Report: Carolina willing to deal anyone to land Deshaun Watson

The Carolina Panthers are still in the mix for Pro Bowl quarterback Deshaun Watson. According to Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports, Carolina is willing to offer key pieces including running back Christian McCaffrey. In a post released on Twitter, La Canfora said the Panthers are willing to part with three high draft picks and Christian McCaffrey in a package for Watson.

Earlier this week, CBS wrote the Miami Dolphins and Houston Texans have worked out a deal in principle to send the disgruntled Houston quarterback to Miami. The only holdup in the trade was the legal issues surrounding Watson currently. That holdup could potentially make a way for the Panthers to slide in and steal Watson away.

As of right now, the NFL has not weighed in on the ongoing investigation with Watson. He is currently not suspended nor is he on the commissioner’s exemption list. So, if a team were to trade for him now, it is possible that he could play right away.

Godell on Watson’s legal issues

Trade rumors are heating up for Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson with the trade deadline a week away. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell explained in a press conference Tuesday evening why Watson is not on the Commissioner’s Exempt list.

“There obviously are other, I’ll call it legal approaches that are being made either through civil cases, obviously the police have been investigating also,” Goodell said. “We don’t have all the access to that information at this point in time. And we pride ourselves on not interfering in that, being cooperative as we can to make sure we get all the facts. But I think that process is still ongoing. And until that process is ongoing and we have enough data and enough information to be able to make a determination of whether he should go on Commissioner Exempt. We don’t feel that we have that necessary information at this point.”

Goodell’s statements seemingly indicate that Deshaun Watson would be able to suit up immediately if traded. Watson has not been formally charged with a crime but is facing 10 criminal complaints and 22 civil lawsuits. All of which by women accusing him of sexual assault and inappropriate behavior during massage therapy sessions.

As of now, it is a two-team race to acquire Watson between the Dolphins and Panthers. And if Carolina is willing to offer anyone, including McCaffery then they have pushed all their chips to the middle of the table. Now the only thing left is for the Texans to make a decision.

On3’s Tim Verghese contributed to this story