While the Texans opted not to deal superstar JJ Watt at the trading deadline, numerous team and league sources believe it is a virtual certainty that he is gone next season, with the veteran adamant about finishing his career with a contender.
Watt, who turns 32 in March, has endured significant pain and injury to continue his career to this point and was among the players and coaches thoroughly worn-out by the tension-filled Bill O-Brien era (the coach/general manager was fired last month). His recent remarks about not wanting to endure "a rebuild," were sincere and, according to several sources who have spoken to him, if anything were soft.
"It's a wrap," said one source with knowledge of the situation. "He knows he only has so many games left and he is ready to go and try to win. The guys in that locker room are bracing for it."
Another source with knowledge of the situation said: "At the end of the day, Cal (owner Cal McNair) respects JJ too much to hold him back. I think everyone in their hearts already knows he is going to be moving on. He's done everything they could have ever asked for, and this chapter is closing."
Several general managers who explored significant trade talks with the Texans came away convinced that a trade is inevitable. Owner Cal McNair has been hopeful of keeping the star around, but the team badly needs draft capital – lacking a first and second-round pick in 2021 – it has been well known in league circles for weeks that Watt would prefer to be elsewhere and hiring a new coach and GM is very unlikely to change that.
"He'll be traded by March, bank on it," said one NFL general manager. "That's a hard trade to make in the middle of the season and there are going to be questions about the medicals. Jack (acting GM Jack Easterby) can't make that trade in November. And the owner probably wasn't quite ready to make it, but it's coming."
Watt, who turns 32 in March, has endured significant pain and injury to continue his career to this point and was among the players and coaches thoroughly worn-out by the tension-filled Bill O-Brien era (the coach/general manager was fired last month). His recent remarks about not wanting to endure "a rebuild," were sincere and, according to several sources who have spoken to him, if anything were soft.
"It's a wrap," said one source with knowledge of the situation. "He knows he only has so many games left and he is ready to go and try to win. The guys in that locker room are bracing for it."
Another source with knowledge of the situation said: "At the end of the day, Cal (owner Cal McNair) respects JJ too much to hold him back. I think everyone in their hearts already knows he is going to be moving on. He's done everything they could have ever asked for, and this chapter is closing."
Several general managers who explored significant trade talks with the Texans came away convinced that a trade is inevitable. Owner Cal McNair has been hopeful of keeping the star around, but the team badly needs draft capital – lacking a first and second-round pick in 2021 – it has been well known in league circles for weeks that Watt would prefer to be elsewhere and hiring a new coach and GM is very unlikely to change that.
"He'll be traded by March, bank on it," said one NFL general manager. "That's a hard trade to make in the middle of the season and there are going to be questions about the medicals. Jack (acting GM Jack Easterby) can't make that trade in November. And the owner probably wasn't quite ready to make it, but it's coming."