The Texans are not inclined to rush this high-profile, potential franchise-altering situation and could have Watson on their 53-man roster and inactive on gameday and pay him his $10.54 million salary as part of his $156 million contract.
The Texans aren’t interested in making conditional picks part of a potential trade for Watson. The reason other teams are broaching that idea is because of Watson’s unresolved legal situation as he’s still facing 22 civil lawsuits alleging sexual assault and/or sexual misconduct and 10 criminal complaints filed with the Houston Police Department. It may take as long as a few more months before a decision is made on whether a grand jury will or will not be presented a case with no decision reached yet on if an indictment will be sought.
Watson has not been charged with a crime and his attorney, Rusty Hardin, recently denied any wrongdoing on behalf of the NFL player. Hardin said that Watson has yet to speak to NFL investigators, including former Manhattan, N.Y. sex crimes prosecutor Lisa Friel, which is customary in personal-conduct policy investigations.
Watson would waive his no-trade clause for the Dolphins, according to multiple sources, just as he would have for the Carolina Panthers. However, the Panthers, per sources, are sticking with quarterback Sam Darnold at this time after acquiring him in a trade from the New York Jets. The Denver Broncos are sticking with quarterback Teddy Bridgewater.
And the Philadelphia Eagles, whose general manager Howie Roseman has conducted extensive due diligence into Watson’s complicated off-field situation, as have other NFL teams, aren’t one of the teams Watson would waive his no-trade clause for, according to league sources.
The Dolphins haven’t closed the door on potentially acquiring Watson, nor have they made a final decision on second-year quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who has made strides during the preseason. With the Dolphins not inclined to bid against themselves, any trade discussion has reached an impasse.
