Houston Texans Select Deshaun Watson: Rapid Draft Grade

The Houston Texans need a quarterback. That was the narrative going into this offseason. Heck it was the narrative dating back the past five years.

This franchise has never taken a 1st round QB in the history of GM Rick Smith. That dates all the way back to 2006. One could say it’s a big reason why they haven’t been able to quite reach the top despite fielding some really good teams. Now they have a Super Bowl-ready defense and offensive playmakers everywhere. All they need is a leader and trigger man to make it all work. Who better to do it than Deshaun Watson, fresh off winning a national championship.

Here is what NFL.com draft expert Lance Zierlein had to say about Watson and what the Texans could be getting.

"“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.”"

Grade:  B

From the pure need of a quarterback standpoint, this was an easy decision. Still, giving up a future 1st round pick come up and get a guy who probably still would’ve been around into at least the mid-teens sags the final grade. Even so the Texans did exactly what they had to do. Watson has the intangibles and presence to be that leader they badly need under center.