5 teams who should make a trade for Deshaun Watson

The Broncos have been a prominently rumored suitor for both Watson and Aaron Rodgers. They may even be a team both want to go to. With a roster that looks good beyond the quarterback position, an opportunity to upgrade over the mediocre Teddy Bridgewater or the unpredictable Drew Lock is surely on the radar. If there’s a way they’d tilt between Watson and Rodgers, if both were available of course, Watson being nearly 12 years younger is a likely point toward him as a long-term plan at the most important position on the field.

Denver would surely send either Bridgewater or Lock to Houston in a deal for Watson. Whoever was left would provide a backup option, when/if Watson faces discipline from the league for a chunk of games this season (or the entire season?).

All that gives general manager George Paton a solid position to deal from, knowing he’d have a way to mitigate the risk once the league office decides what it’s going to do with Watson. The worst-case scenario where he’s not available for the entire season would not not be a death knell for the Broncos in 2021, since they’ve have someone in place who can play that they won’t have to give up to get him.

The Broncos could trade for Watson with an eye on 2022 more than ’21. What that would mean  in terms of what they’d offer isn’t necessarily clear, beyond one of their current competing quarterbacks and a couple draft picks. If not for the Rodgers speculation that probably still isn’t going away despite Monday’s report he plans to play for the Packers this season, Denver would be higher on this list of players for Watson.