The Chicago Bears sent all of their most important people (besides me, of course) to check out Clemson’s pro day featuring QB Draft prospect Deshaun Watson.
Even after signing Mike Glennon to a three-year contract earlier this month, Dan Widerer of the Chicago Tribune writes that no team had a bigger presence at Clemson’s pro day than your Chicago Bears.
Reportedly, Chicago was represented by their general manager, head coach, offensive coordinator, and quarterback coach at pro day, to watch Watson (as well as 13 other draft prospects) show off what they’ve got.
So naturally, we want to know … How did things go?
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Dane Brugler of CBS Sports reports Watson threw nearly 60 passes, with only eight landing incomplete. Watson worked through the scripted passing drill that featured attempts from under center and on the run with former NFL quarterback Jordan Palmer – who spent some time with the Bears in 2013. Brugler also writes that the workout shouldn’t change anyone’s opinion on Watson, as it played out similarly to his game tape.
But in general, Watson’s pro day drew its fair share of mixed reviews. One scout told NFL draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah described Watson’s pro day as average. The scout gave Watson a B-minus or C-plus grade based on inconsistency with his timing and ball placement, even though his deep ball was graded as “solid.” On the other side of the coin, there is fellow NFL.com analyst Gil Brandt, who was told by a scout that Watson had a “pretty good day.”
Then, there is this, from Mike Mayock:
It’s almost as if you could understand how and why there hasn’t been a consensus top quarterback in this draft.
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Watson’s self-evaluation (Dan Wiederer, Chicago Tribune) was a positive one (because, duh) that he described as “solid.” Watson believes that he showed on-lookers everything they wanted to see out of a pro day. In throwing approximately 60 passes, Watson showed off his footwork and flashed his mobility, two things that could come in handy depending on the offensive line situation of the team that drafts him in April.
For what it’s worth, Wiederer writes Bears head coach John Fox and his Clemson counterpart Dabo Swinney “were hip to hip for the bulk of Watson’s throwing session and for a while after it ended.” There might be no better brain to pick with regards to Watson than Swinney, seeing that Watson put his program back on the map with his stellar play over the last two years.
Again, Swinney doubled down on his comparison of Watson to NBA legend Michael Jordan, citing Watson’s heart, will, and drive to improve as similarities:
“It’s easy to watch the tape and you can poke holes in people. … But I don’t know how to articulate the type of greatness that’s inside of (Deshaun). And for me, that’s what Michael Jordan represents.” … “I’m sure when Michael Jordan was coming out of North Carolina, his 3-pointer probably wasn’t very good. He probably had some flaws. And you could start poking holes in him. But it’s about who he was. It’s that will, that drive. You can’t coach that. And that’s what I want to make sure that I articulate (about Deshaun). This guy is brilliant between the ears. And he’s special in his heart.”
I’m not sure you’ll see higher praise for any athlete at any position than what Swinney laid out for Watson.
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Watson might have had an average workout in a controlled environment on campus, but his body of work speaks louder than any workout regimen. Watson proved to be a dynamic playmaker at Clemson, where he led the Tigers to a 28-2 record the last two years to go along with two National Championship game appearances – one of which culminated with him engineering a championship-clinching comeback in his final game as a college player. He was a two-time Heisman Trophy finalist, two-time Davey O’Brien winner, two-time Manning Award winner, and 2016 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award winner. Being great in college doesn’t directly translate into professional success, but the tug-of-war that has led to the difference in perception has been something else.
In a bit of a shocker, the Browns skipped Watson’s pro day altogether. However, they do have a private workout lined up for him prior to the draft.
For what it’s worth, the Bears aren’t expected to let their offseason acquisitions limit them in the draft. So if they like Watson as the third pick – or any pick, for that matter – they can draft him without the pressure of having to install him as the team’s quarterback from Day 1.
But is that the right call? You decide.
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