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Here are the underrated benefits of Texans holding off​ on a Deshaun Watson trade

Dolphins Tua Tagovailoa, Deshaun Watson
Deshaun Watson is still a Houston Texan. Composite image by Jack Brame.
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The NFL trade deadline came and went. Deshaun Watson is still a Texan. So are a few others. Despite the predictions of some, there are players who still call Kirby Drive home. Some are frustrated, while others remain calm. I'm one of the ones you can say that has remained calm. It's pretty easy to see what's going on here. Texans general manager Nick Caserio is playing chess, not checkers.

Mark Ingram was traded back to the team that drafted him, the Saints, in what seemed like a favor to Ingram. Charles Omenihu was sent to the 49ers after being a healthy scratch the past few weeks. Both guys were traded for late round picks. Given Caserio's recent history with late round picks, no one is excited about the return because no one knows if Caserio will be able to turn them into anything.

Guys like Justin Reid and Brandin Cooks remain on the roster despite being good enough to command at least a slightly better haul than a couple late round picks. Cooks was rumored to be a veteran the team would like to keep to build around for their culture, despite putting out a tweet that voiced his displeasure over the Ingram trade. Reid is seemingly in line for an extension, as he's a free agent at the end of the season. He could be looked upon as another building block for the future.

Despite all the rumors, chatter, banter, and speculation, it's Watson's trade to a new suitor that remains the elephant in the room. I'm not mad at all about it. Caserio has a value in mind for Watson and is refusing to accept anything less than that. Waiting until the offseason brings up a couple of reasons why playing chess instead of checkers here is a good idea.

For starters, it allows potential suitors to see the quarterbacks in the draft class. None of them are anything to write home about. There's not one quarterback prospect as of this writing anyone can say is a clear-cut top five pick. None of them have shown or proven to be worthy of being a franchise quarterback. Teams at the top of the draft that need a quarterback now would be far more likely to make a deal knowing they can't use their draft pick to land their franchise guy. This scenario also allows the Texans to see where said teams are drafting and who's potentially available at those slots. A team with as many needs/holes as the Texans can benefit from drafting the best player available in every round.

An underrated benefit of waiting is the ability to attain draft picks from three years into the future. The NFL doesn't allow picks to be traded beyond three years out. Waiting allows you to pick up another year's worth of picks from any potential trade partner. Teams like to include future picks in deals when trading for a big time player because they think their record will be good enough that the picks will be low, therefore giving them the upper hand in the deal. I'm all for stockpiling draft picks, especially good ones, but only if the front office can be trusted to rebuild through the draft.

Most think Watson holds all the cards because of his no trade clause. Despite the rumors of him preferring Miami and his insistence on getting out of Houston ASAP, he's still here. Caserio is holding onto him until he sees fit, rather, until he sees the return he's looking for. Kudos to him for not caving under pressure. Now, it's time to focus on the offseason, a potential trade, and what that may look like.

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Framer Valdez recorded six strikeouts. Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images.

Jason Heyward hit a two-run homer early and Jon Singleton had three hits, capped by a tiebreaking RBI single in Houston’s four-run eighth inning, and the Astros got a 6-3 win over the Oakland Athletics on Thursday.

Brent Rooker homered off Ryan Pressly (2-3) with one out in the eighth to tie it at 2-all.

Yainer Diaz and Kyle Tucker hit consecutive singles with one out in the eighth to chase T.J. McFarland (2-3) and bring on Grant Holman. There were two outs in the inning when Singleton’s single to center field scored Diaz to put the Astros on top.

Jake Meyers followed with a run-scoring double before the Athletics intentionally walked Heyward to load the bases. Mauricio Dubón singled on a ground ball to left field to score two more, pushing the lead to 6-2.

Tyler Nevin hit a solo homer off Josh Hader with one out in the ninth before the closer retired the next two batters to end it.

Houston’s Framber Valdez allowed five hits and a run with six strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings to help the Astros avoid a three-game sweep and snap a three-game skid with the victory.

Oakland starter Mitch Spence permitted seven hits and two runs in seven innings.

Singleton hit a ground-rule double with one out in the second before Heyward smacked a line drive into the second row in right field for his first home run as an Astro to make it 2-0.

It was the third hit in 12 games with Houston for Heyward, who signed with the Astros Aug. 29 after being released by the Dodgers.

Jacob Wilson doubled to open the seventh and moved to third on a ground out by Nevin. The Athletics cut the lead to 1 when Wilson scored on a single by Daz Cameron that chased Valdez.

Bryan Abreu took over and pinch-hitter Seth Brown grounded into a double play on his second pitch to preserve the lead.

Lawrence Butler doubled with one out in the third to extend his career-long hitting streak to 20 games.

Singleton doubled again to start Houston’s fourth before Spence sat down the next 11 Astros. Houston’s next base runner came on a double by Dubón with two outs in the seventh and Alex Bregman grounded out to leave him stranded.

Trainer’s Room

Athletics: 1B Tyler Soderstrom (left wrist injury) is scheduled to come off the injured list Friday for the start of a series against the White Sox.

Astros: 2B Jose Altuve was out of the lineup Thursday, a day after leaving in the fifth inning with discomfort in his right side. Manager Joe Espada said he was feeling better Thursday and that he is listed as day to day.

Up Next

Athletics: LHP Brady Basso (0-0, 1.93 ERA) will start for Oakland against LHP Garrett Crochet (6-11, 3.83) in the opener of a three-game series against the Chicago White Sox Friday night.

Astros: Houston LHP Yusei Kikuchi (8-9, 4.31) opposes LHP Samuel Aldegheri (1-1, 2.45) in the first of three games against the Los Angeles Angels Friday night.

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