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Watson Wise?

 

Joe Banner, a man with perhaps more inside knowledge on the Eagles ’s than anyone outside the organization, published an  article on the 33rd team indicating the good chance DeSean Watson would be pursued by Philadelphia.  Yesterday, a grand jury did NOT indict Watson on criminal charges associated with sexual assault and harassment.  Watson will continue to face civil charges, but the results have appeared to spur trade interest.   His football value is uncontested, his final season on a bad team in Houston was good for the 17 game equivalent of 5000+ passing yards, a 70+ % completion percentage, 35 TD’s and 7 interceptions. 

Acquiring Watson will be a headache for his new club, given the anticipated backlash and controversy around his alleged activity.  He will carry about a 35M cap hit thru and including 2025.  His trade request came BEFORE the allegations were revealed… Watson supposedly wanted greater input on coaching and GM decisions.  While his statistics and performance were magnificent in 2020, his team (and therefore he) won only 4 games. 

But the talented 26 year old carries “top 5” QB capability.  If due diligence suggests he is deserving of a second chance like Michael Vick was (it has been reported some of the Watson allegations have been made by women posting on Social Media about their pending pay day, women who have provided similar “services” to other men without suing them… Increasingly bad optics are materializing for those who have gone after Watson), DeSean Watson should be pursued by the Eagles.  Using the Russell Wilson trade as a barometer, a fair package would be 3 good players (Hurts, Fletcher Cox and Isaac Seumalo), two first round picks and two fifth round picks. A bidding war could make costs escalating beyond that prohibitive, but getting a HUMBLED Watson ready to prove he is morally worthy of the opportunity at a fair cost would be a coup. 

Eagles Lessons: The primary goal for any NFL team should be to win.  This is most easily implemented with a top notch QB, which attracts other talent (while, conversely, talent will frequently not choose a destination bereft a top QB).  If DeSean Watson is not or cannot be the guy this off season, the Eagles will need to move some of their assets forward as a hedge in case Jalen Hurts is not the answer.

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