Seahawks, Panthers, Commanders linked to Texans' Deshaun Watson

The Seattle Seahawks are seemingly blowing things up by sending one-time Super Bowl champion quarterback Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos and parting ways with All-Pro linebacker Bobby Wagner. 

Seattle may already be considering flipping their to-be acquired assets via the blockbuster trade with Denver for a different star signal-caller. 

Aaron Wilson of Pro Football Network reports the Seahawks are "interested" in Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson, who is still facing 22 lawsuits alleging acts of sexual assault and misconduct and 10 criminal complaints, and who didn't play during the 2021 NFL campaign following his offseason trade request. 

A grand jury will hear evidence Friday regarding Watson's criminal situation, and he will also sit for depositions in some of the civil cases that same day. It was reported last week clubs haven't "shown any urgency to pursue a trade" for Watson with his legal matters still unresolved, but that could change if the 26-year-old is not indicted after the grand jury finishes its investigation that is scheduled to end by or on April 1.

Along with the Seahawks, the PFN report linked the Carolina Panthers and Washington Commanders with Watson. Carolina is looking for upgrades over the likes of Sam Darnold and Cam Newton, and the Commanders reportedly missed out on Wilson after they failed to land Matthew Stafford from the Detroit Lions last winter. 

Watson has a no-trade clause attached to his contract and must sign-off on any deal assuming he avoids criminal charges and also a lengthy suspension potentially handed down by the NFL at some point this year. As for other would-be buyers, the Miami Dolphins, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Arizona Cardinals, Cleveland Browns, and, most recently, the Broncos and Green Bay Packers are all presumably out of the Watson sweepstakes. Aaron Rodgers committed to returning to the Packers on Tuesday. 

Houston is believed to want a package that includes three first-round picks and between five and seven total assets in a trade for Watson this spring or summer.