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Last year, the Panthers wanted Deshawn Watson. But Deshawn Watson didn’t need the Panthers.
This year, the Panthers want Deshawn Watson again.
Through ESPN.com’s David Newton, the Panthers plan to make an “aggressive” offer to former quarterback Clemson if he waives the no-trade clause for the Panthers.
As the trade deadline approached, the Panthers would be traded for Watson, despite then-unresolved criminal complaints and civil suits still pending. Watson refused to waive the no-trade clause, opting to focus on trading at the Dolphins.
It’s unclear what it will take to get Watson. On the one hand, if several teams come to the table, the price will rise. On the flip side, if Watson ends up focusing on one team, the Texans will have to choose between getting what they can and keeping Watson, who hasn’t played at all in 2021, with a $35 million guaranteed salary. (He also has a $17 million roster bonus in 2023. The bonus becomes fully guaranteed later this month.)
Newton reports that the Panthers are ready to part ways with any player in the roster except defenseman Jeremy Chinn. However, of course, the Panthers, who under owner David Tepper were hell-bent on getting a franchise quarterback, won’t back out of the deal because of Chinn.
Before any of this becomes relevant, Watson needs to be ready to play for the Panthers. If it doesn’t exist, everything else doesn’t matter.
So will he? With coach Matt Rule widely believed to be in the hot seat, and former Giants underdog coach Ben McAdoo as the new offensive coordinator, Watson may not be thrilled about the opportunity to join a team that has by 2023 may have a new head coach.