2017 NFL Draft: Clemson Deshaun Watson Scouting Report

Clemson’s Deshaun Watson is the biggest name quarterback prospect eligible for the 2017 NFL Draft.

Deshaun Watson became a household name last season after a year filled with highlight reel plays and an exceptional performance in the National Championship Game. The toughness and playmaking ability he showed against Alabama also caught the eye of NFL evaluators.

Watson has good height for the position, but needs to add some bulk to his frame. This is more important for Watson than other quarterbacks because of his ability to pick up yards with his legs. His athleticism is one of the strengths of his game and something an NFL offensive coordinator will need to incorporate.

It’s important to note that this isn’t just a running quarterback as Watson has a strong throwing arm and developing quarterback skills. He has a smooth and easy throwing motion that allows him to quickly get the ball out of his hands.

Watson plays with balance in the pocket and works to keep his body squared to his target. However, there are times when looks a little too mechanical and looks to throw underneath passes like a dart. His throws are less accurate and tend to sail on him when he uses this delivery.

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Clemson’s offense is a spread attack that features a lot of zone reads, wide receiver screens and throws to the flats. This type of offense makes things easier for a quarterback as it asks him to make less reads and allows him to get the ball out quickly.

Over the past several years, there have been a lot of quarterback prospects that entered the NFL working in a similar system as Watson. We’ve seen some of these prospects struggle adjusting to pro-style concepts; while others picked things up quicker.

Watson is a little different than most of the prospect from previous years. The biggest thing is that he features an accurate deep ball with proper loft and location. He also shows the ability to throw with anticipate.

His anticipate is a work in progress and something he needs to continue to improve. However, this is something that will get better at the next level as he’s asked to make more these types of throws.

Watson does a good job using his athleticism to avoid the rush. However, he needs to show more patience in the pocket. There are too many situations where he’s vacates the pocket too early. Again, this is something that will improve over time.

He is a tough kid who isn’t afraid to fight through contact. However, NFL teams will want him to work on protecting himself. This will involve learning when to slide and stepping out of bound before taking a big hit.

Current Draft Range: 1^st Round

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