AFC South

Multiple NFL teams are reportedly willing to trade for Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson this offseason as long as the 10 criminal complaints filed against him are resolved.

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reported Thursday the unnamed teams are willing to move forward with trade talks under those circumstances, even if the 22 civil lawsuits brought against Watson remain active.

Rusty Hardin, Watson's attorney, said during a court hearing Monday he expects Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg to decide by April 1 whether to file criminal charges based on the complaints lodged against Watson, per ESPN's Sarah Barshop.

The 26-year-old Georgia native didn't play during the 2021 season following the allegations of sexual misconduct during massage sessions, though he wasn't suspended by the NFL or placed on the commissioner's exempt list.

Houston kept him on its active roster and declared him inactive for each of its 17 games.

Watson requested a trade last January before the criminal complaints and civil lawsuits were filed. He's under contract through 2025 as part of a four-year, $156 million deal.

Last month, Texans general manager Nick Caserio was asked during an appearance on Houston's SportsRadio 610 (via Chase Goodbread of NFL.com) whether the quarterback would return in 2022.

"There's been some commentary that more than likely would not be the case," Caserio said. "I think we just have to be open-minded and just take the information and process it. Then ultimately make the decision we feel makes the most sense for everybody involved, whatever that looks like."

From a football perspective, Watson has been one of the NFL's best quarterbacks since the Texans selected him in the first round of the 2017 draft.

The three-time Pro Bowl selection has completed 67.8 percent of his passes for 14,539 yards with 104 passing touchdowns and 36 interceptions in 54 career regular-season games. He's added 1,677 rushing yards and 17 scores on the ground.

If traded and cleared to play in 2022, he could transform a fringe playoff team into a championship contender.

Meanwhile, the Texans are staring down another rebuild after posting a 4-13 record in 2021, and a Watson deal would probably bring in some resources to help accelerate the process.

In consecutive years, one of the biggest offseason transactions may involve a two-time Pro Bowl tackle. In April, the Baltimore Ravens received a package of draft picks for Orlando Brown—and now the Houston Texans can fetch comparable compensation in exchange for Laremy Tunsil.

The Texans have already promoted defensive coordinator Lovie Smith to replace former head coach David Culley. Going forward, the front office will focus on the roster.

As Michael Ginnitti of Spotrac said on The Bench (h/t Lance Zierlein of NFL.com), trades involving Tunsil, quarterback Deshaun Watson and wideout Brandin Cooks seem "inevitable."

If the Texans deal any of those players, general manager Nick Caserio would likely look to recoup premium draft capital for the next two years, which leads us back to the trade between the Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs last offseason.

Baltimore dealt Brown, who had two Pro Bowl campaigns at the time, a 2021 second-round pick and a 2022 sixth-rounder to Kansas City for a first-, third-, and fourth-rounder in 2021 along with a fifth-round selection in this year's draft.

Tunsil has two Pro Bowl nods and will enter his age-28 term with six years of starting experience—all but his rookie season at left tackle. Though he's coming off an injury-marred campaign, having missed 12 outings because of a torn UCL in his left thumb, the Texans can command a first-round pick from one of the upcoming drafts plus additional selections because of the value of his position and his recent accolades.

Furthermore, in a pre-June 1 trade, the Texans would hold $16.6 million in dead money from Tunsil's 2022 salary-cap hit, leaving a manageable $9.5 million for the club that acquires him. He's still under contract for two terms, so his new team would have ample time to work out an extension if he commands it.

What's a realistic destination for Tunsil in 2022? Let's take a look at three potential landing spots with trade packages for each scenario.

   

Cincinnati Bengals

The Cincinnati Bengals have the most obvious case to pursue Tunsil. This past campaign, quarterback Joe Burrow endured a lot of punishment in the pocket, taking 70 sacks (third-most in NFL history) in the regular season and playoffs.

At times, Burrow must get rid of the ball or throw it away to avoid unnecessary hits, but Tunsil can allow him more time in a clean pocket. In 2021, the Bengals offensive line allowed pressure on 24.2 percent of dropbacks (12th-worst).

At 33 years old, right tackle Riley Reiff has an expiring contract, and left tackle Jonah Williams gave up eight sacks in 1,044 snaps.

The Bengals can strengthen the tackle spot with a proven player who is six years younger than Reiff and shift Williams to the right side.

