Future in Quarterback Watson’s Hands

Written by Ryan Musich

For the first time since 2002, the Houston Texans drafted a Quarterback in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft. Houston swapped 1st round picks with the Cleveland Browns and drafted Deshaun Watson with the 12th overall pick in the draft. According to an article on State of the Texans, Houston Texans GM Rick Smith revealed that the trade with Cleveland was being worked on as the Texans original pick started getting closer. “We started talking about it around pick ten to start doing something,” Smith said of the draft unfolding. “Whether or not if we wanted to do it. So we have those conversations over and over during the draft, you try to make a decision. Once New Orleans made the pick, I picked up call the phone and called Sashi (Brown) and said we are going to do it. (StateoftheTexans, 4/27/17)”

Highlighted by a trade of major disappointment Brock Osweiler to the Cleveland Browns, The Texans offseason so far has been criticized by a lot of the fan dishonorable for a lack of major free agent moves, especially at the Quarterback position. Houston has seen QBs such as Brian Hoyer, Mike Glennon, Matt McGloin, and Kirk Cousins sign new contracts. They have also missed out on Tony Romo (Retirement) as well. The Texans plan A this offseason was to sign Tony Romo and not draft a QB in the first couple rounds this year, but unfortunately when Romo retired, Rick Smith was pretty much set on taking a QB in the first round of the draft. Names such as Texas Tech’s Patrick Mahomes, Clemson’s Deshaun Watson, North Carolina’s Mitchell Trubisky, and Notre Dame’s DeShone Kizer were names linked to the team, but when Watson was photographed at Bush Intercontinental Airport here in Houston a few weeks ago, speculation was swirling that the Texans were locked in on drafting Watson. Just so happened that they showed that Thursday night, as Rick Smith pulled off a move that helped the Texans move up 13 spots to draft the new offensive weapon for the Texans.

From the moment, Bill O’Brien and Rick Smith met the 6-2, 221-pound National Championship winner, they knew he was a good fit for Houston. “He’s a winner, 33-5 as a college quarterback, National Champion,” O’Brien said Thursday night. “When I met him at the Combine, he was a very poised guy. I felt that he was a guy that answered the questions very honestly, had a good memory, good recall of specific plays that happened during his college career. When he came here to meet with us, he met with our offensive staff. It was impressive. He was able to learn plays teach the plays back to us, talk about his own history, his own ability to overcome adversity. He’s a very impressive guy. We’re excited about being able to add him to the team.” This franchise has been filled with failures at the QB position, and Bill O’Brien finally has the QB that he wants. The Texans should be set for the years to come.