"That would be a whole lot of baggage and drama" - NFL fans split on Stephen A. Smith's plea for Steelers to acquire Deshaun Watson 

Stephen A. Smith  has urged the Pittsburgh Steelers to trade for Deshaun Watson
Stephen A. Smith has urged the Pittsburgh Steelers to trade for Deshaun Watson

Deshaun Watson is arguably the most controversial figure in the NFL right now. Watson was found not guilty on nine accusations of sexual misconduct by a grand jury Friday. Despite the jury's verdict, not everyone is ready to believe Watson's innocence and turn their attention to his trade rumors.

ESPN's Stephen A. Smith is ready to focus on Watson's trade destination. Smith is a lifelong Pittsburgh Steelers fan. He tweeted Friday with a plea to the Steelers to exhaust all of their resources in trading for the 26-year-old.

Smith's take was met with mixed bag of comments and reactions on Twitter.

One of those tweets came from Adam Douglas, who said the hypothetical transaction would bring a lot of baggage and drama to the organization.

A user with the handle Mister Miracle tweeted their disappointment over male sports analysts moving on from the victims and their stories in a matter of minutes.

They're referencing the fact that as soon as Deshaun Watson's criminal charges were dismissed, the majority of the media's attention turned to landing destinations for the quarterback.

The Houston Texans' asking price for Deshaun Watson is reportedly three first-round picks and some players. One Steelers fan replied to Smith, saying three first-rounders is too much to give up for one player.

Dave Capuano notes that Deshaun Watson is likely to be suspended by the NFL for violating the personal conduct policy. That said, Capuano believes the Steelers ownership, coaching, and fanbase offer Watson an ideal spot to go.

Capuano also brought up a legitimate question as to who would have to be traded to Houston to acquire the three-time Pro Bowler.

Another fan agreed with Smith's take. They think the Steelers' ownership makes them a good place for Watson and that the team should work fast to make a deal happen.

Mitchell Concannon sided with the camp that believes Watson will be a good fit due to the Rooney Family being stable owners.

One fan questioned why Watson would want to be traded in the AFC, which is more packed with ascending superstar quarterbacks than the NFC. Watson has a no-trade clause in his contract. That means he can't be traded anywhere without his approval.

One fan called Watson's morals into question. They said there are more important things in life than wins and losses.

Michael Spencer had an opinion shared by many. There's no doubt that Deshaun Watson is one of the elite quarterbacks in the league when he's playing at his best.

But his off-the-field questions remain, despite being acquitted by the grand jury.

Finally, one fan summarized the comments section of Smith's Tweet perfectly by admitting they're just there to read about people's takes on the debate.

Deshaun Watson will be traded sooner rather than later

Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson
Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson

Watson will forever be a controversial figure due to what's transpired over the past 12 months. Being found not guilty doesn't mean the events that preceded the verdict will be erased from the memory of those that followed this case.

That said, Watson appears poised to find a new home sooner rather than later, as he's now the most skilled and talented player available in the league. The Carolina Panthers, Philadelphia Eagles, and Seattle Seahawks are just a few reported teams interested in his services.

Teams will have to give up a substantial amount of assets for Deshaun Watson. But it's not every day that a 26-year-old superstar quarterback is available.

Quick Links

App download animated image Get the free App now