The Deshaun Watson trade saga is finally over as Watson chose to waive his no-trade clause for the Cleveland Browns, who paid him generously with a $230 million contract that was fully guaranteed. This is yet another elite quarterback that the LA Chargers have to go through in the AFC West. The Chargers do play the Browns, in Cleveland, next season.
The competition during the season is not the only impact that this trade has on the Chargers as well. In the trade, among other assets, the Houston Texans received the 13th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft from the Browns.
The Bolts pick four selections later at 17 and with a different team ahead of them, it does impact who might be on the board at 17. The Texans have different needs than the Browns did before the Watson trade and there is one need that stands out that will impact the Chargers at 17.
The Chargers are guaranteed to have one less receiver on the board at 17 in the 2022 NFL Draft.
I am not a betting man but if I was (just kidding, maybe I am), I would bet that the Texans are going to take a wide receiver with the 13th overall pick in the draft. None of the receivers are worth picking with the third-overall pick and the quarterbacks certainly are not worth taking for Houston.
Houston seems to have something in Davis Mills and it would be much better for the team to use that draft pick for another asset, give Mills a full season with the new coaching staff, and then go from there. The quarterback class next year is much better and with more draft assets from Cleveland, the Texans could even move up if needed.
The receiving corps in Houston is rough. Brandin Cooks is solid but he is in the last year of his deal and is by no means a long-term asset. The next best receiver on the team is probably Nico Collins, who was a third-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
The Texans need a premier, young receiver for Mills to throw the ball to and there are plenty of options for the Texans to consider. Garrett Wilson is WR1 on my personal board but the likes of Treylon Burks, Drake London, Jameson Williams and Chris Olave are all talented.
A first-round receiver does not seem to be in the cards for the Chargers after re-signing Mike Williams but if the Bolts plug in other starting players in free agency then they could look to add more firepower to the offense. A trio of Keenan Allen, Williams and Wilson would be quite scary.
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Regardless of who they take, there will be one less receiver on the board for the Chargers at 17 and that very well could be the difference between them taking a receiver and someone else with the pick.