The NFL Draft’s slap in the face doesnt sting as much anymore, but it has driven Deshaun Watson in his first training camp with the Houston Texans.
NFL Network on Twitter
Turning heads at training camp? @HoustonTexans very pleased with @deshaunwatson. https://t.co/oHYQ4GJT8p
Watson was the latest victim of the bizarro world that is the NFL Draft experience, where bonafide No. 1 quarterbacks and proven college studs drop on the board as physically gifted nobodies enchant NFL executives and rise up the draft ladder.
Watson dropped to No. 12 and had to take a back seat to unproven Mitchell Trubisky, who went first and everyone in the world knew wasnt better than Watson. Everyone except the Chicago Bears. Watson was a National Champion in college, a proven performer and clutch player with his legs and arm. But it wasnt enough to make him the No. 1 QB selected in the draft. It was too obvious a pick I guess.
I get it. As an NFL executive, if you always go with the obvious pick, I guess you don’t really justify your job and pay grade.
Now that the dust has cleared and the fantasies of misled GMs are becoming reality, Houston has quickly figured out that they picked the best QB in the draft. Texans coach Bill OBrien told reporters that Watson is way ahead of any rookie quarterback hes ever been around.
It’s not like the list of rookie QBs O’Brien has coached is littered with All-Pros. Along with Watson, O’Brien has also coached rookie quarterback Tom Savage in Houston and rookie quarterbacks Matt Gutierrez, Kevin O’Connell, Zac Robinson, Brian Hoyer and Ryan Mallett in his time with the New England Patriots. But Watson is the only first-round draft pick in that group of well below average pigskin slingers and he had a remarkable college career. O’Brien has raved about his work ethic and maturity.
Some are even comparing Watson to Hall of Famer Warren Moon, one of the greatest pure passers to ever grace this game.
John McClain on Twitter
I covered Warren Moon from from Day 1 for 10 years. At his 3rd practice, Watson reminds me of Moon n his first camp in 1984. So smooth!
Watson was considered the most ready-for-pro QB in the draft and Trubisky was considered by some experts to have more upside. Well Watson has hit the ground running while early reports out of Bears camp has Trubisky struggling with under-center snaps. Hes getting second team reps, but hasn’t even been named the backup yet.
Trubisky may have been selected first, but Watson is light years ahead and ready to make an impact as a rookie.