Williams played on both sides of the line in college, and with his solid run blocking, he can clear lanes to spring running back Joe Mixon to the outside.

Burrow isn't eligible for an extension until the 2023 offseason. In the meantime, with a projected $50.4 million in cap space, Cincinnati could stockpile talent in an aggressive approach to surround him with a quality supporting cast. Instead of selecting a late-first-round tackle, the Bengals can use their Day 1 pick as the centerpiece for a blockbuster deal, which would go a long way toward keeping Burrow upright and healthy.

Trade Package: No. 31 pick, fourth-round pick (No. 134) and 2023 second-round pick for Tunsil and sixth-round pick (No. 181)

   

Miami Dolphins

In September 2019, the Miami Dolphins traded Tunsil to the Texans, a move that jump-started their rebuild under former head coach Brian Flores. Now coming off back-to-back winning seasons with a poor offensive line, general manager Chris Grier should consider a reunion with his first draft pick.

Grier has selected four offensive linemen within the first four rounds of the last two drafts. Austin Jackson, Robert Hunt, Solomon Kindley and Liam Eichenberg struggled in multiple positions across the line as the previous coaching staff shuffled the personnel to find the right mix.

As a left tackle, Jackson had a rough 2020. This past season, the Dolphins moved him to left guard, and he didn't show any improvement. Eichenberg took his spot on the outside and logged a couple of starts on the right side as well. He allowed nine sacks and committed 10 penalties in 1,108 snaps.

Grier and new head coach Mike McDaniel must sort out the line to support Tua Tagovailoa, who has an extensive injury history. The second-year signal-caller has already missed 10 games. Secondly, the new skipper saw what a top-notch left tackle (Trent Williams) can do to bolster an offense when McDaniel was the running game coordinator and then the offensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers in 2020 and 2021.

Tagovailoa throws with his left arm, but that doesn't mean the Dolphins should neglect the protection on his strong side. Right now, the offensive line just needs a high-level player to offset the underwhelming additions from the previous draft classes.

Grier can offer the Dolphins' first-round pick and a couple of Day 2 selections over the next two years for Tunsil. Miami has a projected $62.8 million in cap space, so if Tunsil wants a new deal in the near future, that request wouldn't pose a major issue.

Trade Package: No. 29 pick, third-round pick (No. 101, via the San Francisco 49ers) and 2023 third-round pick for Tunsil and sixth-round pick (No. 181)

   

Seattle Seahawks

The Seattle Seahawks may lose starting tackles Duane Brown and Brandon Shell via free agency.

Brown will turn 37 years old in August, and despite a strong finish to the 2021 campaign, he gave up eight sacks in 969 snaps. Over the past two seasons, Shell has logged most of his snaps at right tackle, but he's missed 12 contests in that span. Seattle can use some of its projected $34.8 million in cap space for an upgrade at the position.

As the Seahawks communicate with Russell Wilson to keep him in the fold (h/t NFL Network's Mike Garafolo), general manager John Schneider can put a smile on the quarterback's face with a new left tackle who can provide solid pass protection. In 2021, Seattle allowed pressure on 27.1 percent of dropbacks, which ranked fifth-worst.

Unlike the Bengals and Dolphins, the Seahawks don't have a first-round pick in the upcoming draft because of their deal with the New York Jets for safety Jamal Adams. Schneider would likely have to dip into the club's 2023 draft capital to execute a deal, but Tunsil is worth the cost to satisfy Wilson and fill a major roster void.

Trade Package: Second-round pick (No. 41), third-round pick (No. 72) and 2023 first-round pick for Tunsil and 2023 fifth-round pick

   

Maurice Moton covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @MoeMoton.

Statistics courtesy of Pro Football Focus and Pro Football Reference. Salary-cap information via Over the Cap.

Deshaun Watson is facing 22 lawsuits accusing him of sexual assault and misconduct, but the Houston Texans have no plans on lowering their asking price for the quarterback.

Jeff Howe of The Athletic reported the Texans still plan to ask teams for "five to seven assets, including three first-round picks" in trade talks this offseason.

Watson is also facing a criminal investigation and a probe by the NFL over the accusations, which led to him sitting out the entire 2021 season as a healthy inactive.

