There remains great uncertainty about which teams are interested in Deshaun Watson, and which will pursue him most aggressively. There is little doubt, however, that the Carolina Panthers are going to fit in both categories.
The Panthers are set to make an “aggressive” trade offer for Watson once the Houston Texans quarterback signals his willingness to waive his no-trade clause to play there, according to David Newton of ESPN. There is not expected to be any issue with Watson waiving the clause.
There is no clarity on what Carolina’s aggressive offer would contain. The Panthers do have the No. 6 pick in the NFL Draft, which would figure to be a prominent piece. Newton reported that the Panthers believe they can make a substantial offer without completely mortgaging their future.
The Panthers will not have a clear route to landing Watson. Another NFC team looks likely to be involved in trade discussions, and others will be sniffing around as well. Carolina will have to put together a very strong offer to convince the Texans.
Photo: Jan 27, 2019; Orlando, FL, USA; AFC quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) in the NFL Pro Bowl football game at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
