The Deshaun Watson Rumors Officially Begin for Vikings
This tweet changed the course of the offseason rumor mill for the Minnesota Vikings.
During this offseason, quarterbacks like Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson, Kyler Murray, Kirk Cousins, Carson Wentz, Matt Ryan, and of course, Watson could all be on the move. That is an unusually large list of names.
General managers increasingly emphasize the quarterback position, more willing to jettison their man if the team is heading nowhere or wading in mediocrity. Ergo, teams that had a sturdy plan one year ago – the Carolina Panthers and Indianapolis Colts, for example – are willing to change course after one-year experiments.
But Watson is a different conundrum.
He’s embattled in legal turmoil, accused of sexual misconduct by 20+ massage therapists. When 20 humans collectively assert something, fire usually accompanies the smoke. And the legal proceedings cannot begin full adjudication until February 22nd.
So the Vikings – and other QB-curious franchises – must balance Watson the player and Watson the accused. When Watson actually plays – he did not in 2021, trapped in awkward limbo because of his trade request and legal tomfoolery – he’s a Top 5 quarterback. Period. End of debate.
Watson is dynamic, mobile, fast, rocket-armed, and prolific. Yet, none of that matters if his career derails because of off-the-field scandals.
What’s notable about the Fowler tweet? Well, this is the first time Watson has been credibly linked to the Vikings. Before Wednesday, Watson-to-Minnesota was always spitballing by fans. The Fowler tweet makes the trade scenario semi-real.
Watson would thrive in an offense with Dalvin Cook, Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen, and Irv Smith Jr, led by new offense-first coach Kevin O’Connell. It is a foregone conclusion on that front.
Fowler explained further the Watson-Vikings possibilities:
“The Vikings have intriguing young pieces in Justin Jefferson and Dalvin Cook, and they face a decision on the contract of Kirk Cousins, a 2023 free agent who has a $45 million cap hit in 2022. New coach Kevin O’Connell, however, conveyed a strong belief in Cousins during his interview process with Minnesota, relaying a vision for maximizing his skill set. The 26-year-old Watson first requested a trade in January 2021 because of issues with the Houston franchise. He has four years left on a deal that pays $35 million in base salary in 2022. The Houston Police Department is investigating complaints against Watson by 10 women. Depositions have begun, but Watson cannot be deposed before Feb. 22.”
Jeremy Fowler | ESPN
If there were no nasty allegations – and Watson still straddled his trade request, which seems to be the case – yes, a Watson-for-Cousins trade truly tracks. But with the Vikings prioritizing culture – mixed in with new, bright minds like Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Kevin O’Connell – it is severely unlikely the team takes a gamble on Watson.
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Most of the reservations on the idea are moral optics. Mark and Zygi Wilf don’t have a reputation for betting on alleged bad boys. They want to win a Super Bowl with culture – and sexual assault allegations aren’t conducive to culture.
A legally-cleared Waston landing in Minnesota is fun to brainstorm, but it is a longshot.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sally from Minneapolis. His Viking fandom dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).
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