Panthers met with Deshaun Watson in Houston on Monday. Here’s how it went
The Panthers were one of two teams that flew to Houston to meet with quarterback Deshaun Watson on Monday.
The general feeling within the organization, according to a source with direct knowledge of the situation, was that the meeting was a “great” one.
“That being said, it’s still in his hands, as well as the Texans,” the source told The Observer.
One of the biggest factors involved in the trade is Watson’s no-trade clause. He would have to approve any trade the Texans make.
But the fact that he would meet with team officials signals he’s interested.
The Panthers have made a strong push for the 26-year-old in the past few days as they try to pursue their quarterback of the future. Last year, they hired his former quarterbacks coach Sean Ryan.
On Monday, the Panthers agreed to terms with former Rams offensive guard Austin Corbett, according to a source with direct knowledge. They plan to continue to improve the offensive line, which was a weakness during the 2021 season.
The Panthers also have two of the top weapons in the league in running back Christian McCaffrey and wide receiver DJ Moore.
A grand jury in Harris County Texas declined to indict Watson on criminal charges Friday, opening up interest from teams around the league.
He’s still dealing with 22 civil cases with massage therapists, who have accused him of sexual assault and sexual misconduct. He’s scheduled to speak for a deposition on Tuesday.
His attorney, Rusty Hardin, told The Observer last week that his client is innocent.
“This is a really neat kid,” Hardin said. “I think he’s one of the top two or three quarterbacks in the world. He’s a really, really neat human being. And he probably showed bad judgment, maybe by getting involved with all these women, but he didn’t do anything wrong.”
Watson could still be suspended by the league if it finds he violated the NFL’s personal conduct policy.
The Panthers organization has done extensive research on Watson, talking to a number of people about Watson’s character, and felt comfortable enough to move forward, especially when the grand jury declined to indict him on the criminal charges.
Other teams reportedly in the running for Watson are the New Orleans Saints, the Atlanta Falcons and the Cleveland Browns.
Both the Saints, who finished 9-8, and Browns, who finished 8-9, had more success last season than the Panthers (5-12), which could play a part in his decision.
A trade for the quarterback is expected to cost at least three first-round draft picks, a young player on a rookie contract and more.
A deal could happen sometime this week.
Two sources previously said no player is off limits to be part of a deal. However, the Panthers would be less likely to trade away McCaffrey or cornerback Jaycee Horn.
The Panthers feel it’ll be worth the price trading for one of the top quarterback in the league. The feeling around the organization is that they won’t be able to win until they get their quarterback.
Watson is only 26 years old, and could play at a high level for at least 10 more seasons.
This story was originally published March 15, 2022 at 9:39 AM.
