Deshaun Watson cleared: 3 teams that will make the call

The Pittsburgh Steelers need a new quarterback after Ben Roethlisberger retired

Let’s be real. This could be the beginning of a very dark time in Pittsburgh Steelers football. They have no succession plan at quarterback, as Ben Roethlisberger called it a career after this season. Though the Steelers cold trot out there Mason Rudolph or Dwayne Haskins, that means they will probably finish in last place in the AFC North. Mike Tomlin could also suffer his first losing season.

This comes down to how important winning is in Pittsburgh. By trading for Watson, the Steelers may contend for Super Bowls almost immediately. Of course, they will have to deal with the backlash that comes from trading for such a controversial player. Then again, Roethlisberger was not a saint to begin with. Since Pittsburgh is not ready to rebuild, the Steelers could strike a deal.

Drafting Pitt star Kenny Pickett is an option the Steelers need to think very long and hard about.

Deshaun Watson could have a baked-in fanbase within the Carolina Panthers’

The team most desperate to trade for Watson has to be the Carolina Panthers. After back-to-back five-win seasons, new owner David Tepper may bite the PR bullet and go for broke. Carolina plays in a very winnable NFC South division, but Sam Darnold is too erratic to be trusted. Keep in mind Watson played his college ball at nearby Clemson. He is also a Gainesville, Georgia native.

While Tepper was able to buy the Panthers because previous owner Jerry Richardson had skeletons in his closet that came to light, he is a hedge-fund manager at his core. It is about making bold decisions against the grain to win, and win big. Trading for Watson will make the Panthers interesting. However, they will have a target on their back after pulling the trigger here.

This ultimately comes down to if Tepper wants to go full heel turn to become a villain or not.