LA Chargers: 2 possible trades to acquire J.J. Watt

2. A salary and picks-based trade starring Trai Turner

This is the only other trade that I could realistically see happening as it gives the Houston Texans a little bit of both of the things that they would want. It gives the Texans some salary-cap relief, albeit not a full relief, and also gives the team some draft capital.

Trai Turner was acquired last offseason by the LA Chargers and was one of the most disappointing players on the team in 2020. Not only did Turner struggle in staying healthy, but he also was not very good when he was healthy.

For that reason, Turner is a prime candidate to be cut this offseason. If the Chargers trade or cut Turner before June 1 they free up $11.5 million and don’t have to pay any dead cap. If Houston keeps Turner, they would save $6 million.

Two late-round picks for Watt might not seem like that much but it would be a fair return for one year of Watt, who is obviously after his prime. The most I could see a desperate team trading for Watt, assuming they take on his entire contract, would be a fourth-round pick. Anything in the third round or earlier is a mistake.

The Chargers send two late-round picks as the cost for packaging Turner in the deal that way they are only taking on an additional $6 million in salary-cap space.

You could make the case for Casey Hayward or Chris Harris as well but I doubt that happens as neither player has zero dead cap owed like Turner and Williams. There is no way the Chargers take on Watt’s contract while also paying dead cap on a traded player.

What do you think? Would you take any of these trades if you were the GM of the LA Chargers? Let us know in the comments down below!