SF 49ers: 5 trades John Lynch should explore during 2021 offseason

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Deshaun Watson, Houston Texans, SF 49ers

Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) Mandatory Credit: Mike Dinovo-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 1: SF 49ers go all-in on Texans’ Deshaun Watson

The one problem with quarterbacking prospects in the NFL Draft is just that, they’re prospects. Not proven pro commodities.

Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson, however, is a proven commodity… a three-time Pro Bowler who led the league in 2020 with 4,823 passing yards despite having a lack of offensive weapons around him and a wholly inadequate coaching staff to support him.

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Watson wants out in a bad way. And while Houston’s new front office under general manager Nick Caserio has made it clear his team has no intent on trading its 25-year-old superstar, there are reports the opening asking price would involve multiple first- and second-round picks along with two young defensive starters.

That’s a lot. But frankly, it’s a price the Niners would be more than willing to pay, especially if they’re able to engineer the would-be trade with the Patriots involving Jimmy Garoppolo.

There are some defensive studs, such as EDGE Nick Bosa and linebacker Fred Warner, San Francisco would probably keep out of the discussion. But defensive end Arik Armstead, who had 10 sacks in 2019, and up-and-coming linebacker Dre Greenlaw could be used as blue-chip pieces to sweeten an already-substantial trade package involving the SF 49ers’ top picks in both the 2021 and 2022 drafts along with that third-round compensatory selection, likely to be around No. 97 overall.

The Niners would then clear a large chunk of Armstead’s hefty salary while absorbing a reasonable cap hit for Watson this season at just over $10 million.

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All the while landing what would be a true franchise-elite team-changing quarterback who’ll only continue to get better.