4 reasons why the Texans aren’t trading QB Deshaun Watson

The Houston Texans are grist for the rumor mill, and the latest rumor is that the club could trade a disgruntled Deshaun Watson.

Because there is no better way to improve as an organization than to trade your franchise quarterback. If the 1990s Buffalo Bills would have done this with Jim Kelly, maybe they would have won a Super Bowl; it’s the only way forward.

Here are four reasons why the three-time Pro Bowler isn’t going anywhere.

1. There is a no-trade clause in his contract

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Watson's contract extension signed in September of 2020 has a no-trade clause built into it. The Texans can't just trade him because he's mad. It probably was a nice protection to have anyway considering Bill O'Brien was the general manager at the time the contract was signed.

2. Losing Watson makes QB an unknown again

(AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Remember the good ol' days between Matt Schaub and Deshaun Watson? Remember how the Texans even threw money at the problem by signing Brock Osweiler, but just nothing would pan out? Getting rid of Watson would be a return to that quarterback insecurity. Even if the Texans traded Watson to the Jacksonville Jaguars and took Trevor Lawrence, he would have to pass through the same trials Watson has already gone through to be a franchise quarterback. What if the new guy gets injured and it hurts his development? What if he just plain can't adapt to the pro level?

3. Trading Watson is throwing up the white flag

(Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle via AP, Pool)

Everybody in the locker room loves Watson. By getting rid of the face of the franchise, it wouldn't instill much loyalty to the new regime. It would also signal that whoever stayed with the team was part of a massive rebuild. Ask Takeo Spikes and Brandon Marshall what it's like to spend your whole career chasing one lousy playoff berth.

4. The new coach would have to be worse than Adam Gase

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Imagine a coach taking the Texans job knowing that Watson will be traded. Or imagine a coach who won't take the Texans job unless Watson is traded. Those are the two scenarios that would be present for any coach taking the Texans job, if the Watson trade rumors have any merit. The conclusion that would have to be made is that the new coach replacing Bill O'Brien is already worse than Gase.