Why the Washington Football Team should trade for Deshaun Watson
By Ian Cummings
This piece is part of the Riggo’s Rag Roundtable quarterback debate. For more Washington Football Team QB options, click here.
You’ve read enough of my bad Washington Football Team opinions, so you should’ve known I’d come through with this one.
The Washington Football Team has a quarterback problem. A while back, I wrote that Washington should not engage in any half-measures when trying to solve that problem. Now, I’ll advocate for what might be the fullest measure on the market: Trading for Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson.
One could argue that the Washington Football Team hasn’t had long-term stability at quarterback since Sammy Baugh. Sonny Jurgensen brought a live arm, but he’d only have around half a decade of security before Billy Kilmer came in to challenge his role. The three Super Bowls of the 1980’s and 1990’s were won by three different quarterbacks. And since then, it’s been a sad progression of disappointment.
Even as the Washington Football Team heads into a brighter era with Ron Rivera, who led his team to the NFL playoffs in his first year, there’s still a question to answer at quarterback. Taylor Heinicke and Kyle Allen are solid backups, but it’s unlikely that either grows beyond that point. Washington doesn’t pick early enough to select a franchise quarterback, and the free agent options are uninspiring. Matthew Stafford has already been dealt. Choices are dwindling.
But there’s still one hyper-explosive, hyper-aggressive move that the Washington Football Team can make. They can trade for Deshaun Watson.
A deal for Watson would not be cheap. There’s no mincing that reality. Reports have suggested that Watson would cost at least three first-round picks and a high-level player (No, WFT fans, Landon Collins doesn’t count). It’s safe to argue whether any one player is worth that much, and Washington has been burned by similar trades in the past.
But there’s a reason Watson is worth so much. Highly-rated rookie quarterbacks might demand lucrative trades sometimes, but they’re still a mystery even when they’re acquired. Watson, meanwhile, is a known quantity. He’s a three-time Pro Bowler at just 25 years old. He put up a Top 5 statistical season in 2020, despite playing with a bottom-tier skill position cast, a bottom-tier offensive line, a bottom-tier defense, and an interim head coach.
Every team interested in Watson knows they’d get a blue-chip starter immediately. He’s an aggressive, creative playmaker at the quarterback position, who has the athleticism and vision to evade pressure in the pocket and extend plays, and the awareness to apply his skill set at a high level.
Even in Washington, Watson would have a better offensive line and a better skill position cast. Even without first-round picks for the next three years, Washington would be able to add to that cast. They have the cap space to pay for him, and with a near-elite defense already in tow, they should waste as little time as possible searching for their franchise quarterback.
There are many potential drawbacks to a deal for Watson. But unlike many other scenarios, none of those drawbacks involve the player. Watson is a player who can elevate his teams, something the Washington Football Team hasn’t had in a long time. With his rumored availability, it’s time for Washington to pounce and be aggressive in finding a solution.
Yes, Washington will take a hit. But the roster is good enough already for a player like Watson to keep them at the top of the NFC East while they withstand the cost of the trade. And if they can keep Watson around long-term at the end of it all, then they have a stranglehold on the division for years to come.
Next. What other WFT quarterback options are there?. dark
Click the links below to read about each QB option.