The Houston Texans have a young quarterback in Deshaun Watson that provides the club a chance to win virtually every ballgame. But with the Pro Bowler still on his rookie deal, how exactly does their quarterback situation shape up?
According to Touchdown Wire’s latest rankings of all 32 teams’ future QB rankings, the Texans have the sixth-best situation in the league.
The Texans undoubtedly will exercise Deshaun Watson’s fifth-year option for 2021, but they also will be looking to sign him to a long-term extension. At 24, Watson already has shown he’s a franchise quarterback. This season, he has thrown for 2,601 yards and 18 touchdowns while also rushing for 291 yards and five touchdowns. A.J. McCarron is the backup, but the Texans hope Watson never has to leave the field. “Watson already is approaching elite status,” a panelist said. “In two or three years, he’ll be one of the best in the league.”
Watson was having quite the MVP campaign until he threw for 169 yards and an interception in the Texans’ 41-7 loss at the Baltimore Ravens in Week 11 at M&T Bank Stadium.
What is interesting is that the Atlanta Falcons are a spot ahead of the Texans. Certainly it is reasonable to have the Chiefs No. 1, Seahawks second, Dallas at No. 3, and the Ravens fourth-best. However, the Falcons have an aging quarterback and the team is in the midst of another wasting the efforts of Matt Ryan with a dynamic receiving tandem in Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley. While there are cases such as Tom Brady and Drew Brees being able to play into their forties at a high level, there are also cases such as Tony Romo of taking took many injuries in the late thirties and Joe Flacco, who has lost it altogether.
How the Falcons’ situation is better than the Texans andWatson is questionable.