Deshaun Watson set to meet with the Jacksonville Jaguars

As the 2017 NFL Draft approaches, all signs indicate to the Jacksonville Jaguars drafting a quarterback, but how early? Perhaps in the first round with Deshaun Watson.

As we barrel through the first week of April, we’ve already seen and heard about the most likely options for the Jacksonville Jaguars in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft. Barring a trade, it would be unexpected if the Jaguars went anywhere besides defensive line (perhaps Jonathan Allen or Solomon Thomas) or running back (Leonard Fournette).

There are a few other guys  – namely O.J. Howard and Jamal Adams – who have been thrown into the mix and wouldn’t be completely surprising, but I would categorize them as “wild cards” rather than favorites.

One position that would shock the world (much like it did in 2014) is quarterback. While the front office – mostly Tom Coughlin – has held back in completely endorsing Blake Bortles, their moves so far indicate a willingness to move forward with Bortles as the starter for another year.

Until now.

The Jaguars are planning to host Deshaun Watson this week.

Of all the quarterback prospects, Watson is the only one that makes sense as early as the Jaguars pick. With the team loading up on veterans to try and improve quickly, they need a signal caller who can come in and provide an immediate upgrade. Watson is by far the most experienced of the prospects and his track record of winning makes him extremely enticing as a guy who can start week 1.

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Statistically, Watson was a monstrous producer through the air and the ground. He completed 67.7 % of his passes for over 9,200 yards, 83 touchdowns and 29 interceptions in 32 games. He was also a threat with his legs, rushing for 1,744 yards and 21 touchdowns.

The big concerns with Watson coming out aren’t that different from Bortles’ current problems. Watson turns the ball over at a higher rate than desired, but he also has a fairly high usage rate. He also is primarily used to running the offense from the shotgun and will need to adjust to playing under center.

That being said, this is clearly the Jaguars signalling that they aren’t married to Bortles. While I think it’s unlikely the Jaguars take Watson at number 4, I wouldn’t rule out the possibility of his selection in the event of a trade down or his availability later on, perhaps the top of the 2nd round.