The three-time Pro Bowler requested a trade from the Texans last offseason before the accusations were made public. While the team shopped Watson, it found few takers willing to take a risk while litigation was ongoing. It's highly likely Watson will face a suspension from the NFL under the personal conduct policy, regardless of the result of his criminal and civil cases. 

Teams will likely remain unwilling to meet the Texans' asking price—or come even close—until the legal situation is settled. Any team that eventually does trade for Watson faces a firestorm of public-relations backlash, along with likely being without him for several games during the 2022 season.

The Miami Dolphins were the team most heavily linked to Watson in 2021, but it appears they're committed to Tua Tagovailoa under new coach Mike McDaniel. Jonathan Alexander of the Charlotte Observer reported the Carolina Panthers are expected to be among the teams interested in Watson this offseason.

Tennessee Titans pass-rusher Bud Dupree turned himself in Friday at the Metro Nashville Police Department after being cited for an altercation at a Walgreens drug store in January.

According to TMZ Sports, Dupree was booked on a misdemeanor assault charge Friday before being released from custody.

Police allege that Dupree attacked a Walgreens employee and tried to take his phone on Jan. 2 and fled the scene before they arrived. Security camera footage appears to show Dupree grabbing and struggling with the employee.

Per TMZ, sources close to Dupree said the altercation happened because the Walgreens employee "heckled" Dupree and "threatened to spit on the women [Dupree] was with and kick Bud in the knee."

The 29-year-old Dupree recently completed his first season with the Titans after spending his first six NFL seasons as a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Despite suffering a torn ACL that cut his 2020 season short, the Titans signed Dupree to a five-year, $82.5 million contract prior to the 2021 campaign.

An abdominal injury limited Dupree to 11 games this past season, and he finished with just 17 tackles and three sacks, both of which were career lows. He also had one sack in Tennessee's AFC Divisional Round playoff loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.

Dupree now has 42.5 sacks during his NFL career, including a career-high 11.5 in 2019.

While the Titans have yet to make an official statement regarding Dupree turning himself in, TMZ noted that the organization said in January it was "aware of the situation and are gathering additional information."

The Indianapolis Colts have a potential wild-card element that will impact the quarterback carousel if the front office decides to go in another direction at the position.

While most expect the San Francisco 49ers to trade quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, who's preparing for a move, the Colts might entertain offers for Wentz in the coming weeks.

Days after the Colts' season ended, general manager Chris Ballard didn't want to comment on Wentz's future with the team, which led to leaguewide speculation.

Last offseason, Indianapolis acquired Wentz from the Philadelphia Eagles for a third-rounder and a conditional 2022 second-round pick that became a first-rounder once Wentz played 75 percent of the snaps. In Week 18 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, he had a poor performance, throwing for 185 yards, a touchdown and an interception with a 58.6 percent completion rate. He also gave away a possession on a fumble. The Colts lost the game, and their playoff hopes went down the drain. 

Even though Wentz doesn't deserve all the blame, that's how it works for quarterbacks in crucial spots. They're praised in victory and take the brunt of responsibility in defeat. As a result, the Colts may have seen enough to move on from the 29-year-old signal-caller.

According to ESPN's Chris Mortensen via Pro Football Talk's Michael David Smith, the Colts will "probably" trade or release Wentz by March 18. 

Despite Wentz's awful finish to the 2021 season, he had a decent year, throwing for 3,563 yards, 27 touchdowns (10th-most leaguewide) and seven interceptions with a 62.4 percent completion rate. He tied for ninth in QBR (54.7).

Taking a closer look at the Colts offense, Wentz posted solid passing numbers with just one reliable pass-catcher in Michael Pittman Jr., who registered 88 receptions for 1,082 yards and six touchdowns. Aside from the second-year wideout, no other player on the roster topped 40 receptions or 384 receiving yards.

Sure, Wentz made costly mistakes (interceptions) that factored into losses to the Tennessee Titans (Week 8) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Week 12), and he should've had a better showing against the lowly Jaguars, but the athletic big-armed quarterback would still have solid value on the trade or free-agent market. 

Nate Atkins of the Indianapolis Star suggests that the Colts can make a trade more palatable for suitors if they restructure Wentz's deal, but he could have some say about his next career stop. 

The Colts won't be able to flip Wentz for a first-round pick, but they can likely command a third-rounder, and three teams should inquire about him at that price.

