Count Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice among those San Francisco 49ers fans who believe the team should look into trading for disgruntled Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson. Rice joined 95.7 The Game on Monday morning and made his case for a deal after being asked if the move is something San Francisco should pursue.
"Yeah, I think they should (trade for him)," Rice said on The Morning Roast. "You've got to look at all your options, and you look at Deshaun Watson, and there are rumors that he might go to Miami, he might go to the Patriots, and also the 49ers."
Rice noted that he likes current 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo but acknowledges that he cannot stay healthy. While Garoppolo led the 49ers to a Super Bowl in his first full season as a starter, he has missed 23 games over the last three seasons.
"They've got to look at who's going to be the leader down the road, someone that's going to be able to be behind center, that's going to be able to also be healthy and be productive on the football field," Rice continued. "... Everything starts with the quarterback. If the quarterback can't stay healthy, then we have problems. If Deshaun Watson -- if he's out there, and he's unhappy in Houston, I think you have to take that into consideration."
Of course, trading for Watson would require giving up significant draft capital. We're talking about possibly surrendering multiple years' worth of high-round picks. Some analysts believe that trading away the next three years of first-round picks would just be the starting point for such a deal.
"If we have the opportunity to bring a player of his quality in, we've got to look at that because the game is totally going a different direction now, too," Rice added. "Quarterbacks are being more mobile, being able to get out of the pocket, extending plays, still being able to deliver the ball downfield. You've got to have a mobile quarterback now.
"So, I don't know what is too much (in compensation), but if we have the opportunity to get a player of his [stature] or something like that, I think we have to go for it."
Rice explained what he would tell Watson if asked why the quarterback should join the red and gold.
"I think the reason he should come is because I believe we have so many pieces of the puzzle already in place," Rice responded. "You look at the receiving corps. You look at the running backs. You look at our defense. I think this team is ready to make a run for another Super Bowl. And I think with Deshaun Watson, he wants to have the opportunity to be a part of a team where he has a chance to win a Super Bowl, and I think it's here in San Francisco."
You can listen to the entire conversation with Rice below.