NFL Insider outlines next steps for Deshaun Watson following Friday's breaking news

Deshaun Watson has been officially cleared from any potential criminal charges after Friday’s legal proceedings, according to NFL Insider Ian Rapoport.

“Now that the criminal matters are over — and Deshaun Watson won’t be charged — expect his trade market to ramp up quickly,” Rapoport tweeted. “Teams have been waiting. This clears the path for a deal by the start of the league year.”

This is a heck of a way to close out a wild week involving starting NFL franchise quarterback movement throughout the league, and Deshaun Watson is the last high-profile QB teams were waiting to see how it all played out.

Deshaun Watson has a no-trade clause and he’ll want to talk to any interested teams willing to do a deal with the #Texans. Interest will come quickly, but Watson’s decision may take a few days. https://t.co/1GjtIqaDYx

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 11, 2022

With Rapoport noting the no-trade clause, it’s clear the former Clemson dual-threat passer will have a significant say in where he lands. There have been several teams linked to the Houston Texans QB, including successful franchises like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Seatle Seahawks and Pittsburgh Steelers. The Panthers, Eagles and Dolphins have also had ties to the Watson sweepstakes.

RELATED: Panthers aggressively pursuing Deshaun Watson according to report

According to a report that surfaced over the last two days, Watson has made it clear Pittsburgh is his top destination and with today’s news, the possibility of him replacing Ben Roethlisberger is carrying merit.

Deshaun Watson’s preferred NFL destination revealed

Deshaun Watson is one of the final quarterbacks that NFL teams, media and fans are monitoring as the Houston Texans’ quarterback gets closer to learning his legal fate for multiple allegations involving sexual misconduct.

Friday marks the first deposition, so a resolution — at least from a legal standpoint — is coming sooner, rather than later for the former Clemson Tigers star.

As teams are clearly waiting to see the outcome of the investigation, former NFL quarterback Shaun King — who now works in sports media and coaches college and aspiring NFL passers — has been making the rounds on multiple radio stations and podcasts with a report that Watson has a clear first choice in mind as his next NFL destination.

Andrew Fillipponi, a mainstay on Pittsburgh sports talk radio, tweeted out King’s segment from a video interview he appeared on VSIN, a sports gambling media outlet founded by Brent Musberger. While this is a report from a single source as of now, it’s clear trusted members of the Pittsburgh Steelers media find it significant enough to share it to the rabid fan base who are desperately wondering Mike Tomlin’s plan to replace Ben Roethlisberger.

“The interest is mutual,” King said. “Deshaun Watson has a no-trade clause in his contract, but Pittsburgh is his desired destination if he can find clarity with his legal situation. As we know, Pittsburgh is in a situation where they need a quarterback as well — they’re in the market for one. I think from a draft asset standpoint, Pittsburgh will have to get creative. I think the player or players that they can send back are far more impactful and significant than what Denver sent to Seattle.

“This starts with Friday [deposition]. Hopefully things go well and we find some clarity… I was told soon thereafter there could be an announcement that Deshaun Watson will be the next quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers.”

That’s a strong statement from a former NFL quarterback who isn’t a major media personality, but seemingly appears to have strong knowledge to make his report known and appear on various radio stations throughout the country backing his claim. But in the wild world of NFL sources and reports, it’s hard to tell if something carries merit until it becomes reality.

Earlier this week as rumors began to swirl, one Pittsburgh beat writer took a hard stance in the other direction, contradicting King’s report.