The Denver Broncos should take an aggressive approach in a plan to acquire Wentz. They have a projected $38.1 million in cap space, per Over the Cap, so they wouldn't have an issue absorbing his contract.  

This past season, the Broncos gave up the third-fewest points and ranked eighth in yards allowed. They'll have a quality core of players on the defensive side of the ball next season in defensive tackle Shelby Harris, defensive end Dre'Mont Jones, edge-rusher Bradley Chubb, cornerback Pat Surtain II and safety Justin Simmons.  

Even more appealing to Wentz, he would have a loaded pass-catching group with Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy, Tim Patrick and KJ Hamler at wide receiver along with tight end Noah Fant. The Broncos can also take some pressure off of him with Javonte Williams, who racked up 903 rushing yards and four touchdowns while averaging 4.4 yards per carry in 2021.

Along with the Broncos, the new-look Washington Commanders should make a call for Wentz. According to the MMQB's Albert Breer, the NFC East club is "preparing to take a big swing" for a quarterback.

With $31.9 million in projected cap space, the Commanders have Taylor Heinicke as the only signal-caller under team control in 2022. He threw for 3,419 yards, 20 touchdowns and 15 interceptions in 2021. Washington can move him into a backup role behind Wentz, who's a clear upgrade. 

Nevertheless, the Commanders may have to convince Wentz that they'll add another playmaker on offense. 

Aside from wideout Terry McLaurin, the club didn't see much production out of its pass-catchers. With that said, if wide receiver Curtis Samuel bounces back from an injury-riddled 2021 campaign (missed 12 contests), he could add a spark to the short passing attack. On the flip side, Wentz would have a dual-threat running back in Antonio Gibson, who's logged 2,373 yards and 21 touchdowns from scrimmage in his first two seasons.

If head coach Ron Rivera and defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio can help a talented defense that features Chase Young, Montez Sweat, Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne find its 2020 form when the unit ranked top five in points and yards allowed, the Commanders would have some roster balance with Wentz's playmaking ability on offense.

Unlike the Broncos and Commanders, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have limited cap flexibility with a projected $3.1 million in cap space in large part because of the leftover cost from (now-retired) Tom Brady's contract.

However, with some simple restructures, the Buccaneers can clear up to $67.8 million in cap space, which would give them more than enough wiggle room to acquire Wentz.

Per NFL Network's James Palmer, the Buccaneers believe they're still in a win-now window and have done extensive work on quarterbacks Deshaun Watson and Russell Wilson.

If available, both quarterbacks would have a big market. Watson's future remains unclear because of 22 civil lawsuits and 10 criminal complaints filed by women alleging sexual assault and misconduct.

Secondly, according to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo, Wilson "expects" to be in Seattle.

While the Buccaneers may aim high, Wentz seems like a more realistic target at great value if he agrees to rework his deal to facilitate a trade. His tendency to push the ball downfield fits head coach Bruce Arians' deep-rooted aggressive coaching style.

The Buccaneers could lose several key offensive players in free agency, including running backs Leonard Fournette and Ronald Jones II, wideout Chris Godwin, tight ends Rob Gronkowski and O.J. Howard, guard Alex Cappa and center Ryan Jensen, but four-time Pro Bowl wideout Mike Evans remains under team control through the 2023 campaign.

Furthermore, if the front office chooses to restructure deals to clear cap space in win-now mode, Tampa Bay may be able to convince some of its impending free agents to re-sign on short-term deals. The club can also attempt to retain cornerback Carlton Davis, edge-rusher Jason Pierre-Paul and defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, who had key roles in last year's fifth-ranked scoring defense.

In a quarterback-driven league, the Colts will have options if they place Wentz on the trade block.

In addition to the three teams listed, other quarterback-needy teams such as the Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints and Pittsburgh Steelers may do their due diligence on a player with a Pro Bowl season on his resume and a decent touchdown-to-interception ratio (140 to 57).  

If not in Indianapolis, Wentz will have a third opportunity to reinvent himself as a starter elsewhere.

      

Maurice Moton covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @MoeMoton. 

Despite being connected to multiple teams in trade rumors, Deshaun Watson's agent is denying that his client is looking at any clubs right now. 

Speaking to Josina Anderson of CBS Sports HQ and USA Today, David Mulugheta said Watson's camp hasn't "had any talks among ourselves or with teams about possible destinations as we are focused on clearing Deshaun’s name at this time."

