Deshaun Watson
I said Trubisky is my favorite, but Watson is a close second. He’s everything Ryan Pace wants in a quarterback. He’s a winner, an incredible leader, he elevated Clemson’s football program to greatness, and led his team to two national title appearances in his final two years – losing a heartbreaker in the first, and leading a storybook, championship-winning drive in the second.
Interestingly, according to experts, Watson was a slam-dunk first overall pick had he come out last year. Instead, he returned, went on to win the national title, and somehow lowered his appeal in scouts’ eyes. Yes, he threw 17 INTs in 2016, but he played like a champ when it mattered. He won, constantly. And he destroyed Alabama’s vaunted defense in back-to-back title games. The stage isn’t big enough for this guy. At some point, you put the stats away and watch the tape.
Watson has his issues, sure. His ball placement and accuracy can be on and off at times, and his deep ball accuracy is OK. And he doesn’t have a lot of experience making full-field reads based on the design of the offense that was run at Clemson. But he’s hella smart – he’ll pick it up.
Overall, his intangibles are off the charts. Is he a finished product? No. But all of his flaws can be corrected, and I have the most confidence in him being able to step in and contribute the quickest. Watson’s pro comparison on NFL.com is Marcus Mariota. Considering Pace tried as hard as he could to move up and take Mariota two years ago, you can guarantee Watson is high on his list.
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