Houston Texans

The Miami Dolphins are still seen as the "most aggressive suitor" for Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson ahead of the 2021 NFL trade deadline.

Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reported the Texans are hopeful to have a deal in place for Watson and several other veteran players before the Nov. 2 deadline.

Jay Glazer of Fox Sports reported the Dolphins are "very heavily engaged" in talks, though the Texans have not moved off their asking price of three first-round picks.

Watson has not played this season because of ongoing sexual assault allegations. He currently faces 22 lawsuits alleging sexual assault and misconduct. Houston police and the NFL are also investigating the claims.

The Dolphins have been regularly mentioned as the top suitor for Watson despite both the civil lawsuits and criminal investigations continuing. Dolphins head coach Brian Flores addressed the rumors this week, throwing his support behind Tua Tagovailoa.

"I don't really get into rumors. Tua is our quarterback," Flores told reporters Friday. "I'm happy with our quarterback situation, and I will leave it at that."

There is no guarantee Watson would be eligible to play immediately if he's traded. The NFL could place him on the Commissioner's Exempt list, a move it has thus far avoided because of the Texans not having any plans on playing Watson. While no criminal charges have been filed, the optics of having someone accused of serial sexual assault on the field might force the NFL's hand.

Teams have thus far been hesitant to make a trade for Watson because of his uncertain playing status. Even in the event he's cleared of criminal wrongdoing, it's likely the NFL will hand out some level of punishment under its personal conduct policy, which does not require a criminal charge or conviction. That punishment will almost certainly wait until next season, at which point Watson's criminal and civil cases will likely be decided.

Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores talked up quarterback Tua Tagovailoa on Friday despite rumors that the Dolphins are interested in acquiring Deshaun Watson from the Houston Texans.

According to David Furones of the Sun Sentinel, Flores said: "I don't really get into rumors. Tua's our quarterback. We're happy with our quarterback."

Per Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald, Flores also expressed his belief that Tua is smart, tough, talented and accurate before adding: "I think he definitely has the opportunity to be a very good player."

John McClain of the Houston Chronicle reported Wednesday that talks between the Dolphins and Texans regarding a trade for Watson have "intensified" recently, leading to the belief that a trade could be finalized by the end of the week or by the Nov. 2 trade deadline.

Miami has been linked to Watson since the offseason, but he remained with Houston entering the 2021 season.

Watson has been a healthy scratch throughout the season thus far for multiple reasons, Along with his desire to be traded, Watson is facing 22 civil lawsuits and at least 10 criminal complaints—including two complaints from women who haven't filed lawsuits—related to allegations of sexual misconduct or sexual assault against female massage therapists.

The NFL has not yet taken any action, but Watson could face a lengthy suspension once the legal situation is concluded. However, he will not be deposed until February, meaning there is a possibility he could play for this season.

The possibility of jail time on top of the potential suspension makes trading for him a highly risky endeavor, however.

Miami is in dire straits after starting the season 1-5 amid high expectations to reach the playoffs.

The Dolphins selected Tagovailoa with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft, and after entering the season with veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick as the starter, Flores eventually turned to Tua.

He did some good things during his debut season, going 6-3 as a starter and completing 64.1 percent of his passes for 1,814 yards, 11 touchdowns and five interceptions, plus three rushing scores.

Miami went 10-6 overall and fell just one win short of the playoffs, which meant the next logical step was to reach the postseason.

The Dolphins are well off the pace in that regard, though, and Tua's play has undoubtedly contributed to the team's failures.

Tagovailoa missed three entire games and most of a fourth because of a rib injury, but he has largely struggled even when healthy, completing 64.1 percent of his attempts for 544 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions to go along with one rushing touchdown.

The panic button may have officially been pressed last week when the Dolphins fell 23-20 to the Jacksonville Jaguars on a last-second field goal in London.

That marked the Jags' first win of the season and dropped Miami to 1-5, which is tied for the worst record in the AFC.

The 26-year-old Watson is a proven commodity with three Pro Bowl nods and two playoff appearances in four NFL seasons. He is also coming off a highly productive 2020 campaign in which he completed 70.2 percent of his throws for a league-high 4,823 yards, as well as a career-high 33 touchdowns and career-low seven interceptions.