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported on Wednesday that Watson has started evaluating teams that could be potential fits in 2022, with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Minnesota Vikings among those that interested him. 

Watson's status for next season remains uncertain because 22 women have filed lawsuits against him accusing him of sexual assault and misconduct. 

Watson's attorney, Rusty Hardin, told ESPN's John Barr in July that 10 women have filed police complaints against Watson, including two women who have not filed lawsuits.

Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio reported in May that the "agreed docket control order" for the lawsuits "provides that Watson’s sworn deposition won’t be taken before February 22, 2022."

Florio noted on Wednesday that it's unclear when the grand jury will conclude its work into the criminal complaints against Watson, but the results of that could play a significant role in determining whether or not he gets traded. 

"If he’s indicted on one or more felony charges, a trade becomes much harder to accomplish," Florio wrote. "If he’s indicted on misdemeanor charges or not at all, it becomes easier for him to proceed."

There were rumblings that Watson was going to be traded during the season, but ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross elected not to move forward with a deal. 

Assuming Tom Brady's retirement sticks, the Buccaneers are going to be among the teams in search of a new quarterback before the start of next season.

The Vikings currently have Kirk Cousins under contract, but ESPN's Courtney Cronin reported his camp could try to force the team's hand by either playing out the final year of his current deal or forcing a trade. 

Watson is also facing potential discipline from the NFL under the personal conduct policy. He didn't appear in a game for the Texans during the 2021 season, but that was because the team kept him inactive.    

Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson reportedly views the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Minnesota Vikings as potential fits if the Texans trade him this offseason.

According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano, Watson is "early in the evaluation process" and wants to land with a team that features "the right blend of offensive system, coaching, talent and, most importantly, the chance to win."

Watson did not play at all in 2021, as the Texans left him inactive as he faced 22 civil lawsuits filed by women accusing him of sexual assault or sexual misconduct during massage sessions.

Watson is also the subject of 10 police complaints, including two from women who haven't filed lawsuits.

While Watson has not been punished by the NFL, nor has there been a resolution in the civil or legal cases, he could face punishment from the league even if he avoids jail time, which complicates matters with regard to a trade.

Knowing Watson had no desire to play in Houston any longer, the Texans could have pushed to trade him during the 2021 season, but they decided to wait and weigh their options during the offseason instead.

Watson undoubtedly comes with a ton of question marks, but he is among the best quarterbacks in the NFL when he is available.

In four NFL seasons, the 26-year-old Watson is a three-time Pro Bowler and has reached the playoffs twice.

Although the Texans went just 4-12 in 2020, Watson enjoyed his best statistical season, completing 70.2 percent of his passes for an NFL-high 4,823 yards, as well as 33 touchdowns and just seven interceptions. He also rushed for 444 yards and three scores.

Tampa Bay would be a logical landing spot following the retirement of Tom Brady after two seasons with the team.

Brady led the Bucs to a Super Bowl win to conclude the 2020 season, and they were strong contenders in 2021 as well, but they fell to the eventual Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Divisional Round.

The Bucs are built to win now on both sides of the ball, but doing so will be difficult without a top-flight quarterback to replace Brady. Tampa won't be able to get one in the draft or free agency, but landing Watson via trade could keep the Bucs in the title mix.

Minnesota is a less obvious fit because of the presence of Kirk Cousins as the Vikings' starting quarterback.

While the Vikings have missed the playoffs the past two seasons, Cousins is coming off arguably the best statistical season of his career.

The 33-year-old was named a Pro Bowler for the third time after completing 66.3 percent of his passes for 4,221 yards, 33 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

Getting rid of Cousins would be a tough decision after that type of season, but he is set to become a free agent following the 2022 season and is scheduled to count for $45 million against the salary cap in 2022 as well.

Watson could excel in a Minnesota offense that features running back Dalvin Cook and wide receivers Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen.

It is possible Watson could be the missing piece in Minnesota, but until there is more clarity regarding his status, it may be difficult for the Vikings or any other team to justify trading for him.

The Indianapolis Colts still don't know whether Carson Wentz will be their long-term answer under center after his disappointing 2021 season.

"The word I got after the season was there was a 50-50 chance Wentz would be back," Zak Keefer of The Athletic reported. "And with a little over a month until the deadline, the Colts haven’t yet made their decision."

