Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson hopes to be traded soon. Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Deshaun Watson to meet with multiple teams as trade talks intensify

By Chelena Goldman | Last updated 3/14/22

Deshaun Watson is inching closer to his departure from the Houston Texans and is planning to meet with the Carolina Panthers and the New Orleans Saints within the next 48 hours, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Monday.

Texans’ QB Deshaun Watson is expected to meet in the next 48 hours with the Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints, amongst other teams, per league sources. Watson wants to meet with them just as they want to meet with him before trade talks ramp up.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 14, 2022

ProFootball Talk indicated Watson may also meet with other teams, but the two NFC South clubs appear to be his top picks.

According to Schefter, Watson wants to meet with any and all prospective teams before any trade talk gets underway.

Talk of a trade has picked up steam since last Friday when a grand jury did not indict the three-time Pro Bowler on criminal charges stemming from sexual misconduct allegations made by numerous women. NFL.com noted Watson still faces 22 civil lawsuits in conjunction with the allegations, and the league could still impose punishment on him. However, the absence of criminal charges has resuscitated interest in the three-time Pro Bowl QB.

Watson originally asked to be traded from Houston in January 2021, but teams stopped pursuing him when his legal woes became public. The 12th overall pick from the 2017 NFL Draft sat out the entire 2021 campaign in part because of the allegations against him.

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