Let's say you are Deshaun Watson, bias aside, where do you want to go?

[davos]

I fully expect to be berated with the "another Watson thread" jargon but I'm genuinely interested to see what people think.  And this is a reason why I really do feel we're a very probable spot, so it's going to be a wild few weeks folks. 

For me?:

1. Miami Dolphins: They have a fantastic looking defense that can get me the ball in good spots, a young promising OL, and a future stud TE in Mikey G.  Not to mention a very exciting young head coach.  Solid situation. 

2. San Fransisco 49ers: They've proven they can compete with the best even with meh QB play.  A defense with star talent, one of the more QB friendly HCs in the league, and a cornerstone NFL organization.  Kittle, Deebo, Aiyuk, Wilson Jr. is a very solid offensive group.

3. Carolina Panthers: Close to home but not entirely, a promising young HC, great talent sprinkled throughout (CMC, DJ, Burns, Chinn), a franchise on the upswing, good street word on team culture.  (Don't underestimate the word on the street about Rhule). Also, CMC, Anderson, DJ? I'd def want to mingle with that crew.

4. Chicago Bears: I mean, if I were a player, I'd want to be a Chicago Bear.  The legacy, Soldier Field, city, all of the above.  Nagy seems like a decent coach, but most importantly has kept them afloat with god awful QB play.  Even a 12-4 season a few years back.  Great defense, and then Montgomery, Anthony Miller, Allen Robinson, Mooney, Kmet...that could make for some exciting games. 

5. Denver Broncos: Low key have the most promising WR corps in the NFL.  Fangio & that team should take a substantial leap this coming season, especially if they can get the defense rolling a bit more like it's 2015.

[Mr. Scot]

San Francisco. Watson in Shanahan's system could be something to watch.

And while I know what fans think about them, I wouldn't discount the Jets.

Edited January 28, 2021 by Mr. Scot

[Madwolf]

49ers, they're Super Bowl ready.

[Jesse]

49ers. It’s Shanahan’s offense so you know you don’t have to worry about changing systems every few years. They have a very solid group of players on both sides of the ball and are just 1 year removed from the Super Bowl. 

[Jesse]

I’d like to add that there may not only be the incentives for the Texans, but Deshaun as well. There may be a team that says they’re willing to give him a pay raise as well as more guaranteed money. 

[t96]

LA Rams -- massive market, really good team with a HC who looks like he'll stick around as a great coach for a long time. Taxes are rough there but endorsements there will more than outweigh that and I think he'd win at least one SB there. Niners would be a close second for similar reasons (but I like McVay much more than Shanahan), all other teams after that wouldn't even be close.

[davos]

Yeah, I just overall find this interesting considering the no trade clause, in large part because Watson has much say (possibly even more) that the Texans at this point which is rare as hell in the NFL.  That's why this perspective is important to consider.

[LinvilleGorge]

I think you nailed the top two, but I'd put the Colts #3, us and the Broncos 4a and 4b and the Bears wouldn't be on my list. Sorry, I just think Nagy is a hack.

[davos]

1 minute ago, t96 said:

LA Rams -- massive market, really good team with a HC who looks like he'll stick around as a great coach for a long time. Taxes are rough there but endorsements there will more than outweigh that and I think he'd win at least one SB there. Niners would be a close second for similar reasons (but I like McVay much more than Shanahan), all other teams after that wouldn't even be close.

Rams are a low key great spot for Watson.  The Goff situation has quietly been falling apart and they're trying to rid themselves of that contract.  He looked really bad this past season.  Don't know what's going on there.

[Proudiddy]

Objectively speaking, he liked a post linking him to the Jets, and there is the report out there that that is his priority destination...  I can't figure that out at all.  I dont know why any player would want to do that, unless you were a diehard Jets fan growing up, or your agent was steering you there, and even then it makes no sense to me.

Miami makes sense.  Beautiful city/weather, up and coming team and young coach, and seems like the organization is on the right track.  But then again, in both instances, if some of the reasons he wants out of Houston is political/cultural stuff, which I believe I read somewhere, Johnson and Ross don't have exactly glowing recommendations either...

Now us...  we have youth, a promising young HC, and a new owner who has shown a tendency to let his players be who they are, even politically.  We are the professional team of his college region (that sounds weird, but you know what I mean), close to home, and again, seem to be an up and coming franchise.

Atlanta, although his hometeam, is in a weird transitional state with a new coach and no established culture aside from being known for huge collapses.

To me, it really should come down to us and SF, but supposedly SF is really interested in Stafford, buy I'm sure with the official request coming from Watson now, that'll shift to him.  

[LinvilleGorge]

1 minute ago, t96 said:

LA Rams -- massive market, really good team with a HC who looks like he'll stick around as a great coach for a long time. Taxes are rough there but endorsements there will more than outweigh that and I think he'd win at least one SB there. Niners would be a close second for similar reasons (but I like McVay much more than Shanahan), all other teams after that wouldn't even be close.

I think the Rams could be players for Stafford but I don't think they have the cap space to absorb Watson while also dealing with Goff's cap blow.

[Mr. Scot]

1 minute ago, LinvilleGorge said:

I think you nailed the top two, but I'd put the Colts #3, us and the Broncos 4a and 4b and the Bears wouldn't be on my list. Sorry, I just think Nagy is a hack.

Colts are a divisional opponent so that'd be a pretty tough sell to the Texans.

[davos]

1 minute ago, LinvilleGorge said:

I think you nailed the top two, but I'd put the Colts #3, us and the Broncos 4a and 4b and the Bears wouldn't be on my list. Sorry, I just think Nagy is a hack.

I think he's great at fundamentals but tends to make a few obvious bad decisions that outweigh all the good.  He can't get out of his own way.  A bit like Rivera but less archaic in philosophy.   

[LinvilleGorge]

Just now, Proudiddy said:

Objectively speaking, he liked a post linking him to the Jets, and there is the report out there that that is his priority destination...  I can't figure that out at all.  I dont know why any player would want to do that, unless you were a diehard Jets fan growing up, or your agent was steering you there, and even then it makes no sense to me.

 

It's nothing short of baffling. Outside of the Texans, the Jets are probably the biggest organizational dumpster fire in the league right now.