The Atlanta Falcons has emerged as a team to pursue Houston Texas midfielder Deshaun WatsonLeague sources told ESPN.
The Falcons participate Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints and Cleveland Browns as groups that have met with or are interested in trading for Watson.
“All options are open, but it won’t be easy,” a Falcons source said of a potential Watson acquisition.
Another source described the Falcons as a “long shot” to land Watson. However, the team has yet to meet Watson but there may be an opportunity to convince him in person.
The Falcons have committed to the veteran quarterback Matt Ryan, but owner Arthur Blank talked about eventually finding a successor and resetting the future of the franchise. That task has been delegated to sophomore general manager Terry Fontenot and head coach Arthur Smith. But a source said Blank liked Watson from the days when the former Gainesville (Georgia) High quarterback worked for years as a Falcons ball boy and developed a relationship with the Blank family. Atlanta assistant TJ Yates also has a connection to Watson, as Yates was an assistant quarterback coach in Houston.
The Falcons are said to have Restructure Ryan’s contract – cut his salary cap for this year from $48.7 million to $36.7 million. However, there is no formal agreement yet and nothing has been passed on to the NFL. If the Falcons trade Ryan after June 1, they could free up $8.75 million worth of salary cap space. According to sources, if Atlanta acquires Watson, it could seek to deport Ryan, who has a prohibition clause.
Watson has met with other teams and is said to have been impressed with the Panthers, Saints and Browns. Every group that discussed with Watson was also negotiating with the Texans. Confederation sources say the trade settlement will not hold any potential deals, as the parameters of any transaction involving the quarterback have been put in place, union sources said.
The final piece of any potential trade would be Watson agreeing to waive his trading ban clause so he could be assigned to another team and continue his NFL career. Watson did not compete last season after asking for an off-season trade and the appearance of 22 lawsuits against Watson alleging sexual assault and inappropriate behavior during massage sessions. A grand jury in Texas on Friday declined to pursue criminal charges against Watson.
