3 Deshaun Watson trade packages involving Christian McCaffrey
By Dean Jones
Deshaun Watson package No. 2: Talented pass-rusher included
According to a recent report, the Houston Texans are looking for a couple of talented young players on defense in the event they finally decide to take offers for Deshaun Watson. The Carolina Panthers boast plenty of these, but whether they’d be willing to give up some premier playmakers from within Phil Snow’s unit is up for debate.
Including Brian Burns, Jeremy Chinn, or Derrick Brown has the potential to do more harm than good. But perhaps someone with the upside of Yetur Gross-Matos might make the Texans think twice providing Christian McCaffrey and a boatload of draft picks are thrown in for good measure.
Houston recently granted J.J. Watt his wish and released him with one-year remaining on his deal. This means they are desperately short of pass-rushing assistance on the edge and Gross-Matos showed flashes of brilliance during a rookie campaign that was frustrating in one sense due to injury, a concussion, and a spell on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
Watson doesn’t carry much of a cap hit in 2021. So providing the Panthers get a willing suitor for Teddy Bridgewater, they have enough in the way of finances to get a short-term replacement in during free agency who could make an immediate impact.
Perhaps even secure Watt as a result?
Four top-end draft picks, McCaffrey, and Gross-Matos means the Panthers get a mid-rounder this year back in return. This is a deep class for offensive linemen, so to say this would help is something of an understatement.