The March 18 "deadline" is when Wentz will earn a $5 million roster bonus for the 2022 season, per Spotrac. A release this offseason would leave the Colts with a $15 million dead cap hit, but there would be no cap penalty if he is moved after 2022.

The Colts acquired Wentz last year in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles. They ultimately gave up a 2021 third-round pick and a 2022 first-round pick based on the quarterback's playing time. 

The 29-year-old did bounce back from his brutal 2020 campaign with the Eagles, finishing last year with 3,563 passing yards, 27 touchdowns and only seven interceptions in 17 starts. However, the Colts went 9-8 and missed the playoffs.

They would have clinched a postseason berth with a win over the lowly Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 18, but Wentz finished with only 185 passing yards, one touchdown and one interception in the 26-11 upset loss.

ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported Sunday that Wentz's future with the team is now "bleak" and he will "probably" be traded or released (h/t Ari Meirov of Pro Football Focus).

The Colts have the pieces in place to compete right away with an upgrade at quarterback. They had the No. 9 scoring defense in the NFL last year, while rushing champ Jonathan Taylor mostly carried the offense down the stretch.

Indianapolis isn't guaranteed to find a better option under center than Wentz. The Colts also have to consider the cost of last year's trade and the dead cap hit that they'd be left with after releasing him.

That leaves the front office with a difficult decision to make heading into the new league year.    

Olympic superstar Simone Biles and Houston Texans safety Jonathan Owens are getting married. 

The couple announced on social media that Owens proposed Monday:

WOKE UP A FIANCÉE 💍💍😭

I can’t wait to spend forever & ever with you, you’re everything I dreamed of and more! let’s get married! 🕊🤎@jjowens_3 pic.twitter.com/BcrWvhEE38

— Simone Biles (@Simone_Biles) February 15, 2022

"Appreciate my dawg @don_julio314 for helping me set everything up, she really had no clue what was coming 😂 @zofrost you went crazy on this one bro really made the night special," Owens wrote on Instagram about the proposal. 

Biles and Owens made their relationship public in August 2020. 

Biles is one of the most decorated U.S. athletes in Olympic history. She has seven career Olympic medals, tied with Shannon Miller for the most ever by an American in gymnastics. The 24-year-old won four gold medals at the 2016 Games in the all-around, vault, floor exercise and team event. 

Owens just finished his third season with the Texans. He was originally undrafted out of Missouri Western in 2018 before signing with the Arizona Cardinals. 

After being waived the Cardinals in August 2019, Owens joined the Texans practice squad. The 26-year-old made his NFL debut in Week 11 of the 2019 season, playing eight snaps on special teams against the Indianapolis Colts. 

Owens has appeared in 13 games combined over the past two seasons. He recorded his first career interception in a Week 16 win over the Los Angeles Chargers this season. 

Rumors of Carson Wentz's impending departure from Indianapolis may be exaggerated.

Mike Sando of The Athletic reported the Colts are more likely to leverage Wentz's poor performance in 2021 to renegotiate his contract rather than cut him outright. The possibility of a trade remains, but "execs aren’t sure" what his value is on the market at this point.

The Colts traded a 2021 third-round pick and what wound up being a 2022 first-round pick for Wentz in a gamble that blew up in their face.

On Sunday, ESPN's Chris Mortensen described Wentz's future in Indianapolis as "bleak," adding that the Colts would likely trade or release him this offseason. If they don't move on from Wentz by March 18, an additional $12 million of his contract guarantees for next season. He is already on the books for a guaranteed $15 million.

It's possible Indianapolis comes to the bargaining table and asks Wentz to take a pay cut for the 2022 season. The two sides could agree to wipe out the additional guarantees for this season and have Wentz play under a $15 million base salary in 2022, with his due bonuses instead being spread out later over the course of a renegotiated contract. That would lower Wentz's cap number for next season while providing the team additional flexibility to decide whether he's the long-term option under center.

Trading Wentz this offseason would require taking back a significant discount in terms of draft assets. There's something to be said for cutting your losses, but the Colts don't have an obvious answer ready to replace him.

If they could find a trade for a difference-making veteran, it would be another story. But the Wentz trade already robbed them of their first-round pick this year, leaving them with little option but to bring him back in 2022—hopefully at a reduced rate.