Account
Bears Trade Rumors: Wilson, Watson Offers Likely to Include 'Boatload' of Picks
March 10, 2021
The Chicago Bears appear willing to part with a "boatload" of draft picks in order to land quarterback Deshaun Watson from the Houston Texans or Russell Wilson from the Seattle Seahawks, according to CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora.
Chicago has long struggled to find a franchise quarterback and patience may be running thin throughout Halas Hall.
"There is a real sense of panic in that building," An NFL executive told La Canfora. "Don't underestimate how desperate they are."
After four years of Mitchell Trubisky, the acquisition of Watson or Wilson would be seen as a franchise-altering move, potentially opening a Super Bowl window in earnest.
It's just not entirely clear if either QB will be available.
Watson reportedly wants out of Houston, but the Texans' front office remain reluctant to even take calls at this point with new general manager Nick Caserio stating that he has "zero interest" in trading the three-time Pro Bowler.
"Organizationally, I just want to reiterate our commitment to Deshaun Watson," Caserio said on Jan. 29. "He's had a great impact on this organization, a great impact on a lot of people, a great impact on this team, and we look forward to the opportunity to spend more time with him here this spring once we get started."
Unlike Watson, Wilson has not demanded a trade and may be staying put in Seattle for the foreseeable future.
His name continues to pop up in rumors following his agent's comments that the Seahawks star would only consider playing for the Dallas Cowboys, New Orleans Saints, Las Vegas Raiders and the Bears if Seattle looked to move him.
That just doesn't mean Wilson will be on the move. The quarterback does have an opt-out clause available to him after the 2021 season, but exercising that would mean forfeiting a salary of $19 million in 2022 as well as $22 million 2023. Wilson's full no-trade clause also means he'll have to sign off before the team can move him.
The Bears may be willing to pay as much as possible to land a franchise quarterback, but that doesn't mean it'll be enough to pry either Watson or Wilson away from their current clubs.