The Cleveland Browns and San Francisco 49ers both have serious questions at the quarterback position, and both have the draft capital to take a quarterback fairly early. The Browns hold the first and 12th picks of the draft, while the 49ers are sitting at No. 2. Given some of the question marks surrounding this year’s class of quarterbacks, the top two picks in the second round are also strong places for a quarterback.
It would appear Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney has no such reservations about the quarterback position. In a quotation that will probably surprise nobody, Swinney thinks Watson should be a clear-cut No. 1 pick. He did not specifically say that, but he did say that anybody that passes on him is passing on Michael Jordan. Here is what he had to say about Watson while meeting with media at the Senior Bowl:
Same guy every day, and always ready. Comes to every meeting prepared. He’s just, that’s how you change things. You change a culture, for me it’s through discipline and recruiting and staffing and all that stuff. For them, it’s decision-making, it’s who you pick. And, just telling you, they pass on Deshaun Watson, they’re passing on Michael Jordan. I mean, I’m just telling you. I don’t know what the heck I’m talking about, I’m just an old funky college coach, but Deshaun Watson is the best, by a long shot.
Considering what Watson did in the national title game, I am not surprised Swinney would be effusive in his praise. I did not anticipate an MJ reference, but it’s not exactly a stunner.
Hopefully if the 49ers do draft Watson, he is more like MJ in basketball than MJ in baseball.
#Clemson's Dabo Sweeney says If #Browns Hue Jackson passes on Deshaun Watson at 1 he's "passing on Michael Jordan" pic.twitter.com/OLxZGwrliD
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) January 24, 2017