4 offers for the Carolina Panthers to meet Deshaun Watson trade price
By Dean Jones
Carolina Panthers trade package No. 1
Giving up multiple first-round picks seems like the only place negotiations for Deshaun Watson will start. This is a player that was the NFL’s passing leader in 2020 despite a distinct lack of talent around him, with his ability to make plays out of the pocket something else that could completely transform the Carolina Panthers given the weapons at their disposal.
Players like Watson don’t become available for trade every day. He is a signal-caller at the peak of his powers and could perform at a high level for the next decade providing injuries don’t become a stumbling block.
If the Houston Texans are also looking for some plug-and-play starters, then the Panthers could package together Yetur Gross-Matos and Robby Anderson to further sweeten the pot.
Gross-Matos showed flashes of being a productive pass-rusher as a rookie in 2020. Even if his campaign was derailed slightly by injury and a spell on the COVID-19 list.
With Anderson out of contract next spring, Carolina might not have the outstanding wide receiver for too much longer. With the likes of Terrace Marshall Jr., Shi Smith, and David Moore joining in free agency, the former Temple star could be used as bait to bring Watson on board.
In truth, even this might not be enough. But it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Panthers threw their hat in the ring and didn’t get off the phone without striking a deal.