I fully expect a Deshaun Watson trade to happen before the 2021 NFL Draft and wanted to experiment with what the draft could look like under different trade scenarios. Four teams that I view as favorites to land Watson are the Dolphins, Panthers, Broncos and 49ers so let’s get wild and see what those mocks will look like with Watson going to each team.
Watson to the Dolphins:
Dolphins get: Deshaun Watson
Texans get: Tua Tagovailoa, 2021 3rd overall, 18th overall and 2023 first rounder
1 Jaguars: QB Trevor Lawrence, Clemson
2 Jets: QB Zach Wilson, BYU
3 Texans (MIA): WR DeVonta Smith, Alabama
4 Falcons: QB Trey Lance, NDSU
5 Bengals: OT Penei Sewell, Oregon
6 Eagles: WR Ja’Marr Chase, LSU
7 Lions: EDGE Kwity Paye, Michigan
8 Panthers: QB Justin Fields, Ohio State
9 Broncos: CB Patrick Surtain, Alabama
10 Cowboys: OT Rashawn Slater, Northwestern
11 Giants: LB Micah Parsons, Penn State
12 49ers: CB Caleb Farley, Virginia Tech
13 Chargers: OT Christian Darrisaw, Virginia Tech
14 Vikings: EDGE Azeez Ojulari, Georgia
15 Patriots: TE Kyle Pitts, Florida
16 Cardinals: CB Jaycee Horn, South Carolina
17 Raiders: LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Notre Dame
18 Texans (MIA): EDGE Gregory Rousseau, Miami
19 Washington: QB Mac Jones, Alabama
20 Bears: OT Alijah Vera-Tucker, USC
21 Colts: EDGE Joseph Ossai, Texas
22 Titans: LB/EDGE Zaven Collins, Tulsa
23 Jets (SEA): WR Jaylen Waddle, Alabama
24 Steelers: RB Najee Harris, Alabama
25 Jags (Rams): OT Dillon Radunz, NDSU
26 Browns: LB Nick Bolton, Missouri
27 Ravens: WR Rashod Bateman, Minnesota
28 Saints: CB Aaron Robinson, UCF
29 Packers: WR Kadarius Toney, Florida
30 Bills: LB Jabril Cox, LSU
31 Bucs: EDGE Jaelan Phillips, Miami
32 Chiefs: C Landon Dickerson, Alabama
With Tua on roster the Texans are able to get his favorite target from college in DeVonta Smith, while also adding a pass rusher Gregory Rousseau. The Texans are now rumored to have JJ Watt on the trade block so the need as pass rush is great and the value of Rousseau is great at 18.
Watson to the Panthers
Panthers get: Deshaun Watson
Texans get: Teddy Bridgewater, 2021 8th overall, 2022 and 2023 first round picks
1 Jaguars: QB Trevor Lawrence, Clemson
2 Jets: QB Zach Wilson, BYU
3 Dolphins (HOU): WR DeVonta Smith, Alabama
4 Falcons: QB Trey Lance, NDSU
5 Bengals: OT Penei Sewell, Oregon
6 Eagles: WR Ja’Marr Chase, LSU
7 Lions: EDGE Kwity Paye, Michigan
8 Texans (CAR): QB Justin Fields, Ohio State
9 Broncos: CB Patrick Surtain, Alabama
10 Cowboys: OT Rashawn Slater, Northwestern
11 Giants: LB Micah Parsons, Penn State
12 49ers: CB Caleb Farley, Virginia Tech
13 Chargers: OT Christian Darrisaw, Virginia Tech
14 Vikings: EDGE Azeez Ojulari, Georgia
15 Patriots: TE Kyle Pitts, Florida
16 Cardinals: CB Jaycee Horn, South Carolina
17 Raiders: LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Notre Dame
18 Dolphins: EDGE Gregory Rousseau, Miami
19 Washington: QB Mac Jones, Alabama
20 Bears: OT Alijah Vera-Tucker, USC
21 Colts: EDGE Joseph Ossai, Texas
22 Titans: LB/EDGE Zaven Collins, Tulsa
23 Jets (SEA): WR Jaylen Waddle, Alabama
24 Steelers: RB Najee Harris, Alabama
25 Jags (Rams): OT Dillon Radunz, NDSU
26 Browns: LB Nick Bolton, Missouri
27 Ravens: WR Rashod Bateman, Minnesota
28 Saints: CB Aaron Robinson, UCF
29 Packers: WR Kadarius Toney, Florida
30 Bills: LB Jabril Cox, LSU
31 Bucs: EDGE Jaelan Phillips, Miami
32 Chiefs: C Landon Dickerson, Alabama
The Texans bring in Teddy Bridgewater, but like the Panthers, still need their quarterback of the future. Justin Fields is close to NFL ready but could still sit behind a veteran quarterback for a year, or a few games, until he is able to take over the offense. The Panthers get their answer at quarterback but sacrifice three first round picks to do so. The beauty of it is that the Panthers don’t have many glaring needs and can address depth with their remaining picks – even without a first round draft choice until 2024.
