If you're an avid NFL fan, you likely know about Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson's current legal situation—he's being sued for over 22 cases for sexual harassment, although he didn't face any consequences from the NFL throughout the duration of the investigation last season.
In addition, Watson sat out the entirety of last season, as he requested a trade from the Houston Texans during that offseason and hasn't changed his stance since, despite the Texans' unwillingness to trade him so far.
However, there finally might be a resolution to both of those problems, as a grand jury is expected to hear the evidence in Watson's case on Friday prior to meeting to consider charges.
Earlier this offseason, the date of a resolution was expected to be April 1st, per Watson's lawyer, but the earlier timeline may provide complications in the NFL trade market, as teams will know whether Watson faces felony criminal charges, or the expected misdemeanor charges, prior to free agency.
While Watson could face some punishment from the NFL, that isn't expected to hinder his trade market, which could significantly alter the value of other quarterbacks like San Francisco's Jimmy Garoppolo.
With Watson available, the Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers are expected to be contenders for the young star quarterback, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
However, the Commanders, who have been aggressive in their pursuit for a quarterback, and reportedly were willing to offer three first-round picks for Russell Wilson, could definitely fall in the mix of interested suitors, which could have significant implications for Jimmy Garoppolo.
Watson will certainly command a large package in return, especially after Russell Wilson returned two first-rounders, two-second rounders, a fifth-rounder, and three players for the Seattle Seahawks.
But, where does that leave Jimmy Garoppolo on the market?
If teams view Watson as their priority currently, which they should, Garoppolo's market may not formulate until a deal for Watson is completed, or until teams fall out of the race due to the price, which isn't beneficial for the 49ers, who prefer to move the veteran quarterback prior to free agency to create adequate cap space to execute their offseason plans.
However, teams like the Indianapolis Colts, who've already spent a first-round pick on a quarterback last offseason and prefer to build through the draft, still may show interest in Garoppolo, who certainly will cost less capital to acquire, while providing them with the leadership they desire at the position.
So, has the market for Garoppolo evaporated with the Watson news? Not necessarily. But, similar to Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson earlier this offseason, teams looking for a quarterback could view San Francisco's veteran as their "Plan B" with Watson on the market, meaning it could take more time for a Garoppolo trade to come to fruition.
In addition, Watson's availability will remove a potential suitor from the market, and should it be the Washington Commanders, the return for Garoppolo could diminish with less interested teams on the market.
Now, could teams elect to pass on Watson because of the uncertainty with how the NFL treats him following the investigation? Definitely, which is why the possibility of a trade over the next few days still exists.
Overall, there are multiple teams with strong rosters who need an upgrade at quarterback: the Colts, Commanders, Steelers, Panthers, Saints, and Buccaneers, to name a few. So, there should still be interest in the 49ers' veteran leader, but will it come prior to the beginning of the new league year? That's the question that remains unanswered.
