Yahoo Sports Jon Gruden doesn't see Texans trading Deshaun Watson: 'I personally look at this like a fantasy world'
The Houston Texans aren’t going to trade Deshaun Watson — at least, that’s what Las Vegas Raiders coach Jon Gruden says.
Gruden, speaking with NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” commentator Cris Collinsworth and San Francisco 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman on their podcast on Tuesday, doesn’t believe the Texans will follow through and grant Watson his trade request.
“I personally look at this like a fantasy world here,” Gruden said on the podcast. “They have a new [general manager in Nick Caserio] in Houston who comes from New England who just went through a year in New England without Tom Brady. I think he has a pretty good idea how important Deshaun Watson is to the Texans.
“I don’t think there is any way in the world they trade Deshaun Watson. And if they did, the compensation is going to be kind of like … they’d have to give up seven No. 1 [draft picks]. They’ll never draft again.”
Gruden: Watson will be a ‘great quarterback for a long time in Houston’
Watson asked for a trade last month after he reportedly grew frustrated with how the Texans searched for and hired Caserio and new coach David Culley without his input, and when they traded star receiver DeAndre Hopkins away last offseason.
Yet Watson signed a massive four-year, $156 million extension in September, and is coming off a career season in which he racked up 4,823 yards and threw 33 touchdowns.
Both Caserio and Culley have made it clear they want Watson to play for them next season, too, and the team reportedly has a very hefty price tag on any potential trade.
While the two sides in a standoff now, Gruden says it’s a matter of only time before they reconcile.
“I just think there’s a lot going on,” Gruden said on the podcast. “Deshaun’s a great player, he’s a great kid, and I’m sure he’s very emotional right now for a number of reasons on and off the field. I’ve got a lot of confidence in him that he’s going to be a great quarterback for a long time in Houston. He already signed that contract, and he’ll be a big part of that rebuild.”
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