It sounds like Cleveland Browns head coach Hue Jackson wanted to draft Houston Texans’ quarterback Deshaun Watson.
Ahead of Sunday’s game against the Cleveland Browns, Houston Texans’ rookie quarterback Deshaun Watson told the CBS Sports production crew that prior to this year’s NFL Draft, Browns’ head coach Hue Jackson told him to “be ready.”
While the Browns weren’t going to take a quarterback with the first pick, Jackson was referring to them using the 12th overall pick on him. Of course, Cleveland traded the 12th pick to the Texans, who of course selected Watson.
After Sunday’s game, Jackson denied that he sent Watson a text message stating “be ready.”
#Browns Hue Jackson said he didn't text Deshaun Watson on draft day and say "be ready."..."We knew we were taking Myles Garrett at No. 1"
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) October 15, 2017
As Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported, Jackson says they weren’t going to use the first pick on Watson. Well of course not.
It would have been smart to ask Jackson if they were thinking of taking Watson with the 12th pick before they traded it to the Texans.
Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle says text messages from coaches before the draft are very common.
Worth noting on draft text from Hue Jackson to Deshaun Watson, those type of communications happen fairly often on day of NFL draft
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) October 15, 2017
After Sunday’s game, Watson said he has a good relationship with Jackson.
Deshaun Watson said he built a friendship with Hue Jackson in draft process and talked today, Jackson told him he was proud of him pic.twitter.com/EYcwRVDQZ1
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) October 15, 2017
My guess is that Jackson didn’t want to admit his interest in Watson now that he just benched rookie quarterback Deshone Kizer, who they selected in the second round back in April.
Next: Deshaun Watson the best QB in the state of Texas?
Watson wore a Warren Moon jersey.
Watson ended up wearing a classic Warren Moon Houston Oilers jersey to his postgame press conference. He says that Moon sent him the jersey and that they have a good friendship.
Deshaun Watson said Warren Moon sent him the throwback jersey he is wearing today. The two have met and have a good relationship. pic.twitter.com/s941V3GrZt
— Sarah Barshop (@sarahbarshop) October 15, 2017
Going back to the Browns. They keep on missing when it comes to drafting quarterbacks. They could have had Carson Wentz in 2016 and Watson in 2017 and Kizer has been very up and down this season.