Watson has $35M guaranteed for 2022. Then assuming you want to keep him he has $37M in compensation in 2023 and $32M in compensation in 2024 and 2025. That contract is richer than any contract in NFL history aside from Patrick Mahomes and from the period of 2022 to 2024 it is richer than Mahomes deal.
It doesn't matter if he a top 3 God at age 25. That kind of contract always kills a team unless the team is ready to go right now. Watson's contract would be a buzzsaw on the Jets right now because they don't have the talent base to make a run and the cost of keeping him would prevent them from building the kind of team you want a Watson like QB to helm.
That wasn't really what I asked tbf though is it? You used the 22 season and ignored the cheaper 10m season, I wondered why? By combining the two for a 22.5m average it doesn't sound so bad for a top 5 QB, maybe that is why you ignored it I guess? Also, his contract is for 10m, 35m, 37m, 32m, 32m so it also isn't right to say the 22 season is the next cheapest but yeah not really arsed about that either tbh. https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/houston-texans/deshaun-watson-21753/
In addition to me wanting the Jets to make the best run possible at Watson for his obvious football appeal, I kind of also want them to acquire him just to see Br4d's posts in both the immediate aftermath and the ensuing 10 years.
I mean at this point in the game if you still think that money would be an issue throughout the life of Watsons contract then there’s no point in continuing to discuss any further. by your logic, if we draft Zach Wilson at two and he turns out to be a stud for years down the road but we still aren’t ready to make a run… We should just let him walk because spending top dollar and a quarter back is stupid unless you are ready to win right now.
No, the value of the #2 overall pick is what makes that trade work. I don't think there is a way for the Jets to keep the #2 pick and still get Watson. From Houston's standpoint, they need someone now to replace Watson. They can do that with the #2 pick by picking Fields or Wilson.
The scenario you're describing is the Matthew Stafford scenario in Detroit and yes, the Lions should have let Stafford walk long ago. Having a good QB means nothing if you cannot build the team to support them. Look at what the Texans did with Deshaun Watson last year. Realize that this is what any bad team including the Jets would have done with Deshaun Watson. If you're a bad team there is absolutely no reason to pay a great player $30M a year to play QB for you. You don't win because of it you just stay on the treadmill until you finally build the team that can support a great QB. Build the team first. Go get the QB. Profit.
Whether they trade for Watson or draft a quarterback, the point remains that they need to build around them regardless. So you're kind of banging the whole point into the ground about the money, when the constant in all scenarios revolve around not only drafting well but maintaining a good coaching staff and continuity with the front office.
Wait, Matt Stafford, he of 1 Pro Bowl appearance in a dozen years and the 15th best QB Rating amongst active players, is being used as the proxy for drafting a QB who turns into "a stud for years down the road"?
Watson is significantly better than Stafford, and unlike Watson, I wanted nothing to do with Stafford this offseason. But what happened last year with Watson and the Texans was IMO a statistical fluke and one highly unlikely to ever repeat itself. To put it another way, an elite QB seems to give his team a few extra wins a season, and I genuinely believe the Texans would have gone 0-16 with a league-average starter.
Not to mention they lost eight games by one score. A couple end up being misleading as he had an end of the game score versus Minnesota (6 minutes left) and didn't score in the second half versus the Steelers. But still - they are not in either Titans or Colts games at the end without him.
Again, you're speaking in hypotheticals. If this happens if that happens. Well of course if everything you say happens, then he would be happy here. BUT, you have to look at where we are RIGHT NOW. I can say we draft Wilson and he becomes the next Tom Brady. We have all of our draft picks & a ton of cap space. Our new coach & Douglas can build the team in their image. I like Watson. I would love to have him, but IMO our organization at this moment in time is not the best situation for him. His #1 issue in Houston was OWNERSHIP. Where would you rank the Jets ownership right now? Have to be in the bottom third of the league. Does he need that when there are much more stable organizations out there? We have to prove to the league we are a winning organization and have our sh*t together before players take us seriously. One thing that bothers me is that ownership in Houston promised him that he would have a say in picking the GM. That is giving away too much power to someone who has not won anything. Now Watson without having won anything has a sense of being bigger than the team. That will now forever be an issue. It's an issue because Watson brought it up as one of the reasons for him being unhappy. If I'm the new head coach, I would not want my QB to be a veteran with a lot of power. The new head coach has to put his leadership stamp on the team. He is the leader, not the QB. Saleh has never been a head coach anywhere. Is Saleh going to challenge Watson as Belichick did to Tom Brady? No way. This has a bad mix written all over it.
Hey if we could get Watson without giving up the #2 pick, I'm down for that. However, the whole point of Houston trading with us is to get that valuable #2 pick. So that's not really an option even though both of us would love that scenario. I would take Wilson. His accuracy and pocket presence is off the charts. That helps to pass on Watson which I also talked about why in my post just now to NCJetsfan. I think we need to start fresh because we have a coach that has never been a head coach before. It will be easier to lead a rookie & put his stamp on the team, rather than trying to direct a veteran whose presence is bigger than the team.
What happens if Watson (for some ungodly reason) says he only wants the Jets? Houston is now royally screwed in how much compensation they can get back. #2 pick would be a bonanza at that point since they can draft a potential franchise QB. Or, they could bring back Watson, he sits out then rejoins the team in week 8 or whatever it is and he's all disgruntled. Plus they just missed out on the #2 pick. Houston should just take Tua, #3 and #18 from the Dolphins and call it a day. Otherwise, they will end up with the Broncos pick at 9 and most likely not get a really good QB. The #2 pick is HUGE leverage especially if they love Zach Wilson over Fields which is now the consensus around the league. Lance probably won't make it to 9. So what is Houston going to do? And if the Dolphins say they are sticking with Tua and not trading for Watson, the Jets leverage just went through the roof. I'm still taking Wilson just because we have a new head coach and a team that needs a foundation.
Well the Jets were so pathetic this year that my two choices were the Dolphins or Tampa Bay. They never show Tampa Bay down here until this season because of Brady. Most of the season TB was boring, so I had Miami on TV and the Jets on the computer. Plus I won a lot of money betting on the Dolphins this season. But no, I will not be buying a Fish stick jersey anytime soon. I just appreciate their head coach and scrappy play. Leadership! I learned a lot about how head coaching leadership can make a huge difference when you have a lack of talent.
I get the feeling nobody has approached the Texans with The Godfather offer that they have been looking for. The Panthers “offer” of 3 1sts and Cmac probably came from the Texans camp. I think the best actual offer probably came from us and they’re trying to squeeze a few more picks out of it.
Possibly so, you like Wilson but other guys on here really dislike him with a passion, though that can be said for all the candidates. Simply put, we can not miss this time around, it would set this team back 3 years again and no doubt lead to JD/Saleh being sacked, this leaves me wanting Watson who is a 100% guaranteed talent.
I am from an era that the Dolphins were the enemy and I couldn't wish any good for them at all, it would be like hoping the cheats find a bonafide replacement for Brady and save Bellicheat's job and take him to another bowl. Which would also be shit lol
There was no offer of 3 1sts and McCaffrey, it came from a David Newton in a "Bold Off Season Prediction" segment on ESPN