In the opening scene of Frank Ford Coppola's seminal classic film The Godfather where the inimitable Marlon Brando's Vito Corleone tries to find work for his godson with a famous film director In Corleone's own words, he made the director “an offer he can't refuse.” Only when the director denies him did he discover the threat that comes with denying a proposal from the Corleone family. The Houston Texans now find themselves in a similar situation with quarterback Deshaun Watson.

No, Watson probably won't threaten the livelihoods of the owning McNair family or GM Nick Caserio. But with a near irreparable relationship between Watson and the team's brass, it definitely feels that way.

The superstar has already intoned his intention to sit out the season if he's not traded beforehand, and while he's been declared as untouchable in trade offers thus far, other teams are calling Houston's bluff.

As Watson's holdout continues, then, it stands to reason his trade value goes down as teams are aware that they can wait and bargain for him.

An even bigger timer on Watson’s declining return value, it should be noted, is the quarterback’s ongoing legal issues. Whether or not the allegations levied against him are true, they are alarming nonetheless.

The longer those issues go on, and the longer he’s in the spotlight for the wrong reasons, the less likely teams will want to hitch their wagons to his, let alone the Texans in a trade.

So, before they end up losing him for nothing, these are three Godfather-level trade propositions that Houston can't refuse for their disgruntled star.

Trade 1

NYJ receives: Deshaun Watson

HOU receives: Sam Darnold, SEA 2021 1st Rd Pick (#2), Corey Davis

Poor Sam Darnold.

He is less than four years removed from being the highest-rated prospect in a draft that featured Baker Mayfield, Josh Allen, and Lamar Jackson. How was he rewarded for the hard work that got him to that point?

He was shunted to the netherworld to wither under Adam Gase’s creepy eyes and awful coaching.

Now, at the edge of freedom, he’s about to get shunted again to the Jets with warmer weather.

Now, to be fair to Houston, after the debacle that was Bill O’Brien’s hiring, you have to hope that they’ve learned their lesson: valuing their most valued player.

In this case, that’s easily Darnold, who, even under Gace’s regime, still showed enough flashes of brilliance and sheer will that made him the top-rated prospect of the 2018 Draft.

Houston also gets a young, primary playmaker here in Corey Davis, and their first-round pick back. While they might push back on which one they get exactly (or even both), this trade all in all basically gives Houston a do-over of its mistakes from the past two years.

Scariest of all: the longer they wait, the more possible it is that they can’t choose between #2 or #23.

Godfather Trade 2 for Deshaun Watson

MIA receives: Deshaun Watson

HOU receives: Christian Wilkins, Tua Tagovailoa, MIA 2021 1st Rd Pick (#3)

Forget weapons. Right now, Tua doesn’t have the vision or arm to take advantage of them that far downfield.

The business model for Tua’s rookie season was this: play good playmaking defense and give Tua opportunities to be accurate and efficient in between the hash marks.

That is a model the Texans are built for.

They have solid potential in the backfield with two big backs that also flash well enough in the screen game. Outside of that, all the Texans need is to make opposing signal-callers uncomfortable enough.

Enter part two of this deal: Christian Wilkins. Wilkins, outside of the draft, is Houston’s best bet to replace JJ Watt with some youth. Throw in some potential to shore up the line or get a weapon with the number three pick, and this deal with Miami gives the Texans another time machine to fix the exact mistakes they made dating back to last season.

Godfather Trade 3 for Deshaun Watson

DEN receives: Deshaun Watson

HOU receives: Jerry Jeudy, Dre’Mont Jones, 2021 DEN 1st Rd Pick (#9), 2 Future 1st Rd Picks

Time machines are a theme for this analysis, it seems.

If you weren’t aware before, now you are. There is a formula for prying Deshaun Watson from Houston’s cold, dead fingers:

QB + Weapon + Defense

All three of these are things Houston has been missing since it dealt Deandre Hopkins last offseason. They are missing defense playmakers, and they need at least some semblance of a duo to replace Watson + Hopkins/Fuller.

Denver, who, granted, is in the middle of its own defensive rebuild, is ready to be aggressive now as well.

Jeudy was poorly highlighted as the primary option of a limited Drew Lock. Dre’Mont Jones is a beast on the defensive line and stands to absolutely blow up this year with his production. Finally, since Houston will definitely not want Lock on their hands as a worthy replacement to Watson, Denver can throw in some nice consolation prizes.

Because let’s be honest: Trey Lance and Zach Wilson probably have higher ceilings than either Tua or Darnold. Especially if they get an extra year learning the ropes while Tyrod Taylor mans the gap year.

Throw in more first-rounders than the previous two offers combined, and Houston can’t deny itself the chance to truly commit to this rebuild.

***

Now, there are some teams that will also be in the running for Deshaun Watson’s services.

The Bears would love to get him, but there’s big red ginger standing in the way now named Andy Dalton.

San Francisco will definitely want him but might have to wait until this summer when Watson’s contract is more in line with the incumbent starter Garoppolo’s.

Finally, the Eagles have the best pick out of these last three honorable mentions, but their roster is, to put it delicately, injured or hot garbage.

Regardless of what happens next, Houston is now in the hot seat. Deshaun Watson, if nothing else, is possibly the best trading chip in the NFL. Keeping him, at best, means more treading water and flirting with 8-8 each season, and if there is a perfect time for a rebuild, it is now. These Godfather-leave offers won’t last forever, and if they wait too long, Houston’s destiny will no longer be in their hands.

They simply can’t refuse.