There is little doubt that Watson would be an upgrade over Tua, but the questions over his future availability are likely the biggest impediment to a deal getting done.

J.J. Watt is a member of the Arizona Cardinals now, but he will surely be synonymous with the Houston Texans for the foreseeable future after he spent 10 seasons as the face of the franchise.

Houston is not the playoff contender it was multiple times during Watt's tenure and is off to a 1-5 start this season. The pass-rusher said he hopes things eventually turn around for Houston as he prepares to take on his former team Sunday, per Josh Weinfuss of ESPN:

That's why it hurts me to see where it is now, because I believe those fans deserve to be living those high times and to be experiencing those great moments and it hurts to know that they're not, and to know that they're struggling. So, I hope that they get back there at some point and I hope that they get to do that because I know firsthand it's an unbelievable place to play when you're rolling.

Weinfuss noted Watt said a primary reason he asked for his release from the Texans this offseason was because he expected plenty of roster turnover. That is also impacting his mindset ahead of Sunday's contest.

"So, it's not like, I'm like, 'Oh, I want to go and beat my old team' or 'Oh, I can't wait to face this guy,' because it's not the same team," he said. "It's not the same organization that I remember and that I was a part of."

Watt built a Hall of Fame-caliber resume during his time with the Texans.

He was a three-time Defensive Player of the Year, five-time All-Pro selection and five-time Pro Bowler who led the league in sacks in 2012 and 2015. He helped lead Houston to six division titles during his tenure, although it never made it past the AFC Divisional Round.

The Texans feel far away from making the playoffs six times in a 10-year span.

Not only are they 1-5, but they have lost the five games by a combined 96 points and are arguably the worst team in the league. Things probably won't get much better in the immediate future either with matchups against the Cardinals and Los Angeles Rams in the next two weeks.

Arizona is in a much different position with Watt as the league's only undefeated team at 6-0.

The 32-year-old has 15 tackles, one sack and one forced fumble through the first six games.        

The Carolina Panthers reportedly are "not in the mix" for Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson, according to Joseph Person of The Athletic.

Watson has been on the trade block since early in the offseason and the Miami Dolphins could reportedly get a deal done this week, per John McClain of the Houston Chronicle. Jeff Howe and Aaron Reiss of The Athletic later reported the Panthers and Philadelphia Eagles were among other teams to discuss a potential trade.

Panthers coach Matt Rhule shut down those rumors Thursday while defending current starter Sam Darnold.

"I believe Sam is going to be a great quarterback for the Carolina Panthers," Rhule told reporters. "I haven't done any work on anybody else. I'm bought in on Sam."

Person reported the Panthers did have talks with the Texans about Watson, although the discussions were "not considered substantial."

Carolina acquired Darnold in an offseason trade with the New York Jets, but the 2018 No. 3 overall draft pick has been up-and-down so far in 2021. The quarterback had three passing touchdowns, three rushing touchdowns and just one interception during the team's 3-0 start, but he has thrown six interceptions to four passing touchdowns over the current 0-3 slide.

The Panthers have one of the top defenses in the NFL this season, currently ranked sixth in points allowed and third in yards allowed, but the quarterback play has held the team back.

Watson could be an upgrade as a three-time Pro Bowler through four NFL seasons. The 26-year-old led the NFL with 4,823 passing yards in 2020, adding 33 touchdowns with only seven interceptions.

However, the Texans star has been inactive to start the 2021 season following 22 lawsuits and 10 criminal complaints from women accusing him of sexual assault or misconduct. The NFL is also investigating the allegations, and Watson could be placed on the commissioner's exempt list if a team that trades for him wants to play him. He could also be suspended under the league's personal conduct policy when the NFL completes its investigation. 

The Houston Texans have reportedly had trade talks with the Philadelphia Eagles, Miami Dolphins and Carolina Panthers regarding quarterback Deshaun Watson, per Jeff Howe and Aaron Reiss of The Athletic, though multiple sources indicated that a deal "does not appear to be imminent."

That followed conflicting reports earlier on Wednesday involving a potential deal between the Texans and Dolphins:

Per The Athletic, Houston has been requesting "three first-round draft picks and two or three more assets, including a collection of picks or players, according to a source."

