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Texans 'unwilling' to discuss trading Deshaun Watson with teams?

By Zac Wassink | Last updated Feb 25, 2021 7:58 PM ET

Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson has made it quite clear to everyone, including new head coach David Culley, that he has zero intentions of ever again playing for the club and wishes to be traded this offseason.

Not only are the Texans planning on holding onto the 25-year-old signal-caller. Per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, Houston is "unwilling" to even discuss potential trades:

The #Texans remain unwilling to discuss QB Deshaun Watson with other teams, some of whom have resorted to leaving voicemails with trade offers, per sources.

Watson spoke briefly to coach David Culley recently, but the two still haven’t met in person. Houston not budging.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) February 25, 2021

The Texans have Watson signed through 2025 and will have the option of fining him each day he doesn't report for training camp sessions, practices, and, if it comes to it, preseason and regular-season games. Meanwhile, Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk noted that the Denver Broncos, Carolina Panthers, and Miami Dolphins have been mentioned among possible suitors for Watson.

The Seattle Seahawks have reportedly set the starting point for a price on quarterback Russell Wilson at three first-round draft picks. Houston could, and likely would, demand additional assets beyond three first-round selections because Watson is roughly seven years younger and already locked down on a contract.

Barring coronavirus-related setbacks, the NFL Draft will open April 29. That gives the Texans over two months to either complete a blockbuster and historic trade or convince Watson that his only options are to play for Houston in 2021, lose money while sitting out, or retire and walk away from millions of dollars.

Zac Wassink

Zac Wassink is a longtime sports news writer and PFWA member who began his career in 2006 and has had his work featured on Yardbarker, MSN, Yahoo Sports and Bleacher Report. He is also a football and futbol aficionado who is probably yelling about Tottenham Hotspur at the moment and who chanted for Matt Harvey to start the ninth inning of Game 5 of the 2015 World Series at Citi Field. You can find him on X at @ZacWassink

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