Watson to the Broncos
Broncos get: Deshaun Watson
Texans get: Drew Lock, 2021 9th overall, 2022 first rounder and 2023 second
1 Jaguars: QB Trevor Lawrence, Clemson
2 Jets: QB Zach Wilson, BYU
3 Dolphins (HOU): WR DeVonta Smith, Alabama
4 Falcons: QB Trey Lance, NDSU
5 Bengals: OT Penei Sewell, Oregon
6 Eagles: WR Ja’Marr Chase, LSU
7 Lions: EDGE Kwity Paye, Michigan
8 Panthers: QB Justin Fields, Ohio State
9 Texans (DEN): CB Patrick Surtain, Alabama
10 Cowboys: OT Rashawn Slater, Northwestern
11 Giants: LB Micah Parsons, Penn State
12 49ers: CB Caleb Farley, Virginia Tech
13 Chargers: OT Christian Darrisaw, Virginia Tech
14 Vikings: EDGE Azeez Ojulari, Georgia
15 Patriots: TE Kyle Pitts, Florida
16 Cardinals: CB Jaycee Horn, South Carolina
17 Raiders: LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Notre Dame
18 Dolphins: EDGE Gregory Rousseau, Miami
19 Washington: QB Mac Jones, Alabama
20 Bears: OT Alijah Vera-Tucker, USC
21 Colts: EDGE Joseph Ossai, Texas
22 Titans: LB/EDGE Zaven Collins, Tulsa
23 Jets (SEA): WR Jaylen Waddle, Alabama
24 Steelers: RB Najee Harris, Alabama
25 Jags (Rams): OT Dillon Radunz, NDSU
26 Browns: LB Nick Bolton, Missouri
27 Ravens: WR Rashod Bateman, Minnesota
28 Saints: CB Aaron Robinson, UCF
29 Packers: WR Kadarius Toney, Florida
30 Bills: LB Jabril Cox, LSU
31 Bucs: EDGE Jaelan Phillips, Miami
32 Chiefs: C Landon Dickerson, Alabama
The Texans get a young quarterback to build around and address their defensive needs with corner Patrick Surtain from Alabama. Drew Locks gets to interview for the quarterback of the future but the Texans also get draft assets to move up in future drafts if Lock doesn’t work out.
Watson to the 49ers
49ers get: Deshaun Watson
Texans get: Jimmy Garoppolo, 2021 12th overall, 2022 first and second round picks, 2023 first
1 Jaguars: QB Trevor Lawrence, Clemson
2 Jets: QB Zach Wilson, BYU
3 Dolphins (HOU): WR DeVonta Smith, Alabama
4 Falcons: QB Trey Lance, NDSU
5 Bengals: OT Penei Sewell, Oregon
6 Eagles: WR Ja’Marr Chase, LSU
7 Lions: EDGE Kwity Paye, Michigan
8 Panthers: QB Justin Fields, Ohio State
9 Broncos: CB Patrick Surtain, Alabama
10 Cowboys: OT Rashawn Slater, Northwestern
11 Giants: LB Micah Parsons, Penn State
12 Texans (HOU): CB Caleb Farley, Virginia Tech
13 Chargers: OT Christian Darrisaw, Virginia Tech
14 Vikings: EDGE Azeez Ojulari, Georgia
15 Patriots: TE Kyle Pitts, Florida
16 Cardinals: CB Jaycee Horn, South Carolina
17 Raiders: LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Notre Dame
18 Dolphins: EDGE Gregory Rousseau, Miami
19 Washington: QB Mac Jones, Alabama
20 Bears: OT Alijah Vera-Tucker, USC
21 Colts: EDGE Joseph Ossai, Texas
22 Titans: LB/EDGE Zaven Collins, Tulsa
23 Jets (SEA): WR Jaylen Waddle, Alabama
24 Steelers: RB Najee Harris, Alabama
25 Jags (Rams): OT Dillon Radunz, NDSU
26 Browns: LB Nick Bolton, Missouri
27 Ravens: WR Rashod Bateman, Minnesota
28 Saints: CB Aaron Robinson, UCF
29 Packers: WR Kadarius Toney, Florida
30 Bills: LB Jabril Cox, LSU
31 Bucs: EDGE Jaelan Phillips, Miami
32 Chiefs: C Landon Dickerson, Alabama
Very much like the Broncos scenario, the Texans get a quarterback, even though it may not be the quarterback of the future. Jimmy G can hang around until the Texans can go after a young quarterback in a future draft while drafting a top defensive player. And with the picks the 49ers are sending over they will have the draft capital to do it. Deshaun Watson and Kyle Shanahan seems unfair to the rest of the NFL but the 49ers are going to have to overpay to make it happen.