Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

New coach David Culley hints Texans will trade Deshaun Watson?

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 3/11/21

Weeks ago, the Houston Texans were reportedly so set on not trading quarterback Deshaun Watson this offseason that they were "unwilling" to even discuss potential transactions.

According to NFL Media's Jim Trotter, Houston head coach David Culley suggested on the "Huddle & Flow" podcast that's no longer the case.

Culley when asked if Watson will be their starting QB in Week 1 of the 2021 season: "He is our starting quarterback right now. He is our starting quarterback. Things happen between now and then. We'll see what happens."
— Jim Trotter (@JimTrotter_NFL) March 11, 2021

Watson is 25 years old and signed through 2025, meaning his only real option to force Houston's hand would be to threaten to hold out and risk losing millions upon millions of dollars in contract earnings. However, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reported on Wednesday that the Chicago Bears may be willing to part with "a boatload of picks" for either Watson or unsettled Seattle Seahawks signal-caller Russell Wilson.

Houston is rebuilding and isn't a franchise quarterback away from winning the Super Bowl at any point in the next few years, regardless of how good that player may be. If a "boatload" of picks contains a package that includes three first-round draft selections, Culley may request that the Texans make the deal so he doesn't have to worry about handling an unhappy offensive leader and CEO.

More must-reads: