The quarterback movement has begun in the NFL, after the Detroit Lions traded Matthew Stafford to the Los Angeles Rams Saturday night, which is just the first domino to fall, as Houston Texans All-Pro Deshaun Watson is very much available and the NY Giants would be wise to aggressively try to pull of a blockbuster trade.
The Lions-Rams mega-deal sent Detroit Goff, along with Los Angeles’ 2021 third-round pick, and first-round picks in 2022 and 2023 in exchange for Stafford.
At least one report suggests that while Saturday night’s blockbuster might have been the first trade involving a pair of star quarterbacks, it hasn’t changed the Texans’ asking price for Watson:
The Rams-Lions trade will have nothing to do with a Watson trade if the Texans do it. They'll want 2 ones, 2 twos and 2 young defensive starters, at the least. Watson, 25, under contract, great QB, team leader, beloved by fans, pillar of the community. Start with the Jets.
— John McClain (@McClain_on_NFL) January 31, 2021
McClain might be the most plugged in reporter on the Texans’ beat, so this would seem to be a pretty well-informed floor for negotiations.
So, what might a trade with the Giants look like, if general manager Dave Gettleman and head coach Joe Judge aim to try to acquire a Hall of Fame caliber quarterback to fast-track the organization’s rebuild?
Here’s a best guess for an opening offer:
Texans get:
NY Giants QB Daniel Jones
NY Giants DB Jabrill Peppers
NY Giants LB Lorenzo Carter
NY Giants first-round picks: 2021, 2022
NY Giants second-round picks: 2021, 2023
Giants get:
Texans QB Deshaun Watson
—
This offer would satisfy the Texans’ desire to land two young starters, and help the Giants create necessary cap space to not only absorb Watson’s contract but also give flexibility to keep building around him in free agency.
If the Giants are intent on keeping Logan Ryan at safety, Ryan and Xavier McKinney are a formidable duo, and including Peppers in the trade would create $6.67 million in cap space. Combine the savings from moving Peppers and the salary cap expected to balloon to $225-$250 million-plus in 2022 when the NFL’s new television rights agreement takes effect and the Giants are suddenly relieved of the cap squeeze that could hamstring the organization this offseason.
Watson, particularly given the dearth of elite quarterbacks in the NFC; besides the Packers’ Aaron Rodgers, Seattle Seahawks’ Russell Wilson, Dak Prescott, and now Stafford, position the Giants to legitimately compete for the postseason and perhaps Super Bowls if he’s dropped into an offense with Saquon Barkley, Darius Slayton, Evan Engram, and other weapons added in the draft and free agency in coming years.
The Miami Dolphins and New York Jets can certainly offer premium picks when compared to what the Giants can package, picking No. 11 this April, but this asking price for Watson should not be prohibitive if the Giants look to instantly alter the trajectory of the franchise.
Matt Lombardo is the site expert for GMenHQ, and writes Between The Hash Marks each Wednesday for FanSided. Follow Matt on Twitter: @MattLombardoNFL.