Things are heating up in the Panthers’ pursuit of quarterback Deshaun Watson, but a familiar division rival is not making landing him any easier for Carolina.
The Panthers and New Orleans Saints plan to meet with Watson this week, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
It will take at least three first-round picks, multiple middle-round selections and maybe a young player to land Watson. It’s believed Watson is in outstanding shape and ready to re-establish himself as a top-10 quarterback. Watson has not played in a game since the final week of the 2020 regular season. He led the league in passing yards that year.
Both teams are positioned to meet the Texans’ asking price. Watson is expected to meet with Carolina, New Orleans, and other teams before deciding to waive his no-trade clause. He’s looking for a winning situation with quality coaching, organizational alignment, a strong offensive line and a winning defense.
Here is a breakdown of what teams interested in Watson have to offer him.
Carolina Panthers
Head coach and front office alignment:Coach Matt Rhule enters Year 3 on the hot seat. His 10-23 record over the past two seasons was identical to former Giants coach Joe Judge. There is reason to be concerned about how Watson perceives Carolina.
Panthers owner David Tepper has not held a press conference since December 2020. His 15 months of silence have let doubt spread wildly about Rhule. A former league executive who spoke to The Observer suggested Carolina could offer Rhule a contract extension to show Watson that the Panthers are a stable organization with top-to-bottom alignment, from ownership to management and head coach.
Rhule aside, the Panthers’ front office has come together nicely since Tepper named Scott Fitterer general manager last January. Fitterer is determined to keep offensive weapons DJ Moore and Christian McCaffrey around for Watson. The Panthers are also confident receiver Robby Anderson will have a bounce-back year under new offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo. The team remains high on their 2021 second-round pick, wide receiver Terrace Marshall Jr.
Offensive line protection:Carolina is determined to fix its offensive line. As currently constructed, Watson would be in danger playing behind the 29th-ranked offensive line last season. The Panthers could add a blue-chip tackle with the No. 6 pick in the upcoming draft but that selection would likely head to Houston in a Watson trade. Carolina must prove to Watson it has a realistic plan to protect him. Without a first-round pick or much cap space, that will be difficult.
Defensive playmakers:The Panthers feature several bright young defensive players but it’s expected that at least one of them would be a part of a Watson trade. Houston is seeking either one or a combination of Jeremy Chinn, Derrick Brown, Jaycee Horn or Brian Burns.
New Orleans Saints
Head coach and front office alignment:The Saints had Sean Payton retire but much of their infrastructure — including head coach Dennis Allen, offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael and general manager Mickey Loomis remain. Loomis and the Saints front office have found talent outside the first round, highlighted by Pro Bowlers Michael Thomas and Alvin Kamara. Pairing Watson with those two playmakers would instantly make the Saints’ offense one of the NFC’s best.
Offensive line protection:For years, the Saints put a quality offensive in front of Hall of Fame quarterback Drew Brees, and that did not change after he retired. Last season, New Orleans finished seventh in ESPN’s pass-block win-rate metric. But New Orleans’ offensive line will look different next season. The Saints are expected to lose Pro Bowl left tackle Terron Armstead in free agency. Then the Texans will likely want one of the team’s young offensive linemen in a Watson trade. Offensive tackle Ryan Ramczyk and guard Cesar Ruiz are both quality starters on rookie deals that Houston could target.
Defensive playmakers:New Orleans consistently has a top 10 defensive unit built around defensive coordinator Dennis Allen’s aggressive and attacking scheme. With Allen taking over head coaching duties, the team promoted assistant coaches Ryan Nielsen and Kris Richard to co-defensive coordinator. Nielsen and Richard will continue to oversee the Saints’ defensive line and secondary units, respectively, which will help New Orleans keep its continuity intact.
Cam Jordan, Marcus Davenport and Marshon Lattimore anchor a defense that would help Deshaun Watson not have to consistently win shootouts. With fewer turnovers and better quarterback play, the Saints probably would’ve made the playoffs last year. New Orleans checks all the boxes that Watson is looking for.
Cleveland Browns
Head coach and front office alignment:The Cleveland Browns are also a team to watch. It’s believed Houston would prefer to trade Watson out of the AFC but the Browns can offer a multitude of picks and quarterback Baker Mayfield, who is viewed as a better asset than Sam Darnold. Cleveland also agreed to a trade for Cowboys’ No. 1 receiver Amari Cooper, strengthening their case that they are only a quarterback away from a championship.
Kevin Stefanski won the 2020 NFL coach of the year and Andrew Berry is the youngest general manager in the league. After years of dysfunction, the Browns are finally one of the best-run teams in the NFL. They are eager to improve their quarterback situation and have ownership’s blessing to do so aggressively.
Offensive line protection:Led by All-Pro guard Joel Bitino, the Browns have one of the best offensive lines in football. Cleveland finished in Football Outsiders’ DVOA rushing metric. Combined with Pro Bowl running back Nick Chubb, Watson would be protected and supported by the Browns’ offensive line and rushing attack.
Defensive playmakers:According to Football Outsiders, Cleveland’s defensive ranked 11th in DVOA. (DVOA measures a team’s efficiency by comparing success on every single play to a league average based on situation and opponent.) Defensive end Myles Garrett is among the best in the league while the Browns have invested in their secondary with cornerbacks Denzel Ward, Greg Newsome and safety John Johnson III. Much like New Orleans, turnovers put the Browns’ defense in poor positions last season. Mayfield threw 13 interceptions and fumbled six times in 2021.
