a new contract.
Likewise, if Jones is included in the trade, it would cost the Giants an additional $1.1 million charge.
However, the Giants, who currently sit just over $2.07 million over the cap have flexibility to open up cap space even after absorbing Watson’s cap hit.
Releasing right guard Kevin Zeitler with a post-June 1 designation would trigger a $2.5 million dead-money charge but free up $12 million in cap space. All signs point to the Giants releasing left tackle Nate Solder this offseason, which would cost $10.5 million in dead money while opening up $6 million in cap space.
Cutting wide receiver Golden Tate, an expected move regardless of whether the NY Giants get involved in the Watson sweepstakes, creates a $4.7 million dead-money hit while freeing up $6.14 million against the cap.
The result of the moves outlined above would leave the Giants with $12.1 million under the cap, before including any contracts of players possibly included in the trade.
Those two moves would put the NY Giants in position to absorb Watson, but if the Giants are intent on keeping Xavier McKinney and Logan Ryan at safety, releasing Jabrill Peppers would create $6.77 million in spending flexibility, as would including him in the Watson trade.
Financials should not be a deterrent to the Giants making a bold move to acquire one of the NFL’s five most gifted quarterbacks.