4 Deshaun Watson trade offers that wouldn’t go down well

There is still hope that the Carolina Panthers can pull off a bombshell trade for Deshaun Watson this offseason, but it’s going to come at great cost.

Tension continues to build between Deshaun Watson and the Houston Texans. The quarterback seems to be digging in his heels regarding his desire for a move away from the franchise and the organization is also preparing for a long battle to keep their star player on board.

This is a situation that the Carolina Panthers will be monitoring closely. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out they are looking for an upgrade on Teddy Bridgewater this offseason and if the team’s offer for Matthew Stafford is any indication, they’re willing to be bold with any possible trade offer.

The price for Watson is going to be astronomical and one that very few teams across the league will be able to afford.

But the rewards for whoever acquires the former first-round pick could be substantial.

Carolina Panthers must not compromise their future.

Watson has yet to speak with Texans head coach David Culley despite the new appointment reaching out to the signal-caller. The organization is willing to play the waiting game and is going to do whatever it takes to keep him around. But the longer they wait, the less they’ll get as teams examine other alternatives and individuals of interest.

Players like Watson don’t come around every day. But the Panthers would be wise not to compromise their future even though – at the end of the day – this is a quarterback-driven league.

With this in mind, here are four trade offers for Watson that may not go down well with some sections of Carolina’s loyal fanbase.

Trade No. 1

Including Christian McCaffrey

Good running backs are easier to find than elite quarterbacks. So if the Texans ask for Christian McCaffrey in any possible trade package for Deshaun Watson, it might tempt the Carolina Panthers into dealing their own face of the franchise.

The thought is not one that sits well with the majority of the team’s supporters. They fell in love with McCaffrey from the moment he stepped on the field as a first-round pick out of Stanford and he remains the focal point of their offense despite a frustrating 2020 campaign due to injury.

Houston is also on the lookout for some talented young defenders, according to reports. Offering a prosing edge rusher such as Yetur Gross-Matos would only sweeten the deal given the encouraging signs displayed by the former Penn State standout during his rookie campaign.

Couple this with Teddy Bridgewater and a lorryload of NFL Draft picks over the next few years, and this deal might be the sort of thing that makes the Texans think twice.