With the Super Bowl, this weekend, attention in the NFL will soon change to the 2021 season. While the league season does not begin until early March and no deal can be made official, that has not stopped teams from wheeling and dealing. Last week we saw the blockbuster of quarterbacks Matthew Stafford and Jared Goff swapping places between the Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Rams. So who’s next?
Deshaun Watson
The obvious trade target is Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson. The franchise quarterback has reportedly demanded a trade while both new general manager Nick Caserio and new head coach David Culley said they have zero interest in trading their young superstar. Watson is under contract for the next five years, so his negotiation options are limited as it is a stretch to believe he would pull a Le’Veon Bell and sit out 2021 contests.
The Watson trade market has been heating up for bettors as well. So if you want to bet on something other than the Super Bowl, take a look at the Watson trade futures.
The Carolina Panthers are the betting favorites to land Watson at +200, just ahead of the New York Jets at +500. The Jets would then be likely to move former first-round Sam Darnold, and the same can be said for the Las Vegas Raiders (+700) and Derek Carr. The San Francisco 49ers are also +700, as is Watson staying with the Texans, and the Miami Dolphins are +800.
The longer shots include the Chicago Bears, Washington Football Team, and Denver Broncos, all at +1000. The New England Patriots, expected to move on from Cam Newton, are listed at +1200.
Carson Wentz
New Philadelphia Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said all the right things in his initial press conference, but NFL Network reported on Thursday that the team is listening to offers for quarterback Carson Wentz. His 2019 deal means the Eagles would have to eat nearly $60 million in dead salary cap money, and they are already $54 million over the 2021 cap.
If the Eagles want to move on from Wentz to 2020 second-round pick Jalen Hurts, then trading him before March 19 would be ideal. Wentz is due a $10 million roster bonus on March 19, so a trade before that day means he would count in less dead money on the Eagles 2021 cap.
Tua Tagovailoa
As you can see with Miami’s odds above, if they acquired Watson, then what happens to 2020 rookie quarterback Tua Tagovailoa? Well, he could go to Houston in a quarterback swap, as we saw with the Lions and Rams. Or if the Texans would prefer draft picks, then it is likely Tagovailoa would be the next hot commodity on the trade market for any team that didn’t land Watson.
NFL Draft Odds
You can also take a futures bet on who Urban Meyer and the Jacksonville Jaguars will take with the first pick of the 2021 draft, but the odds are not friendly. Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence is -5000 to be the first pick of the 2021 draft. If, for some unknown reason, it is not Lawrence, here are the next five players and their odds.
Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields, who did not play for Meyer with the Buckeyes, is next at +1400. BYU quarterback Zach Wilson is +2000, as is Oregon offensive tackle Penei Sewell is +1000 after he opted out of the 2020 season. North Dakota State Trey Lance, who had just one game in his 2020 season, is +5000, while Heisman-winning Alabama wide receiver Devonta Smith is +6000.
The New York Jets select after the Jaguars, with the Dolphins holding the third pick thanks to a former trade with Houston. The Atlanta Falcons and Cincinnati Bengals round out the top five while the New York Giants select 11th. The 2021 NFL Draft is scheduled to take place in Cleveland, Ohio, April 29-May 1.
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