The Texans agreed to trade disgusting, disgruntled, disgraced quarterback Deshaun Watson to the Cleveland Browns on Friday.
The return is solid — three first-round draft picks, along with third- and fourth round picks for Watson and a fifth-round choice two years from now — but not overwhelming.
Here is a phrase that has rarely been used: Cleveland wins.
The Texans and general manager Nick Caserio should have held out for more.
The immediate analysis is the Browns got the star quarterback they desperately need for a price every team in the NFL without a stud QB would have been willing to pay.
For trading said top-flight quarterback, the Texans brought back a return package few teams with a quarterback at that level would have been willing to accept.
Yes, there are extenuating circumstances, but the bottom line is the Texans received about the same in trade for Watson that the Seattle Seahawks got two weeks ago for Russell Wilson, who is seven years older than Watson and not as good.
Along with premium draft picks, the Seahawks got a couple players who could start for them this season. The Texans desperately need players.
Watson is a transcendent talent. He is a prototypical 21st-century quarterback who ranks near the top of the league in arm strength, size, elusiveness and intelligence.
He is also facing 22 civil lawsuits for sexual assault and/or misconduct. Yet, minutes after a Harris County grand jury determined that the allegations against Watson did not warrant criminal charges, NFL teams began calling the Texans to see if they could acquire Watson.
Feel free to be bothered by that, but do note, the NFL is not a subsidiary of the judicial branch of government.
Whatever team landed Watson knew there would be criticism, but fans would accept him as soon as he starts throwing touchdown passes.
The Texans got the bare minimum for trading the best quarterback in team history.
“Our priority right now is adding talented players to the foundation we have already put in place over the last 15 months and this trade supports that plan,” Caserio said in a statement. “As we navigate through the rest of the offseason, we remain open-minded to all avenues that allow us to improve our roster and add to our program.”
What were the Texans’ options?
Well, they could have …….
