Back in 2022, the Atlanta Falcons were deep in the race for Deshaun Watson, and it's fascinating to imagine how that blockbuster deal might have reshaped the NFL landscape. Terry Fontenot and the Falcons were on the brink of a major decision that could have dramatically altered their roster and the league itself.
Ultimately, Watson landed with the Cleveland Browns, signing a record-setting fully guaranteed contract. His time there, however, was marred by off-field issues and a struggle to regain his pre-COVID form. In hindsight, Arthur Blank and the Falcons might have dodged a significant bullet.
A recent episode of the "4th and South Podcast," hosted by Leonard Fournette and Jarvis Landry, unveiled an intriguing behind-the-scenes story. During the 2022 offseason, as Watson was poised to make his NFL return, he reached out to Fournette and Landry, both free agents at the time, to join him in Atlanta.
Fournette shared that Watson promised to keep them updated, but communication went silent before his eventual trade to Cleveland. The duo, eager to team up with a three-time Pro Bowl QB, were left in the lurch.
Landry, then with the Browns, was initially contacted by Watson and soon brought Fournette into the conversation. The two LSU alumni were quickly sold on the idea after a brief chat with Watson.
Landry even spent several days discussing his potential role with then-Falcons head coach Arthur Smith and was on the verge of visiting the team's facilities. But just as he was about to leave, the news broke that Watson was heading to the Browns.
Instead of joining Watson in Cleveland, Landry found his way to the NFC South, signing a one-year deal with the New Orleans Saints. Fournette, meanwhile, opted to re-sign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on a three-year contract.
Fast forward to today, and the Falcons have built an exciting offensive core featuring Bijan Robinson, Drake London, and Kyle Pitts, with Michael Penix Jr. at quarterback. Had the Watson trade gone through, we might have seen a vastly different lineup with Watson, Fournette, Landry, and Pitts leading the charge. This alternate reality could have even affected coaching moves, like Kevin Stefanski's potential shift to Atlanta or Fontenot's job security.
While it's intriguing to ponder this alternate NFL universe, the Falcons seem to be in a solid position with their current roster, perhaps better off than if the Watson deal had materialized.