Miami Dolphins: Is DeShaun Watson the Right Move?

The season isn’t over yet and Deshaun Watson is already stealing the offseason. With his request for a trade, he’s sure to be the big target. Rumors already have him attached to multiple teams but the front runners seem to be the Miami Dolphins. Is it the right move for Miami or will this be the move that derails their rebuild?

First, Watson is 100% a talent that will improve the Dolphins. His talent has already proven he can be a star in today’s NFL, but while it will improve the offense will it improve the team overall. Miami already won 10 games last season but couldn’t get the last win to make it to the playoffs. It was an embarrassing loss at the hand of the division rival Buffalo Bills. Watson has a win/loss ratio of 28/25 but has taken his lumps with a team being under coached. If the Dolphins bring in Watson would they still be a 10 or 11 win team or could they push that 12-13 win peak that teams like New England and Kansas City have rode to the Super Bowl?

Even if the Dolphins decide he’s worth the upgrade at quarterback, what will it cost? Not only would Watson’s talent require multiple picks in return, but Miami would also take on a pretty hefty contract as well. Watson is a proven talent, but the whole point of the rebuild in Miami was to not take on bloated contracts and trade away picks to restock depleted depth. If the Dolphins lose focus and trend back to their old bad habits, will it set them back again?

More NFL: Should the Jaguars Trade For Watson

Then of course there’s the Tua Tagovailoa of it all. If Deshaun Watson wasn’t available, the Miami Dolphins were all in with Tua. They believed he was their franchise QB going forward and he was the one that would help turn the team around. While he flashed this season, there were times he struggled as well. Watson would surely require their first-round picks so you have to wonder, would Watson with current talent take them further than Tua with added talent?

Miami could go out and get a star receiver like Devonta Smith to spark their offense. With chemistry with Tua already intact, there’d be less time to develop. Pair that with a strong guard upfront to protect the pocket and this young team would make a huge jump. That of course, isn’t even including anyone brought in via free agency.

With the Dolphins trading for Deshaun Watson, they’d have to find room to take on that contract and give up draft picks. However, if they skip out on the 25-year old QB, they could spend on a big receiver in free agency, draft another at #3, and pair them with DeVante Parker. Miami would even be able to keep their receivers who outperformed their skill set this season. The sky would be the limit on a revamped but still deep receiving group.

If this was a 7-9 Miami Dolphins team or an 8-8 team that barely made it to .500 it would be wise to go all-in on Deshaun Watson. Fortunately, the Dolphins may have over-performed this season. Watson would provide a spark to Miami but not much more than Tua with upgrades on offense. Miami wouldn’t have to take on a hefty contract all while keeping their young talent in place. The Dolphins need to stay the course and not fall back to their old habits. As coach has said multiple times before, “trust the process”. Trust it enough to stick with it.