AFC South rumors: Texans, Watt, Colts

Although the breaking point for Deshaun Watson came when Texans did not keep up with their employees this season, shared the frustration of coaches and management after last year DeAndre Hopkins trade. Then GM Texans Bill O’Brien assured Watson that he will be kept up to date with overall decisions, according to Mike Sando, Aaron Reiss and Jason Jenks of The Athletic (a subscription required). Watson expressed these concerns following the exchange Hopkins also led to the ban clause in his Texans extension. However, the defender became even more disillusioned with the franchise as the regular season progressed. After the Texans’ losses piled up and Cal McNair fired O’Brien, Watson questioned the direction of the team, according to The Athletic. Shortly before Watson signed his extension, he said he “loves” McNairs, the organization and Houston. The Texans have insisted they are not interested in trading Watson, but several teams are interested. And three times Pro Bowler showed no indication that he would back down.

Here are the latest from AFC South:

• Watson’s longtime teammate, JJ Watt, has been on the market for a week. He has been connected to several teams, including The Titans. After GM Jon Robinson confirmed that the team has engaged in talks with Watt, Mike Vrabel – Watt’s former defensive coordinator in Houston – addressed the possibility of signing. “You mentioned JJ Watt and there will be other veteran players available and we’ll have discussions and we’ve had discussions about JJ Watt“Vrabel said during a call with season ticket holders. “… There are a lot of things that involve bringing in free agents, certainly those who have passed 30 years or in the back half of their career. “Vrabel was the coach of the Texans’ defenders from 2014-16 and DC in 2017. The Titans signed the ex-Vrabel indictment Jadeveon Clowney last year, but he is on his way to a free agency. And the Tennessee crossing race remains in need of consolidation.
• Although Matthew Stafford saw the Colts as a possibility during his time in the commercial block, Indianapolis did not offer the first-round pick for the 12-year-old Detroit starter. Washington and Carolina offered exchanges in the first round and while the Rams won with their monster proposal. The Colts, however, were a little worried about the level of play of the 33-year-old defender and if he would get to deserve a big commercial package, notes Stephen Holder from The Athletic. Frank Reichhistory with Carson Wentz has undoubtedly played a key role in the Colts, taking a bet on the Eagles starter for a long time, and the team ended up keeping its first-round and second-round picks in 2021, doing so.
• Texans hires the former Lions character coach Dylan Thompson for a similar role, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle tweets. Former UDFA defender who has moved to an off-field NFL role, Thompson is a friend of Texan executive vice president Jack Easterby, notes Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk. His relationship with Easterby helped him get a job in Detroit and previously with the Charleston Southern basketball program.