The Panthers Have A Raging Hard On For Deshaun Watson. Reports Are They're Going Balls Out To Get Him, Now Including Christian McCaffrey In Trade Package

PFT - Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com reports that David Tepper still wants to acquire Watson. La Canfora also reports, far too nonchalantly, that the Panthers are willing to include running back Christian McCaffrey in the trade package.

La Canfora quotes an unnamed source in support of his contention that Tepper remains intent on getting Watson. “The only reason that he doesn’t have Watson already is that the price is too high,” the source told La Canfora. “That’s it. He’s wanted him for a long time. And there is still a lot of time between now and Tuesday. His patience is wearing thin.”

That quote doesn’t accurately reflect the current circumstances, however. The asking price isn’t “the only reason” the trade hasn’t occurred. Watson also would have to waive his no-trade clause for the Panthers. For now, Watson wants Miami and only Miami.

Listen, I realize Christian McCaffrey's propensity to miss playing time due to injury is a major, major issue. 

As the great Todd McShay famously said, "the best ability is availability". 

And he couldn't have been more correct.

You could be the greatest running back in the league, but if you can't stay on the field, your talents are null & void.

But how can you blame Christian here?

If you were waking up and going home to this every night, which hole would you be more concerned with pounding? 

(I'm talking about the 6, or 8 hole you jerks. Football speak. Get your minds out of the gutter.)

The best football writer in America, our very own Jerry Thornton, has been covering this entire Deshaun Watson saga since the beginning and has done an awesome job.

 Everything from the most recent, his accusers claiming the NFL is trying to run a smear campaign against THEM. 

To Houston's asking price being 5 draft picks, including 3 first-rounders.

That asking price is steep as fuck. 

I mean, we're talking Deshaun Watson here. Not Ricky Williams.

Judi Bottoni. Shutterstock Images.

That asking price is even steeper when you factor in that the Texans owner absolutely fucking hates Watson.

The guy is good. Borderline great. But do you really want to take on all that baggage if you're David Tepper? 

You just purged the organization of their last controversy by buying their sleazeball owner out. Now you want to take on this one? And give up your franchise running back who is as All American as apple pie, dating Helen of Troy, and is a face of the league?

What am I missing here?

But that's not all.

First, trading McCaffrey would trigger a cap charge of $18.5 million in 2022. Second, Watson would arrive with a fully-guaranteed base salary of $35 million in 2022. Third, current quarterback Sam Darnold has a fully-guaranteed base salary of $18.858 million for 2022.

That’s more than $72 million in 2022 cap dollars. That’s more than enough to make McCaffrey not a realistic factor, at all.

They just picked up the corpse of Sam Darnold this offseason, and until the injuries started stacking up and devastating his team two weeks ago, he looked like he had shaken off the Jets stink and was showing flashes of talent. 

So I get having doubts after the last 4 games. But if you were willing to go in on him 8 months ago shouldn't you have done your due diligence then? How does four rough games change all the things you liked about him in April and games 1-3 this season?

Also, if the price really is a couple first's, and McCaffrey, is Watson, even at his best, worth mortgaging your future for a shot now? 

Seems like another case of an idiot owner trying to play fantasy football in real life, but what do I know?

p.s. - if this trade goes through I think we can all agree Houston will have fleeced the Panthers