MIRROR IMAGES
Deshaun Watson sent his draft stock into the stratosphere with his heroic comeback victory over mighty Alabama in the national championship game. It capped one of the most decorated and successful careers in college football history. Combined with his unique athleticism and clear intangible qualities as a leader and worker, some have begun to see a striking resemblance to Mariota.
Brooks isn’t the only prominent person to compare Watson to the Titans star. NFL.com colleague Lance Zierlein conducted a scouting report on him and reached the same conclusion. He explains it as such.
NFL COMPARISON: Marcus Mariota
BOTTOM LINE: Teams will have to weigh the inconsistent field vision and decision-making against his size, athleticism, leadership and production. While not perfect, teams can add checks to both arm and accuracy boxes for Watson. However, discussions about whether or not his areas of improvement can be corrected will likely determine whether a team will view him as a high-upside prospect or a franchise quarterback. Watson’s transition from Clemson’s offense to a pro-style attack will obviously take time, but his combination of intangibles and athletic ability make him worth a first-round selection.
Watson also has more experience than any QB in the 2017 class and was by far the best in Clemson history. In the two years before his ascent to the starting job, the team was a 21-5. In the two years he was at the helm, they went 28-2 and reached two-straight national title games. Both times he performed nearly flawless. As the stakes and the pressure mount, he seems to just get better. That is what NFL teams pine for in a quarterback.
CHECKING THE BOXES
Up until now there have been reasons to hold back. Some were concerned Watson might be smaller than advertised and that he lacked the necessary arm strength and accuracy to hit plays down the field. He seemed to answer both issues with an excellent showing at the combine. He measured over 6’2″, which is plenty adequate and looks very sharp in the passing drills.
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Put simply there are no more questions for him to answer. Watson beat some of the best teams in the country in college. He made spectacular individual plays, was outstanding in the clutch and showed at the combine he’s got the necessary tools for the NFL. Multiple sources have compared him to Marcus Mariota, a quarterback that has been confirmed was a valued target of GM Ryan Pace.
So it’s time to ask the question. Is this the guy they’re quietly coveting at the #3 overall pick?