Watson has remained inactive through the first six weeks of the season and has asked to be traded, though he has a no-trade clause in his contract and will have some say over his final destination. 

The question is whether any NFL team will actually deal away assets for him given his ongoing legal situation. Watson is the subject of 22 lawsuits from women accusing him of sexual assault and misconduct. Watson has denied the allegations. 

At least 10 women have also filed complaints with the Houston Police Department, and Watson has been interviewed by the FBI. Additionally, the NFL is conducting its own investigation into the matter which could lead to a suspension under the league's personal conduct policy.

As for a potential return in a trade with the Dolphins, The Athletic reported that the Texans "have not shown interest in acquiring quarterback Tua Tagovailoa from the Dolphins, nor has Tagovailoa's name come up in trade discussions as of Wednesday evening."

The second-year player has thrown for 544 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions in three starts, completing 64.1 percent of his passes. The Dolphins are 1-2 in those starts. 

The Miami Dolphins are reportedly working on a trade for Deshaun Watson and could have a deal with the Houston Texans by this week, per John McClain of the Houston Chronicle.

Mark Berman of Fox 26 also reported a deal could be completed this week, noting the two sides hope to work something out before the Nov. 2 trade deadline. 

Of note, though, a source downplayed the rumors to ESPN's Marcel Louis-Jacques:

Watson has been inactive throughout the 2021 season after reportedly requesting a trade in January. The quarterback is also facing 22 civil lawsuits and 10 criminal complaints from women who have accused him of sexual assault or misconduct.

The Dolphins have been discussing a potential Watson trade for months, per McClain, but those talks have "intensified into serious negotiations."

Miami dropped to 1-5 on Sunday with a loss to the previously winless Jacksonville Jaguars.

Miami quarterback Tua Tagovailoa totaled 329 passing yards in Sunday's loss, but the 2020 No. 5 overall draft pick has missed three games this year with a rib injury and has generally failed to impress in limited action. 

If he had enough attempts to qualify, the left-hander would rank 25th in the league in Total QBR, per ESPN.

The Dolphins enter Week 7 ranked 29th in the league in points scored and 30th in total yards.

Watson would represent an upgrade after finishing 12th in the category last season. The three-time Pro Bowler led the NFL with 4,823 passing yards in 2020, adding 33 passing touchdowns with only seven interceptions. However, because of the allegations, his status remains up in the air.

Watson is currently eligible to play, but Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reported in September the NFL could take action regarding the Commissioner's Exempt List after the quarterback is traded. The NFL's investigation into the allegations against Watson is ongoing.  

The Houston Texans are reportedly continuing their roster overhaul by releasing a veteran defender.

According to Texans reporter Aaron Wilson, Houston is releasing defensive end Whitney Mercilus after nine-plus seasons with the team. Wilson cited the emergence of young edge-rushers Jon Greenard and Jacob Martin as a catalyst for the Texans cutting the 31-year-old veteran.

Wilson later reported the Kansas City Chiefs are among the teams with "strong mutual interest" in Mercilus.

The Texans selected Mercilus with the 26th overall pick in the 2012 draft. The Illinois product has 57 career sacks, recording a career-high 12 in 2015. He also has 72 career tackles for losses, 13 forced fumbles and 115 quarterback hits.

Mercilus has three sacks in six games this season, but he only started two of those games after starting a total of 28 games in the previous two years. Greenard currently leads Houston with four sacks.

Mercilus was signed to a four-year, $54 million contract and restructured his deal during the offseason by converting most of his $10.5 million salary into a signing bonus. He still makes his full salary for this year and is now free to sign with a contender.

Houston releasing Mercilus continues the team's trend of trying to get younger across multiple positions. The Texans traded away All-Pro wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins to the Arizona Cardinals prior to the 2020 season. Longtime edge rusher J.J. Watt, who holds Texans franchise records for sacks and forced fumbles, joined Hopkins in Arizona this season after being released in February.

One team that could certainly use Mercilus' services is the Kansas City Chiefs, who rank last in the NFL with seven sacks through six games. Signing Mercilus will give the defending AFC champions the pass-rush they desperately need if they hope to make a third consecutive Super Bowl appearance.

