There Is Now a Path for Deshaun Watson to Join the Vikings
Deshaun Watson was cleared of all criminal wrongdoing on Friday, removing a significant hurdle for the Houston Texans quarterback to resume his career in the NFL.
Watson must still find resolution to the civil proceedings against him, facing 22 complaints of sexual misconduct from various massage therapists in Texas.
Before Friday, it was unclear if Watson would play in the NFL again. Any criminal merit to the allegations would make his path back to professional football a severely uphill climb. But the lack of criminal wrongdoing is a colossal domino in favor of Watson playing again — as soon as this September.
NFL teams will do the diligence — they’re likely already underway before Friday’s determination — on the civil nature of Watson’s alleged offenses. If franchises find those details akin to the news today in Houston, Watson will be traded for a large trade package.
And because the Vikings have not yet struck a contract extension with Kirk Cousins, the team’s current QB1, he could be on Minnesota’s radar. Darren Wolfson from KTSP claimed members of the Vikings organization are interested in Watson if he was absolved of wrongdoing as was criminally the case on Friday:
Watson would be expensive — per contractual value and trade capital — but at age 26 and stature as a Top 5 quarterback in the business, the Clemson alumnus would be well worth it if the Vikings find the accusations against him erroneous.
Right after the Super Bowl — even before Watson was criminally cleared today — ESPN credibly linked Watson to the Vikings, per Jeremy Fowler. Watson was also rumored as a future QB1 of the Tampa Bay Buccanneers, who need a quarterback as well.
And in January, NFL and NBA insider Jordan Schultz hinted at Watson-to-Vikings when the topic was still taboo.
Furthermore, this would be the cap-hit price tag if the Vikings could swing the deal with the Texans:
2022: $35 million cap hit
2023: $37 million cap hit
2024: $32 million cap hit
2025: $$32 million caps hit
While Watson will command a larger contract down the road, these amounts are similar to Cousins’ cap hit in the last few years, per average annual cap hit.
Seven other teams need a quarterback as free agency approaches: the Buccaneers, Colts, Panthers, Saints, Seahawks, Steelers, and Texans — so it’s not like Watson joining Minnesota is a foregone conclusion.
[brid autoplay=”true” video=”971044″ player=”26279″ title=”WATCH%204%20Adam%20Thielen%20trade%20scenarios%20during%20NFL%20offseason” duration=”93″ description=”Two-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Adam Thielen could be on the move here soon. With Minnesota in salary cap hell, first-year general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is attempting to walk a tight rope.Reportedly, that could include selling off veterans such as Thielen in salary dumps — acquiring very little in return.” uploaddate=”2022-03-11″ thumbnailurl=”https://cdn.brid.tv/live/partners/17660/snapshot/970854_s_1647010335122.png” contentUrl=”https://cdn.brid.tv/live/partners/17660/streaming/970854/970854.m3u8″]
But perhaps this is why the Vikings have made no cap-clearing moves to date, with the March 16th deadline for cap compliance nearing. There’s a reasonable chance they’re monitoring Watson’s availability.
Yesterday, a player the Vikings released because of alleged criminal behavior, Jeff Gladney, was found not guilty in — you guessed it — the state of Texas. Although his return to the Vikings is improbable, he can rejoin the NFL, too.
“Legal tampering” in free agency begins on Monday.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. His YouTube Channel, VikesNow, debuts in March 2022. 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).
Vikings Territory Also Read: Bears Claim Vikings Surprise Cut
You must be logged in to post a comment.