Arthur Blank: Falcons Didn't 'Deeply' Explore Deshaun Watson Trade
The Atlanta Falcons were seemingly on the verge of acquiring quarterback Deshaun Watson from the Houston Texans last offseason until the Cleveland Browns emerged late with a five-year, $230 million fully guaranteed contract.
At the time, it appeared to be a devastating loss for the Falcons, who reportedly gave a lengthy presentation and "rolled out the red carpet" for Watson and, as a result, burned the bridge with 14-year franchise quarterback Matt Ryan.
However, according to Falcons owner Arthur Blank, who spoke at the NFL owners meeting on the topic of potentially pursuing Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, the extent to which Atlanta looked into Watson wasn't extreme.
“I think we explored the one last year, which is what our responsibility was,” Blank told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “We didn’t explore it deeply, deeply."
In the midst of trade talks and questions about his legal situation, Watson, who has an extensive history with Blank dating back to high school during his time as a Falcons ball boy, visited the Falcons' headquarters in Flowery Branch.
But in Blank's words, that was merely due diligence, or fulfilling a "responsibility."
The result? Atlanta, per Blank, determined the fit wasn't there with Watson.
"We spent some time on it from a legal standpoint, personal standpoint, value standpoint on the player and a variety of things," Blank said. "Soon after we got into exploring, we decided it wasn’t a very good match."
And so, Watson and the Falcons went their separate ways ... but chronologically, the latter reportedly remained in pursuit of the former after the meeting, leaving questions unanswered.
One year later, Atlanta's poised to start 2022 third-round draft pick Desmond Ridder under center with the hopes that he can be the long-term answer while Watson will look to rebound after a rocky six-game stretch upon return from his suspension.
There was a time where Watson, a native of nearby Gainesville, Ga., appeared set for a homecoming - but as things played out, it just wasn't meant to be.
And according to Blank, it wasn't even "deeply" explored.
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