ESPN’s Todd McShay still will not give former Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson a first-round grade, but he does think Watson will be the No. 2 pick in April’s 2017 NFL Draft. At least that is what he said on Wednesday, when describing why he thinks Watson will go No. 2 to the San Francisco 49ers.
Since Watson and former North Carolina quarterback Mitch Trubisky declared for the NFL Draft last month, McShay had the Tar Heels’ quarterback going ahead of Watson in his first couple of mock drafts. But McShay has since changed his mind. Why?
He says it is Watson’s experience, especially the fact the former Tiger has played in and performed well in so many big games during his Clemson career, while Trubisky has started just 13 games overall. Watson was 32-3 as starter in his Clemson career, including a 14-1 record this past season in leading the Tigers to the national championship.
McShay says more than ever, NFL teams are searching for quarterbacks with experience and how they respond in big games to make a decision.
“I think, more so than ever, how intelligent the game has become for that position, it so much more important than ever before to spend time with these guys and get on the board and figure out how long it takes them to pick up the schemes they are trying to implement and just their overall intelligence,” the ESPN analyst said on SportsCenter. “I think it will be interesting between the two. Watson has a lot more game experience.
“I did not put a first-round grade on any of these quarterbacks, but at the end of the day, we know they are going to get bumped up. We know the first three teams in the draft have major quarterback needs … Cleveland, San Francisco and Chicago.”
McShay likes the fact Watson has played on the big stage and had 4 fourth-quarter come-from-behind wins this season, in which he threw the game-winning score in all four games. Watson threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Hunter Renfrow with one second left to beat Alabama in the national championship game.
“With Watson, you have an unbelievable competitor,” McShay said. “He is 32-3 as a starter. He is an absolute winner. He has mobility and the arm. His inconsistent accuracy and issues with his decision making and field vision are what keep him out of the first round in my opinion, but in a mock draft, I’m going off what I think is going to happen, that’s why I have Watson going No. 2 to San Francisco and would be a good fit as a mobile quarterback with Cal Shanahan as the new coach.”
McShay’s counterpart on ESPN, Mel Kiper, still has Trubisky as the first quarterback taken in the draft.
“What is going to be interesting is what does Cal Shanahan do here? Who does he feel is Matt Ryan? Who fits his scheme the best? You want a guy inside the pocket or a guy dangerous outside, who finished strong against Alabama,” Kiper said. “Two years in a row getting the best of Nick Saban’s defense. But I think it is Mitch Trubisky for Shanahan. Yeah you mentioned time, and the luxury of time is on Cal Shanahan in developing a quarterback like Trubisky, who has only had one year of starting experience.”
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