The Houston Texans made an aggressive move to lock up quarterback Tyrod Taylor, who can make up to $12.5 million on a one-year deal, per multiple reports. The base value is $6 million — but incentives can double that figure. And he’d probably only be earning those incentives if he were the starting quarterback for the Texans.
It’s an interesting move for a team that’s supposedly committed to keeping Deshaun Watson as the starting quarterback. Watson, of course, is hoping the team will trade him. And perhaps Taylor’s contract is a signal that the Texans recognize they have to do just that.
When the news broke on Twitter, fans immediately jumped to one conclusion: a Watson trade is coming. And there’s some logic to the discussion. Taylor is a starting-caliber quarterback, and beat out rookie phenom Justin Herbert in training camp in 2020 before Taylor’s injury led to Herbert’s ascension. Taylor is a serviceable option, if Watson leaves.
who needs deshaun when you have tyrod
— Matt Maher 🤠 (@mmatthew2268) March 16, 2021
Deshaun gone
— . (@BallWrld) March 16, 2021
Watson is gone. No way you add these incentives otherwise.
— eh (@imfl3tch) March 16, 2021
There’s the Deshaun contingency plan.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) March 16, 2021
Contingency
— Dan Orlovsky (@danorlovsky7) March 16, 2021
Deshaun Watson be like pic.twitter.com/izXwhZNg5x
— Brian (@BkcSports) March 16, 2021
Deshaun to the 49ers confirmed
— #Trent (@SadNinersFan) March 16, 2021
Goodbye Deshaun
— Zirksee🍽 (@Zirksee) March 16, 2021
It’s easy to imagine the Texans are preparing for the possibility that they have to trade Watson.
