4 all-in trade offers for the Panthers to land Deshaun Watson

Carolina Panthers trade No. 1

Any acceptable package to land Deshaun Watson is going to start with a significant amount of NFL Draft capital. The Houston Texans don’t have any high-end selections to speak of this season – which isn’t exactly ideal for a rebuilding franchise – so even though they’d be losing a top-five quarterback, a bounty of new college recruits would do them the world of good in the long run.

The Carolina Panthers have the No. 8 overall selection, which would have been No. 4 had they not beaten the Washington Football Team in Week 16. This could have been more enticing for the Texans, of that there is little doubt. But three first-rounders and two second-round picks would soften the blow in no uncertain terms.

However, more will be needed.

If the Panthers can include Teddy Bridgewater in the deal, it would give the Texans a solid option next season while whoever they draft acclimatizes themselves with a professional environment. There is an out on the former first-round pick’s deal in 2022, which won’t come at any financial cost if things don’t work out.

Adding someone like Yetur Gross-Matos into the mix might be worth considering, especially when one considers the Texans recently let J.J. Watt leave for nothing after a glittering career in Houston. The ex-Penn State sensation showed flashes of brilliance as a rookie and the best is definitely still to come where the edge rusher is concerned.

One player that might also intrigue Houston is Curtis Samuel. The wide receiver is out of contract this spring and is likely to test the free-agent market, but if Carolina can get stud right tackle Taylor Moton tied down to a long-term extension, a tag-and-trade scenario becomes more realistic and something the Texans would welcome considering they traded DeAndre Hopkins last year and Will Fuller is set to depart in free agency.