A lot going on in Houston right now.
The Texans have a new head coach and the franchise’s star quarterback still wants out.
Deshaun Watson has officially requested a trade from the team that drafted him with the 12th overall pick in the 2017 NFL draft, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Watson — who is signed through the 2025 season after inking a four-year, $156 million contract extension in September — apparently made his request “weeks ago,” per ESPN. The Texans hiring of Ravens assistant coach David Culley to be their new head coach isn’t going to change Watson’s mind, Schefter reported.
Culley, 65, spent the last two seasons on the Ravens' staff as Baltimore’s assistant head coach and passing-game coordinator. He is a first-time head coach and the only Black coach hired this offseason when seven jobs were open. In addition to the Ravens, Culley has worked for the Bills, Chiefs, Eagles, Steelers and Bucs.
In hyping his former assistant, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh singled out Watson as a reason the Texans offered a “great job” for Culley.
“It’s a great opportunity there,” Harbaugh said. “They’ve got a heck of an organization. I do believe that David Culley would be a tremendous hire for any team, and maybe especially the Texans with Deshaun Watson.”
But if Watson gets his way, he’ll never play a game for Culley.
Watson, 25, a three-time Pro Bowler, is coming off statistically his best NFL season, yet his team only won four games. He had career bests in yards (4,823), completion percentage (70.2%), yards gained per attempt (8.9) and touchdowns (33).
Bill O’Brien, who held both the head coach and general manager titles in Houston, was fired after the Texans’ 0-4 start. In his role as GM, O’Brien infamously traded away star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins in March to the Cardinals in exchange for oft-injured running back David Johnson. Hopkins continued to do Hopkins-like things in Arizona and earned his fifth Pro Bowl selection in 2020. Johnson played in just 12 games and rushed for 691 yards.
Watson, the former Clemson star, who has a no-trade clause in his contract, reportedly has put the Jets at the top of his list of preferred destinations due to his desire to play for new head coach Robert Saleh.
The Texans were the only team with a vacancy this offseason not to interview Saleh, despite Watson reportedly pushing for the former 49ers defensive coordinator. Watson was also high on Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, who was shut out of head coaching gigs again this offseason.
The disgruntled Watson has not spoken to either new GM Nick Caserio or executive Jack Easterby, ESPN reported.
Watson’s future with the team was the hot topic when Caserio was introduced to the media on Jan. 8.
“He’s our quarterback, and again, once we have an opportunity, spend some time together, we’ll have further discussions,” Caserio said. “I can’t tell you how much respect and administration that I have for him, for who he is as a player and what he means to this franchise.”
Texans owner Cal McNair denied reports that he didn’t involve Watson in the hiring process during Caserio’s press conference.
“I’ve come to understand that it’s been reported that Deshaun feels left out of the process, but he and I had several visits and I understood his point of view before meeting with candidates,” McNair said. “I’ve reached out to Deshaun about Nick’s hire and I look forward to him getting back to me when he returns (from vacation).”
Watson has now gotten back to McNair and it is clear where he stands.