Houston Texans defensive back Lonnie Johnson Jr. is reportedly a candidate to be moved as the Nov. 2 trade deadline approaches. 

The Texans received interest in Johnson before the regular season began, and while they believe he's still valuable, the franchise could look to unload him because it has three safeties for just two available spots, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.

Fowler adds that Johnson could play a "more prominent" role elsewhere instead of being lumped in with Eric Murray and Justin Reid. He previously reported in August that Johnson was being "heavily discussed" in trade talks. Johnson later denied the rumors in a tweet, saying, "Don't believe everything ya hear!!" (h/t KSR's Jack Pilgrim).

The 25-year-old began his career at cornerback before moving to safety in 2020. In 34 career games, the 2019 second-round pick has recorded two interceptions, 10 passes defended, 138 tackles, one tackle for a loss and three quarterback hits. 

Johnson has already shown significant improvement this season, with his two career interceptions coming in 2021. Although the Kentucky product is performing well, it's no surprise Texans general manager Nick Caserio is trying to sell high. 

Johnson is competing for playing time with Murray and Reid. The former signed a three-year, $18 million contract with the Texans during the 2020 offseason, so he likely isn't going anywhere, while Reid is in the final year of his rookie deal and will become a free agent after the 2021 campaign. 

Fowler also mentions defensive Charles Omenihu as another "player to watch" in Houston. He was inactive during Week 5 as the Texans gave Jordan Jenkins an "extended look." 

Omenihu, 24, is in his third season with the Texans, who selected him in the fifth round in 2019. In 33 career games, the defensive lineman has recorded two forced fumbles, four passes defended, seven sacks, 39 tackles, seven tackles for loss and 24 quarterback hits. 

With the Texans 1-4 and facing a cloudy future at quarterback, it's no surprise the franchise appears ready to enter a complete rebuild.  

The Houston Texans continue to receive calls regarding a trade for Deshaun Watson, and the quarterback could be moved before the Nov. 2 trade deadline, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network:

"The belief is that Watson will be traded and could even be traded during the season," Rapoport reported.

Watson has been inactive in each game to start the season as he seeks a trade. The 26-year-old has been accused of sexual assault or misconduct by 22 women who have filed civil lawsuits against him.

Jay Glazer of Fox Sports reported last week the Texans were initially seeking a "ridiculous trade offer" but "their stance started to soften a little bit."

Rapoport reported before Week 1 that trade talks were likely to pick up before the deadline, listing the Miami Dolphins, Philadelphia Eagles, Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos as potential options.

Watson has proved himself as an elite talent on the field through his four years in the NFL. The 2017 first-round pick has earned a Pro Bowl selection in each of the last three seasons, leading the NFL with 4,823 passing yards in 2020. He finished last year with 33 passing touchdowns and three rushing touchdowns.

Despite his ongoing legal situation, Watson is currently eligible to play this season. 

The Philadelphia Eagles are reportedly "not in the mix" for Deshaun Watson, according to Jay Glazer of Fox Sports.

Glazer reported Sunday the Houston Texans were initially looking for six draft picks in exchange for the quarterback, but the demands have "started to soften a little bit."

Watson has been inactive for the Texans' first three games of the season as he seeks a trade. He has also been accused of sexual assault or sexual misconduct by 22 women who have filed civil lawsuits against him.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported earlier this month that trade talks could still heat up before the Nov. 2 deadline, with the Eagles listed as a possible landing spot "depending on how the season goes."

The Miami Dolphins, Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos were also considered potential trade targets.

Philadelphia currently has Jalen Hurts as the starting quarterback, but he has been inconsistent in his second year in the NFL. The 2020 second-round pick began the year with three touchdown passes in a win over the Atlanta Falcons, but he has struggled in back-to-back losses in the last two weeks.

Through three games, Hurts as a Total QBR of 40.8 that ranks just 25th in the NFL.

The 23-year-old has showed plenty of upside, especially with his running ability, but he is far from a sure thing under center through seven career starts.

Watson would be an on-field upgrade after earning three Pro Bowl selections in his four NFL seasons. He led the NFL with 4,823 passing yards in 2020, adding 33 passing touchdowns.