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With Tom Brady's retirement from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, they are now on the lookout for his replacement, assuming he doesn't actually do an about-face and return. One name that has come up recently is Deshaun Watson, who has been seeking a trade out of Houston for quite some time now but is still dealing with legal issues stemming from a lengthy list of sexual assault allegations.
The Buccaneers are reportedly looking into Watson and waiting to get more clarity on his legal situation. If that situation is cleared up and Watson is able to play in 2022, don't be surprised to see Tampa Bay put a big offer down on the table. If the Buccaneers are able to pull off a trade with the Houston Texans and land Watson, this would keep them in title contention — especially if they're able to re-sign Chris Godwin, Rob Gronkowski, and Leonard Fournette.
Watson's elite playmaking and precision in the pocket would give Tampa Bay an exciting new style of play at the quarterback spot. As the Buccaneers forge a backup plan to stay competitive and begin a new chapter, making a play for Watson could very well be a part of their offseason strategy. Again, this all likely hinges on what happens with Watson's legal issues, but here's what Tampa Bay should offer if a pursuit is made.
Buccaneers' trade offer to Texans for Deshaun Watson
Buccaneers receive: Deshaun Watson, David Johnson (set to be UFA), Brandin Cooks
Texans receive: Kyle Trask, Scotty Miller, Ronald Jones II (set to be UFA), Tyler Johnson, boatload of first- and second-round draft picks
In this proposed trade, the Buccaneers would receive their replacement for Brady in Deshaun Watson while adding a quality veteran halfback in David Johnson and a reliable set of hands in Brandin Cooks to give them some insurance at wide receiver. This move would also add to their deep and dynamic roster while giving them a legitimate shot at competing for the Super Bowl in 2023.
In Watson, the Buccaneers would gain a young and athletic dual-threat quarterback who could take their offense to the next level. On the flip side of this trade, the Texans would acquire a promising talent in Kyle Trask and three proven winners in Scotty Miller, Ronald Jones II, and Tyler Johnson who would give Houston some accomplished skill players to add to their youth movement. Plus, they'd be gaining a ton of draft capital to compensate for the loss of a rising superstar in Watson. The Texans reportedly turned down a trade offer of three first-round picks and three second-round picks in 2021, so the offer would require a lot of picks.
This trade would benefit both parties greatly and satisfy their current needs as they both aim to gear up for a busy offseason and better their teams for the long haul. Between Watson, Johnson, and Cooks, the Bucs would gain a potent mix of star power and savvy veteran play that would be a perfect fit in Bruce Arians' system.
Pulling off this trade may seem like a long shot, but Tampa Bay definitely has the assets and trade chips (in good shape in terms of draft picks) to satisfy the Texans and give them enough in return to make this deal possible. It goes without saying that the Texans don't want to drag this out with Watson much longer, and the Buccaneers would be the ideal trade partner for them as they look to start fresh next year. Houston could very well ask for better players in this situation and may not necessarily want to give up Cooks in the deal, but there would be room for negotiation here.
It would an exciting trade for Tampa Bay to pursue. As the Buccaneers eye another championship run in the upcoming seasons, they'll want to go all out this summer and remain title contenders. As a well-run organization, the front office has previously shown that they have the capability to pull off big moves like this in the offseason, and taking a chance on Watson would be a trade well worth it for them if he is deemed able to play.
