This is part of an ongoing series checking in on the first round of the 2017 rookie draft class. I began by exploring the skill players who have had their fifth-year option picked up for the 2021 season. Today we look at Deshaun Watson and his situation in Houston. Check out Mike Williams, Christian McCaffrey, and Patrick Mahomes to get caught up.

The Houston Texans have had a problem. Despite having star talent even casual fans could recognize the last few years, the Texans just can’t seem to get over the hump. They have won back-to-back division titles, but the Texans have yet to find any playoff success. It has been a long-running issue since the franchise was added to the league in 2002, long before Deshaun Watson got there. Still, Watson has looked like nothing short of a franchise star to this point in his career.

Bill O’Brien and Deshaun Watson: Moving Forward

Head coach/general manager/future college football offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien was at it again this offseason. Ownership confusingly allowed him to continue to acquire players and trade away assets. As a reward, O’Brien managed to trade one of the top five wide receivers in the league and not get a first-round pick back. He did get an aging David Johnson on a bloated contract, though. He did also replace DeAndre Hopkins with new receiving threat Brandin Cooks.

Cooks is a talented receiver. Unfortunately, he is also one hit to the head away from moving into an assisted living home. To his credit, Watson has managed to avoid being Hackenberged or Savaged by O’Brien to this point in his career. Last year Watson threw three more interceptions while seeing his completion percentage and yardage both drop. Hopefully, those trends don’t continue. Regardless, Watson has proven himself a valuable quarterback in the NFL.

Will Watson Remain in Houston Long Term?

The Texans exercised the fifth-year option on Watson, committing to him for at least the 2021 season. Reportedly they are in talks to extend Watson long term. The flip-side of those rumors is that he is expecting to be paid in line with Patrick Mahomes once he gets his mega-deal. The wild card here is O’Brien, and how long he keeps his roles with the team. If he is at the helm, honestly, I wouldn’t believe anyone who says they know what he will do.

If the Texans falter this season, though, O’Brien will likely be out of Houston at the end of the season. In that case, it would be on an entirely new regime to decide if Watson is the future of the Texans franchise. It’s difficult to imagine any front office deciding to gamble and move on from Watson, but crazier things have happened. A team did trade for Nick Foles while Cam Newton is still a free agent, after all. With a competent front office able to actually extract value from their assets, the new guys could even make a run at Trevor Lawrence or Justin Fields. Until the ink dries on the dotted line, there’s no telling what the future holds.

Can’t get enough Texans content? Check out our own Ryan Hicks‘ Ceilings and Floors for their skill players, fresh off the presses! Follow me on Twitter @KyeP_Sports as we wrap up the fifth-year option players from 2017. Stick with Belly Up Fantasy Sports as we help you get ready for the season, and check Belly Up Sports for all your other sports news.