The 49ers are finally working on the Deshaun Watson business conversation after most of the early discussions from national reporters revolved around the Dolphins and Jets. Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reported San Francisco is one of the teams that Watson found interesting.
This does not necessarily mean that a transaction is imminent, and the Texans are firmly committed to letting Watson stay all season hoping to finally save his relationship with the franchisee caller.
What could result is a long confrontation between the two sides that lasts all season. If they decide to leave Watson, Peter King, in his column Football Morning in America, mentioned that it could happen by September. This would be a scenario in which Houston exhausts all avenues before giving up.
Let’s go to a world where this is happening and Houston, in early September, starts sending calls about QB.
Although Watson would put him behind the curve with his new club to the point where he may not be able to start the season, he could facilitate a strong commercial package for San Francisco to pull the trigger.
Assuming it includes at least three first-round picks, there is a high probability that these picks will be all late selections, given what Watson would do for head coach Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers offense. It would also be number 12 this year on the list and should not be included in that group of elections.
It would also make a team like the Jets or Dolphins less attractive business partners, as they would no longer have a second and third selection in this year’s project – one of the key reasons they were named as possible candidates for trade.
The long wait would also be easier because of the 49ers’ desire to stay with Jimmy Garoppolo. He is not the ideal defender, but also do not want to break up with him. If they have to sit on their hands while waiting for Watson to be available, they can do so knowing that they have a signal caller with whom they feel comfortable if a transaction is never made.
A name like Watson, who even gets whispers on the commercial market, will make him a story until he moves back to Houston or is finally moved. It looks like it could be a long wait for a possible transaction, but San Francisco is in a good position to wait, and Watson is a potential business target worth waiting for.