Atlanta joins the Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints and Cleveland Browns as clubs that have met or are interested in trading for the quarterback.
The Atlanta Falcons have emerged as one of the unlikely teams in the chase for the services of the Los Angeles quarterback. Houston Texans, Deshaun Watsonleague sources told ESPN.
The Falcons they join the Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints y Cleveland Browns as the clubs that have met or are interested in acquiring via exchange to Watson.
“All options are open, but it won’t be easy,” said a source from the Falcons regarding a potential exchange for Watson.
Another source described the Falcons as a “long shot” to stay with Watson. However, the team has not yet met with Watsonbut you might be able to convince him in person.
The Falcons have been committed to the veteran quarterback Matt Ryanbut the owner Arthur Blank has spoken about finding his eventual successor and re-setting the future of the franchise. That task has been entrusted to the second-year general manager, Terry Fontenotand the head coach Arthur Smith. But a source said Blank he likes it Watson since the days when former All-Star quarterback Gainesville (Georgia) High worked multiple years as a ball boy for the Falcons and develop a relationship with the family of Blank. The assistant of Atlanta, T.J. Yatesalso has a connection with Watsonafter acting as assistant quarterbacks coach at Houston.
It was said that the Falcons have restructured the contract Ryan, cutting his impact against the salary hit this year, from $48.7 million to $36.7 million. However, there is no official agreement yet, and nothing has been handed over to the NFL. If the Falcons transfer to Ryan after June 1, they could free up $8.75 million of cap space. Yes Atlanta acquires to Watsoncould seek to negotiate Ryanwho has a no-exchange clause, according to sources.
Watson has already met with other teams and was said to have impressed the Panthers, Saints and Browns. All the teams that have been in discussions with Watson have been in simultaneous discussions with the Texans. Compensation for a trade is not expected to be an obstacle to any trade, as the parameters of any deal involving the quarterback have already been set, according to league sources.
The last piece to finalize any exchange would be Watson agreeing to rescind his no-trade clause so he can be traded to another team to continue his career NFL. Watson did not play last season after an offseason request to be traded, and the subsequent emergence of 22 active lawsuits accusing Watson of sexual assault and inappropriate behavior during massage sessions. A grand jury in Texas declined last Friday to pursue criminal charges against Watson.