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One of Robert Saleh’s former defensive stars is advocating for Deshaun Watson to find his way to the Jets.
“If I was Deshaun, I’d get out of there as quickly as possible. I’d head to New York. … The Jets,” 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman said on “The Cris Collinsworth Podcast,” which Sherman co-hosts.
“It would be the most beautiful. Decent offensive line. They’d have to find some threats, they’d have to find some offensive weapons, but I think there would be a lot more people excited to be there. I think the free-agency market this year is gonna be oversaturated because of the salary cap, but that’s what I would do. I’d be out of there on the first thing smokin’.”
Watson, 25, earned his third straight Pro Bowl nod in 2020 after throwing for an NFL-best 4,823 yards, 33 touchdowns and seven interceptions along with 444 yards rushing and three rushing scores. He’s played in all but one game over the past three seasons despite being sacked 155 times during that span.
And yet the Texans took a huge step back and went 4-12 this season. After a misguided trade last offseason that sent DeAndre Hopkins to the Cardinals, Bill O’Brien was fired as coach and general manager after an 0-4 start.
Watson’s frustration “was on a 2 then I took it to 10,” he tweeted last week, nearly word for word confirming an ESPN report those were his anger levels between the Hopkins trade and now. He wanted input on the Texans’ searches for a general manager and head coach.
But the team dragged its feet in setting up an interview with Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, about whom Watson has heard good things from Patrick Mahomes. Then, the team hired the Patriots’ Nick Caserio as its general manager instead of Korn Ferry’s recommended finalists, Omar Khan of the Steelers and ESPN’s Louis Riddick, a move that had much-maligned executive Jack Easterby’s fingerprints all over it.
“They’re saying [Watson is] not answering any calls or any texts — I wouldn’t either,” Sherman said. “He’s done everything. He’s taken a beating for you guys and played efficiently.”
Watson offered Jets fans some hope by liking an Instagram post that featured The Post’s “Watever It Takes” back page advocating for the Jets to pursue the quarterback.
Sherman has raved about Saleh since the Jets hired him, and seems to think a Saleh-Watson marriage would steer the Jets back into contention.
“Great pick up!” Sherman previously told The MMQB of Saleh. “He’s gonna turn that entire culture around!”
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