hepcat

Panthers still very much in it.

If only people used the same amount of discernment when reading real news that they do for sports news

This whole Deshaun Watson "sweepstakes" experience has shown me how many blue-check-mark verified Twitter "beat writers" are as credible as any of us on the Huddle.

Lol steve was crying all the time but he's right he backed it up with being a badass on the field

hahah I wish

Houston has already approved the Falcons offer, or so the rumor goes.

Atlanta is going to have a very, very hard time trading him. And I have heard Matt Ryan is not thrilled right now. Falcons doing him dirty after a long, successful run there.

I don't know how much more clearly I can say it. The Falcons need to trade Matt Ryan to make this work or they just can't do it under the salary cap. Watson is waiting for Atlanta. If Atlanta drops out because they can't find a trade partner for Matt Ryan, it's down to the Saints and Panthers. Then it's game on. Watson wants to be in Atlanta 100% though

Watson and his people definitely did take fan interest/vitriol towards his situation into account. Panthers fans were not too keen on trading for him from what I recall, myself included. Not a fan of trading for him in the slightest. Not a fan of almost anything the Panthers have done in the last few seasons.

I'm sure the Colts would appreciate having him for a season or two. Problem is his contract is INSANE and who would want to extend a 37 year old QB to lessen his cap number. Colts are probably mulling it over and arguing about the compensation, probably low balling the Falcons, who probably want assets from the Colts they can turn around and trade to the Texans for Watson. It's not gonna happen that way most likely.

The Browns will end up having to trade him. Mayfield is posturing for a new contract or a trade. Doubt Cleveland ponies up the cash for an extension. He's gone. And a very real chance the Panthers target him.

I've seen mixed reports on that but I think you're right in that he does not

Atlanta doesn't have any cap space. They absolutely have to trade Matt Ryan. It's so funny that pencil neck is mucking up their attempts to trade for Watson. He has a no-trade clause too.

Atlanta is by far Watson's #1 preferred destination. He might wait long enough for them to figure out what to do with Matt Ryan

Do poo? They made the playoffs last season and came within minutes of beating the Chiefs and going to the AFC Championship. Darnold hasn't even had a winning season or made the playoffs.

they were already on the outs, going after Watson was the nail in the coffin

I bet the market for Mayfield is hot. They'll want more than the Jets got for Darnold.

The Browns are gonna start the QB roulette wheel. Sh*t is about to get crazy.

Panthers have already contacted the Browns about this I am sure.

say his name 3 times like beetlejuice and he shall appear

Nothing new here. Atlanta has been Watson's #1 choice since his camp reached out to the Falcons after meeting with the Panthers, Saints, and Browns. Watson really wants to go to Atlanta. I think the Saints and Panthers are a tossup if Atlanta can't make it work, Saints a slight favorite.

Nah. I doubt the Panthers officially pull out unless they are told Watson will no longer consider them like he did to the Browns (who were never really a serious contender because of the Texans reluctance to send him to another AFC team and Watson's desire to play somewhere warm) Ryan has to be traded to make the numbers work. That's why this is taking so long. If they pull it off without trading him, the salary cap doesn't mean anything and the NFL should adopt a luxury tax like the NBA and MLB.

probably the same take from Joe Person calling it a hail mary

The Colts are the only team with a need at QB and enough cap space to make it work without any other moves needing to be made. If they won't do the trade I don't think Atlanta has any other good options to trade him. I think Atlanta will be eating that $7.5m roster bonus personally. Trade could still happen afterward.

I'm also sitting here wondering what Seattle is going to do at QB and curious if they've talked to Atlanta about Matt Ryan. But I don't think it's a good match with his huge salary cap number and Seattle trying to go younger.