It just doesn’t make a ton of sense

They have so many needs, so how can they do this?

Talking about people pushing the Jets to trade for Deshaun Watson.

Keep in mind, none of this is coming from the Jets. This is all coming from the media. To say the Jets are interested would be presumptuous at this point. There is no evidence of that.

But for a number of reasons, the Jets probably need to stay away from making a deal for the disgruntled Houston Texans QB.

First of all, according NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the starting point bid for the players is three first-round picks.

How can a team, with so many needs, trade that kind of draft capital, and remember, according to Rapoport, that is just the starting bid. It could go higher.

And remember, not only do you have to give up a ton of draft capital, you also have to take on his $40 million-a-year contract, which would greatly hurt the Jets ability to be major players in free agency. Remember, the Jets not only do the Jets have a ton of premium draft picks this year (and next), but a lot of cap space to sign free agents. So a Watson trade could not only deplete them of many of their upcoming high draft picks, but also their cap space for free agency.

So you would have to think that Joe Douglas and Robert Saleh, who are looking to build something big in Florham Park, the right way, by drafting, developing and re-signing their own, would want to start their partnership by ridding themselves of high draft picks that can fill a lot of important needs.

The draft is always important, but might be even more important this year with the cap expected to be going way down, perhaps down to $175 million (from $198 million last year). The draft represents an opportunity to bring in relatively cheap talent at a reasonable fixed cost (it’s basically slotted), so the draft is huge this year.

So with so many teams looking to stock up on draft picks this year with a rough cap situation on the horizon, why would you take away from an advantage you have  in 2021- a ton of high draft picks?

A few other things.

As we have mentioned before, Watson has two reconstructed knees.

Also, something else to consider. Politics might have something to do with his desire to not want to play Cal McNair, so why would the Jets’ situation be better for him?

And last thing, the Jets trying to build a strong football culture, so why would they want to add somebody so dismayed, who is attempting to shoot his way out of a building, like Jamal Adams did to him.

This is a player who is pissed, in part, with the Texans for not involving him in their GM search, which led to them to hire long-time New England executive Nick Caserio, who has been a hot GM candidate for a number of years. Why would the player be so down on hiring such a highly-qualified candidate?

And how good is the player? I’d say very good, but perhaps not elite. I know most people in the media will be shocked at that statement, but that’s what I see.

Yes, he racked up big numbers this year, but as one scout pointed out, a lot of that was playing from way behind against prevent defenses. The Texans finished 4-12.

So to me, for a number of reasons, they Jets should say, “Thanks, but no thanks.”

January 29, 2021

Premium will return by 9:30 pm on Monday.