Deshaun Watson Rumors: Panthers, Browns, Seahawks In Pursuit?

The Deshaun Watson rumors are swirling as the trade market for the Texans quarterback heats up following the grand jury’s decision not to indict him on criminal charges.

The quarterback market, to this point, has already been quite robust with the trade of Russell Wilson to the Broncos, the return of Aaron Rodgers to the Packers, and the acquisition of Carson Wentz by the Commanders. However, there are several teams, including the Buccaneers, who are still searching for their next quarterback. Could it be Watson?

Let’s dive into all the rumors surrounding Watson and his future.

Deshaun Watson will NOT be facing criminal charges.#Texans #NFL #NFLTwitter pic.twitter.com/kaZHKiHXxB

— Full Press NFL (@FullPressNFL) March 11, 2022

Carolina Panthers 

Rumor: The Panthers plan to make an “aggressive offer” for Deshaun Watson, per David Newton of ESPN.

The Panthers took a stab at fixing Sam Darnold a year ago. It didn’t work. Darnold played in just 12 games for the Panthers in 2021, leading them to a 4-7 record in that span. Carolina ultimately brought back Cam Newton but he didn’t change the fortunes of the Panthers season which resulted in no postseason appearance. It didn’t help that All-Pro running back, Christian McCaffrey missed a majority of the season with injuries. However, whether he was there or not, the quarterback play held this team back. Now, an opportunity to acquire an ascending 26-year-old quarterback could be too much for the Panthers to resist. Especially given that three of the four teams in the NFC South have huge questions at the position. Acquiring Watson would give them a significant leg up.

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Cleveland Browns

Rumor: The Cleveland Browns have done a lot of work on Deshaun Watson and are now regarded as a wild-card contender, per Aaron Wilson on Twitter.

The rumor is a bit surprising considering the Browns still have Baker Mayfield under center. However, the team may have seen enough from the former first-round pick to know that he isn’t the guy to take them to the next level. That was never more apparent than watching Odell Beckham Jr. succeed outside of Cleveland and with Matt Stafford as his quarterback. The Browns have plenty of talent on offense if they were to make a run at Watson. And, despite being in the same division as the reigning AFC Champions, the AFC North is there for the taking if the Browns can find a quarterback that elevates their team. Watson may or may not be that guy but the Browns may know that Mayfield ISN’T and see the pursuit of the league’s leading passer in 2020 as a worthwhile investment.

Cleveland Browns have done a lot of work on Deshaun Watson lately and are now regarded as a wild-card entry into this expanding trade market, per a league source.

— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) March 12, 2022

Seattle Seahawks

Rumor: The Seattle Seahawks are considered one of the top contenders for quarterback Deshaun Watson, per Aaron Wilson.

The moment Seattle shipped Russell Wilson to the Broncos they had no reasonable option under center for 2022. Sorry, Drew Lock is not one of them. So, it makes a ton of sense that they would see Watson as a great option to replace Wilson. The Seahawks certainly have the capital to make a trade after the Wilson move netted them several draft picks. However, they also have an appealing group of skill players, highlighted by D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, that would certainly appeal to Watson who would have to agree to a trade to any team before it could be made. The Seahawks have committed to keeping the pair of wide receivers so they likely wouldn’t be discussed in a move for Watson.