Deshaun Watson has requested a trade from Houston Texans

Quarterback Deshaun Watson has requested a trade from the Houston Texans, a person familiar with the move told the Associated Press.

The person was not authorized to speak publicly about the request and spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity Thursday.

Watson has a no-trade clause in his four-year, $156-million contract, so he could have some control over where he might be dealt.

A source told the AP on Wednesday night that the Texans had hired David Culley as their new coach. He takes over for interim head coach Romeo Crennel, who stepped in when Bill O’Brien was fired in October after an 0-4 start.

The same source who told the AP about the trade request said Watson made the request before Culley’s hire. He has been unhappy with the direction of the team for some time and Sports Illustrated reported weeks ago that Watson was upset the team didn’t initially request to interview Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy for its coaching vacancy.

Rams

If Jared Goff goes, one of these quarterbacks could be Rams’ 2021 starter

Aaron Rodgers, Deshaun Watson, Dak Prescott and Sam Darnold are among the quarterbacks the Rams might target if Jared Goff is no longer their starter.

Jan. 28, 2021

The Texans eventually interviewed Bieniemy, as well as Indianapolis defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, Buffalo assistant head coach/defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier, Detroit coach Jim Caldwell, former Cincinnati coach Marvin Lewis and Carolina offensive coordinator Joe Brady before landing on Culley.

Watson, a three-time Pro Bowler, wasn’t just unhappy about the way Houston went about its coaching search. He was also upset that owner Cal McNair did not take his opinion into account when hiring general manager Nick Caserio, according to reports from ESPN and the NFL Network.

The Texans, who had years of woes at quarterback before drafting Watson, don’t want to part with the talented 25-year-old who led the NFL in yards passing this season. But so far they have been unable to change his mind about his desire to leave.