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Arizona Cardinals: Is Deshaun Watson the Quarterback of the Future?

By Griffin Fabits

Jan 9, 2017; Tampa, FL, USA; Clemson Tigers quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) celebrates during the fourth quarter against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship Game at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 9, 2017; Tampa, FL, USA; Clemson Tigers quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) celebrates during the fourth quarter against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship Game at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports /
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Clemson Tigers quarterback Deshaun Watson would be an exciting, and realistic fit for the Arizona Cardinals in the 2017 NFL Draft.

Steve Keim, general manager of the Arizona Cardinals, this one is for you.

Do whatever it takes to make Clemson Tigers quarterback Deshaun Watson the team’s quarterback of the future. There are several reasons why I am requesting this. Let’s start with the obvious.

In back-to-back National Championship games, Watson totally ripped a part the Alabama defense.

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He threw for 405 yards, ran for 73, and tossed four touchdown passes to three different receivers last year. He was the Tigers leading rusher, but despite his heroic efforts, Clemson lost 45-40.

This year’s Natty featured the same two dominant teams, and gave head coach Dabo Swinney and Watson a chance for redemption in their second-straight championship game. Watson marveled again, and was able to lead his team over Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide.

The 21-year old quarterback completed 36/56 passes for 420 yards and three touchdowns, including the game-winner to Hunter Renfrow with :03 remaining in the game. He also ran the ball 21 times for 43 yards and another touchdown. He’s been a Heisman finalist the last two seasons, and now has a championship to add to his growing resume.

Secondly, Watson reminds me of Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott. Prescott stands 6’2″, just like Watson, and weighs just 11 more pounds than the Clemson Tiger. Both are extremely athletic, and are duel threats to opposing defenses.

Prescott and Watson are incredibly mobile and quick. The first-year Dallas quarterback has thrown for over 3,600 yards, ran for 282 yards, and has 29 total touchdowns. In what was likely to be his last year at Clemson, Watson threw for over 4,500 yards and ran the ball for 629 yards on 165 attempts. He reached the end zone a total of 50 times (yes, you read that right) in his junior season.

Prescott has surprised so many in his rookie year after emerging as the starter before the season began when Tony Romo went down with an injury. The Cowboys selected Prescott in the fourth round, but Watson will likely go in the first round.

The Cardinals are in a pickle with current quarterback Carson Palmer. It’s blatantly obvious that he’s aging and running out of time in the NFL. His contract expires this off-season, and at 37-years old, doesn’t seem like a candidate who’s itching for a multi-year deal. At most, the Cardinals could bring him back on another one-year term.

If Watson is still available when the thirteenth pick rolls around, Keim and the Cardinals would be silly to pass up on the uber-talented Watson.

If you’re skeptical about Watson as the quarterback of the future for Arizona, refer back to the last two championship games, where he torched the best defense in the country.

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That explosive, game-changing player is what they’ll get every Sunday if they’re lucky enough to snatch Watson.

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