No, there is no evidence that the San Francisco 49ers are interested in surrendering a plethora of draft picks to acquire quarterback Deshaun Watson. However, after the Detroit Lions sent Matthew Stafford to the division-rival Los Angeles Rams, many wonder if the 49ers will try to make a move to upgrade at quarterback themselves. Many feel that San Francisco is falling behind in the NFC West arms race.
Regardless of whether the 49ers are in play for Watson, it is clear the scorned quarterback has no intention of playing another snap for the Texans. That could mean sitting out the 2021 season if Houston refuses to grant his trade request.
Watson wants out, and Chris Simms of NBC Sports doesn't blame him, feeling that the Texans are a dysfunctional organization.
"I've been led to believe this, Mike, that there is no way Deshaun Watson will play for the Houston Texans again," Simms told Mike Florio Monday on PFT Live (h/t to Patrick Tulini). "Yeah, I'm saying that. I have been told by somebody I trust that says, 'Deshaun Watson will not play for the Houston Texans ever again, and he's willing to sit out football for the year if he has to.' That's where I've been led to understand this situation and where it's at right now, and like I said, it's someone that I trust very much."
Could sitting out the 2021 season work to Watson's advantage, forcing the Texans to trade him? According to Spotrac, the quarterback has already made over $40 million through four NFL seasons, thanks in large part to the $27 million signing bonus he received from his four-year contract extension in September. Of course, the Texans could make a case for recouping some of that signing bonus should Watson hold out. The point is that the quarterback might be comfortable enough to make good on his threat, assuming Simms' report is accurate.
Would the Texans' willingness to trade Watson be enough to entice 49ers general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan to be aggressive in attempting to acquire a game-changing offensive weapon?