Something that was dropped in my inbox today...

[SizzleBuzz]

3 hours ago, nosuchthingasapanther said:

i'm too lazy to look, but i could have sworn the texans were making plans to trade him before the draft...then all hell broke loose.

Naah....they wouldn't even take incoming calls.

[Davidson Deac II]

2 hours ago, pantherclaw said:

Image is more important to Tepper than you give him credit for. 

You are right, but its not just image.  There is a very practical reason to have doubts.  If Watson has had this type of behavior in the past, that increases the chance we will see more of it in the future.  Maybe he learns his lesson and behaves better, but maybe not.   And to get him, we are going to have mortgage our future, and Tepper might be hesitant to do it on a maybe.   

[BrianS]

The worst part of any trade for Watson will be what we give up.  His contract is actually fine.  No guaranteed money on the books after next year except for his signing bonus which the Texans are going to be responsible for regardless.

What that means is that if he does lose his mind and do something like what he is accused of again he can be purged with little long term cap repercussion.  If we choose to put a different contract in front of him, one would presume we protect ourselves with that as well.

It's all about the cost up front, particularly draft capital.  

[LinvilleGorge]

It'll be very interesting to see what his market looks like. There will undoubtedly be some teams who opt out due to the off field issues and the definite baggage and PR issues he'll bring with him. But, 25 year old MVP caliber QBs simply don't become available. Those guys never hit the market, via FA or via trade. They're just too valuable to give up.

So, ultimately I doubt his trade value is significantly impacted. The number of suitors will be down but will still be numerous enough that his overall value will likely be protected. That's just my prediction on it.

[ThPantherFan]

18 hours ago, Verge said:

I am not a fan of Watson, but this news is what it is. No real timeline for this to happen, but as I said earlier, teams are bracing for sometime in the next few months. 

Interesting.  I don't think we will make a play, do you?

[thefuzz]

14 minutes ago, LinvilleGorge said:

It'll be very interesting to see what his market looks like. There will undoubtedly be some teams who opt out due to the off field issues and the definite baggage and PR issues he'll bring with him. But, 25 year old MVP caliber QBs simply don't become available. Those guys never hit the market, via FA or via trade. They're just too valuable to give up.

So, ultimately I doubt his trade value is significantly impacted. The number of suitors will be down but will still be numerous enough that his overall value will likely be protected. That's just my prediction on it.

I can absolutely see the Steelers going after him to be honest.

[cookinbrak]

What, exactly, has he done? And don't throw out stats, because Jameis had big numbers, too.

[LinvilleGorge]

3 minutes ago, thefuzz said:

I can absolutely see the Steelers going after him to be honest.

I can see any team that doesn't have a cemented legit franchise QB going after him. I'm not familiar enough with the other teams to predict whether or not Watson's situation would put them out of the market for him. Hell, I'm not familiar enough with Tepper to predict whether or not it will for us.

[LinvilleGorge]

Just now, cookinbrak said:

What, exactly, has he done? And don't throw out stats, because Jameis had big numbers, too.

Put up big numbers... without the accompanying big turnover numbers. If Jameis wasn't so equal opportunity with his passes he'd be a great QB.

[frankw]

9 minutes ago, cookinbrak said:

What, exactly, has he done? And don't throw out stats, because Jameis had big numbers, too.

His career and reputation may never be the same again but Jameis? Come on man!

[DaveThePanther2008]

19 hours ago, Verge said:

In the coming months teams are expecting Deshaun Watson will likely settle and be punished to the tune of 6+ games. There are certain teams planning to make a move, and have prepared if this opening came again. (Adam Schefter reported something to this extent I believe) We are still one of those teams from what my guys has heard. There are a couple of teams that are trying to play it a little close to the vest given the framing of his legal issues. I am told Carolina, Philadelphia, Miami, and Minnesota are among the top teams interested and willing to give up their weight in gold to go get him.

Now I know this is going to come with some political discourse, as it should, but this thread is strictly for this idea, and not about his legal issues. We have plenty of places you can discuss those, including in the tinderbox. I am not a fan of Watson, but this news is what it is. No real timeline for this to happen, but as I said earlier, teams are bracing for sometime in the next few months. 

Thanks for the interesting update.  I don't get the amount of doubt from the huddle because either they don't want Watson or they don't believe it is true.

You're a quality poster and I don't think you would post this without a credible source.

That said, I like Darnold but if we could get Watson it could put us over the top.  It clearly is a decision that our front office would have to mull over. 

 

[raleigh-panther]

18 hours ago, Davidson Deac II said:

If Darnold looks solid, we won't be a contender.  If he doesn't, then who knows what might happen.  

Exactly 

if Darnold fails and Rhule who believes in ‘second chances’ when it suits him, it would not surprise me.

should Fields light it up and if Darnold is an example of ‘past is prologue’  plus what could be perceived as mishandling the Qb position, Watson could be Rhule’s out 

Given the Carruth saga, it wouldn’t be a good look but the nfl is about winning. If it wasn’t, Ray Lewis wouldn’t be in the Hall of Fame and Big Ben wouldn’t still be in Pittsburgh  

[MHS831]

I think we should storm the castle and knock Igo out of his little throne and crown Verge. 

If that is a thing we can do.

 

[ladypanther]

One thing to also consider about him....will he demand his way again in a new setting?  I know Texas is/was a mess but they were also a mess when he signed his contract and cried because of the faith the team had put into him.  Don't want that (and don't want the other baggage) and what we would have to give up.  Can't imagine the Panthers would want him to be the face of the franchise. Trust Fitt to keep building this team.