Chris Simms speaks about Deshaun Watson in best AFC QB discussion
Chris Simms of Pro Football Talk spoke on his show about if Deshaun Watson could become the best QB in the AFC.
Watching a video of Mike Florio and Chris Simms on Pro Football Talk, the duo was having a conversation about if Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson could become the best quarterback in the AFC.
That is an interesting question and surely a thought many of us have had about the Texans quarterback, who is entering his third season in the NFL. Watson has proven he more than has the abilities to lead the Texans to prominence in the AFC as he helped lead the Texans to the AFC South championship one season after tearing his ACL and in just his second year in the league.
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Watson proved his toughness in 2018 and what he’ll do to be a team leader for the Texans franchise too, as he took a total of 65 sacks (including the playoffs) and many QB hits and pressures, and still led the Texans to an 11-5 regular season.
The franchise quarterback of the Texans also battled through teammates being injured, as his left tackle was out for the season and three wide receivers — Will Fuller, Keke Coutee and Demaryius Thomas — who were needed for production didn’t play for the entire season due to injuries.
All of that still saw Watson play strong, learn on the go and still show he has the abilities to be the best quarterback in the AFC and possibly one day in the entire league.
In a video Mike Florio on Pro Football Talk, Mike Florio and Chris Simms discussed Watson and if he could become the best quarterback in the AFC, with Simms saying this is the “quarterback golden era, for real, it truly is.” Simms went on to say the following about Watson in the video:
"“I look at Deshaun Watson and certainly believe he can be in the conversation for being that guy and being the best quarterback in the AFC, without a doubt. Now, will the numbers justify it as far as the arena in of public perception? That will be the big question for me. Again, he doesn’t have the type of offense that is Andy Reid, Tyreek Hill, Sammy Watkins, Travis Kelce where it is going to be like the greatest show on turf …”"
Simms continued in the conversation on Pro Football Talk about Watson:
"“It will be hard, I think numbers-wise to put him up in the class of some of these other guys, I think guys like Big Ben (Ben Roethlisberger) and Patrick Mahomes will have greater numbers, but I still think the actual player, the skill set, the type of play to carry you team in clutch moments and make those big plays in big moments, I think Deshaun Watson, that’s where he’s going to prove his worth like he has to this point of his career.”"
Simms is correct, and believing Watson does have an opportunity to become one of the top quarterbacks in the entire AFC is right on the money. First, the offensive line play will have to be better, and if that is the case, Watson’s decision making will be better too.
If those two things occur, Watson has shown in the past he can lead a team to greatness, and that’s what the Texans will get from him. Watson is one of the more gifted and exciting quarterbacks in the entire league, and he’s also one of the more overlooked quarterbacks as well.
The 2019 season could be the year where if he’s once again on the field for all 16 regular-season games, and the Texans improve up front, Watson will take the next step or even two steps to prove he’s in the conversation — and focal point — to being one of the best quarterbacks in the AFC.