Report: Surprise team schedules meeting with Deshaun Watson after expressing interest

The Deshaun Watson sweepstakes continues to gain momentum as each day passes.

On Tuesday morning, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the Atlanta Falcons — who still have longtime quarterback Matt Ryan locked into a contract with a no-trade clause — have emerged as a surprise candidate to land the Houston Texans quarterback.

Now, another NFL reporters says the Falcons brass is set to hold an official meeting with Watson on Wednesday, while noting the Cleveland Browns are currently in Houston to meet with the former Clemson Tigers star.

Atlanta Falcons are set to meet with Deshaun Watson on Wednesday, according to a league source. Falcons granted permission to talk with Pro Bowl quarterback and make their sales pitch. Browns are in Houston today to meet with Watson after previous Panthers and Saints meetings

— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) March 15, 2022

“Atlanta Falcons are set to meet with Deshaun Watson on Wednesday, according to a league source,” Aaron Wilson tweeted. “Falcons granted permission to talk with Pro Bowl quarterback and make their sales pitch. Browns are in Houston today to meet with Watson after previous Panthers and Saints meetings.”

Surprise sleeper team emerges in pursuit of Deshaun Watson

Many teams have been linked to Watson, including the Carolina Panthers, Seattle Seahawks, Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns, New Orleans Saints, and others. Now, the Atlanta Falcons have been linked to Watson as a sleeper team, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

“The Falcons have emerged as a sleeper team to acquire Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson, league sources tell @mortreport and me,” Schefter tweeted. The Falcons join the Panthers, Saints and Browns as teams that have met with, or are interested in, trading for Watson. More to come on ESPN.

“Falcons owner Arthur Blank is fond of Deshaun Watson from the days when the former Gainesville (Ga) High quarterback worked multiple years as a Falcons’ ball boy and developed a relationship with Blank’s family.”

Watson’s legal situation is now cleared, and ever since, he has been mentioned as a likely trade candidate throughout NFL circles. Multiple teams reportedly have offers on the table for Watson, while he is set to meet with some throughout the next couple of days.

The Falcons entrance into the Watson sweepstakes is a true curveball, and could have massive impacts on the quarterback market around the league.

The NFC South clearly likes Watson, as the Saints, Panthers and Falcons have been linked to him. Even the Buccaneers were thrown around as a possibility prior to Tom Brady coming out of retirement.

But the biggest question mark regarding the Falcons’ rumored interest in Watson? That would be current starting quarterback Matt Ryan. Having Watson and Ryan on the same roster would not be plausible. Ryan is due over $36 million against the cap next season.

The Falcons even just restructured Ryan’s contract last week, creating $12 million in cap room. Ryan was set to count nearly $50 million against the cap prior to the restructuring of his deal.

Ryan threw for nearly 4,000 yards last season. It was the first time since 2010 he did not reach at least 4,000 yards in a single season. If the Falcons did acquire Watson, they would be committing to a younger quarterback that is also ready to contribute right away. Then, the question would become what happens with Ryan. He could be included in a potential deal, or he could be shipped elsewhere to another quarterback needy team in the league.