Deshaun Watson should request a trade to these 5 teams

2. San Francisco 49ers

Imagine this. Watson, with a nearly unrivaled skill set as a runner and a passer, in a Kyle Shanahan-designed offense. Shanahan has routinely maximized mediocre (or worse) quarterbacks in San Francisco as the head coach, and elsewhere when he was an offensive coordinator. Matt Ryan had an MVP season in 2016 with Shanahan calling the plays.

Shanahan may strongly believe his system can elevate a quarterback within its (however limited it looks) structure, and the evidence suggests it can. But his increasingly tepid comments about Jimmy Garoppolo can be interpreted as yearning for better, and general manager John Lynch may accommodate that desire.

Big moves haven’t always come to fruition, but Lynch’s aggressiveness has been notable. This is where I remind you how easy it is for the 49ers to move on from Garoppolo this offseason, with just a $2.8 million dead money charge and $23.6 million in cleared cap space if they trade or cut him.

It would probably take the No. 12 pick in April’s draft, and another pick or two, for the 49ers to get Watson. Maybe the Texans would take Garoppolo, with the even easier out in his contract for 2022 in mind. In any case, the 49ers should willingly part with whatever it takes to get him and Watson should see an appealing destination.