The Houston Texans took the field Sunday with Tyrod Taylor as the starting quarterback, with Deshaun Watson in exile.
It appears that will be the case all season, especially if the legal situation surrounding Watson takes time to figure out.
The only way he could take the field is if the Texans miraculously find a trade partner.
But a steep asking price will only make negotiations more difficult.
A report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter revealed the Texans are asking for a package of six individuals, with both players and draft picks involved.
Yet the obvious problem is that teams won’t want to trade top picks if Watson could ultimately end up suspended or even in jail.
There are just too many uncertainties surrounding him right now, making a trade all but impossible.
A Holding Pattern
The Texans want to swindle a team in any Watson trade.
They aren’t playing him, but want to leverage his talent as a way to improve their own team by also ridding themselves of his contract and newly found bad reputation.
However, no NFL GM is going to make the trade without attaching rules to the picks that would protect the team in the case Watson is not able to play.
So what will the Texans do?
While cutting him could get him off the team for good, the team seems content with keeping him around, paying him, and hoping for the best.
They would rather just pay him, avoid a giant lump sum payment, and push the problem to tomorrow until the league gets word on his legal status.
Watson not wanting to remain with the team is another layer to this already bizarre situation.
The good news for Texans fans?
As of this article being written, the team is blowing out the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 1.
So at least there is a positive to start the year.
A Trade Not Worth It
Any NFL team that makes such a trade for Watson may face a fan revolt.
Taking on his massive contract would be a delusional move until there is true clarity regarding his situation.
This is the Texans’ problem to deal with and no team can take that on.
But if Watson is cleared, it would appear the Texans are more than happy to move on from him.
That is when a six-player trade package can become a reality.
Until then?
It’s Tyrod time in Houston.
More must-reads: