The 49ers have one thing no other team can offer Deshaun Watson

Photo courtesy of the San Francisco 49ers

Ultimately, it can come down to what the San Francisco 49ers – or any interested NFL team – can offer the Houston Texans for quarterback Deshaun Watson. Yes, Watson has a no-trade clause in his contract. If he pushed the Texans to trade him, the quarterback would at least have the power to approve his destination.

The wedge between Watson and the Texans has made for an interesting offseason so far, at least for teams not making the playoffs. The young quarterback would be seen as an improvement for most teams watching the playoffs from home. Fans of the San Francisco 49ers must be wondering what kind of magic Kyle Shanahan could deal with with Watson leading his offense.

It’s also what could make the 49ers such an attractive destination for Watson – Shanahan’s presence. Yes, the head coach’s influence is starting to spread throughout the league as more teams seek to recreate the same kind of creative play appeal that Shanahan players consistently praise and defenses. opponents strive to stop. Other teams might be a tempting lure, but the 49ers have something no other can deliver.

Sports Illustrated’s Conor Orr recently ranked the top 10 landing points for Watson (m / t at Patrick tulini), taking on the Texans’ cave and receiving offers for the quarterback. While the New York Jets, armed with a plethora of draft capital, come in at No.1 on the list, the 49ers are surprisingly high at No.2. Much of it has to do with the coach- chief and appellant.

“As I was writing this offseason, there is no bigger draw for quarterbacks who want to win than Kyle Shanahan himself,” Orr wrote. “While his system is now responsible for the head coaches and coordinators of the NFL (Arthur Smith in Atlanta, Matt LaFleur in Green Bay, Sean McVay in Los Angeles, etc., etc.), the man himself can pull more from the quarters and the design plays with the incredible YAC potential.

“Since Watson has a no-trade clause, he can guide the direction of any potential trade negotiations and if he’s serious about a stable culture and a formidable weapon set, San Francisco must be there- high.”

Of course, the 49ers don’t have the same stock of draft picks as some other teams, and convincing Watson of the Texans would likely require years of high selections. Orr mistakenly notes that the 49ers are missing out on a third round pick, but that just changed with the Jets hiring Robert Saleh as their head coach. San Francisco will receive a compensatory third-round pick in each of the next two projects under the NFL Minority Hire Program.

However, that pick will be at the end of the round, after other third round compensatory picks have been distributed. The 49ers could also come up with a temporary (or perhaps permanent) replacement for Watson – Jimmy Garoppolo. Like Watson, Garoppolo has a no-trade clause in his contract and is expected to approve any decision however.

“Jimmy Garoppolo is an interesting part of that equation, given that the personnel manager who helped run his writing in New England is now in charge in Houston,” Orr adds. “It could help ease the sting of any trade, as Garoppolo could step into familiar surroundings and immediately be one of the best quarterbacks in the division.”