2017 NFL Mock Draft: First-round projections after Week 14
32. . QB. Clemson. Deshaun Watson. 9. player
People have been asking the question, ‘What’s wrong with Deshaun Watson?’ However, if you look at his stats this season, they’re eerily similar to the ones he posted a season ago when he was a finalist for the Heisman.
Still, it’s clear that his decision making has been suspect, throwing 15 interceptions, but that’s something that can be cleaned up. One reason for his high interception rate is the fact that he doesn’t consistently check his second and third options, just looks at the No. 1 guy and either forces it or tucks and runs.
Watson does have the talent, though. If this were last year and he was draft eligible, he would have likely been the first or second quarterback chosen. However, he has taken a minor step back, but there are potentially two games left in his season to prove the doubters wrong. The Tigers made the playoff and he could improve his stock.
Arizona’s Carson Palmer has been one of the better quarterbacks in the NFL for the past couple of years, even leading an electric Cardinals offense a season ago, but it’s clear that he’s approaching retirement.
Palmer is aging by the week and he’s looking more like Peyton Manning did in his second to last or even final season. Time to find his replacement before he decides to hang it up. Watson could learn a lot from Carson.