Chicago Bears 2017 mock draft: Latest seven-round look

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Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson (6-foot-2, 221 pounds)

All Watson did in college was win. He came in as a freshman and started five games. He won four of them, throwing 12 touchdowns against just 2 interceptions. In his sophomore season, he led the Tigers to the National Championship game, garnering 5,209 total yards from scrimmage (4,104 passing and 1,105 rushing), and scoring 47 total touchdowns (35 passing and 12 rushing).

Watson did everything he could to win the title, but the Tigers fell just short against Alabama. In his junior season, he again led his team to the title game. He threw for 4,593 yards and 41 touchdowns while completing 67 percent of his passes. On the ground, he rushed for 629 yards and scored 9 touchdowns. This time he and his teammates came away with the championship win.

Glennon may end up being a solid quarterback. I just don’t see a leader among men in his personality. Of course, I’m not privy to what happens in the locker room, but I see him as a quiet hard worker, but someone who’d have trouble getting all the personalities under control.

Watson commands attention wherever he goes. Even as a freshman with some great players around him, they listened to what he had to say. He not only led by words, he led by example, which may be why Glennon ends up losing out to another draft pick.

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Watson has good pocket presence. While some think he tries to run too quickly, the tapes show otherwise. In plenty of games, I’ve seen him stay in the pocket and take some big hits. He moves around the pocket well and uses his legs to extend plays. Once he tucks the ball and runs, he is deadly. Teaming him up with Jordan Howard can be special. Even if a team puts extra attention on Howard, Watson could break a big run. Give Watson extra attention and Howard does it.

Some critics worry about Watson’s arm strength, but I feel he answered those questions with his performance at the NFL Combine and his Pro Day. The problem he had was mechanical, and his draft coach and former Chicago Bears quarterback Jordan Palmer fixed those flaws.

Another concern is how Watson goes through his progression. Playing in Clemson’s offense, he usually had just one target. In the pros, he’ll have multiple targets to choose from. He needs to go through his progression quickly to pick the right area to throw.

This may take time to perfect, which is why the Glennon pickup is great. Yes, you want your top pick to play right away, but with Glennon Watson can adjust to the NFL-style of play gradually and not be thrown to the wolves right away. He can redshirt a season then come in and take over.

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney is perhaps Watson’s biggest cheerleader. He tells anyone who is within earshot that passing on Watson is like passing on Michael Jordan.

"Some of the media folks got mad at me because I said if you pass on him you’re passing on Michael Jordan. But I don’t know how to articulate the type of greatness that’s inside of him. And for me that’s what Michael Jordan represents because that’s what I grew up with. I’m sure when Michael Jordan was coming out of North Carolina his 3-pointer wasn’t very good. And he probably had some flaws, whatever, when you start poking holes on him. But it’s who he was, that will, that drive. You can’t coach that and that’s what I want to make sure I articulate. This guy is brilliant between the ears and he’s special in his heart."

Like Jordan, Watson comes up big in big games. In the two championship games he played, he went up against the best defense in the nation. In fact, some called them one of the best defenses in college football history. What did he do? Well, he gained almost 1,000 total yards from scrimmage (825 yards throwing and 116 yards rushing. He completed 64 percent of his passes and scored 8 touchdowns (7 passing and one rushing). Oh, and about that accuracy? He threw just one interception.

Drafting Watson garners the Chicago Bears some great excitement. Watson has the physical and mental tools to do well. He is also a great leader whose character is impeccable. He will be a successful quarterback in the NFL. Wouldn’t it be nice he did it in Chicago?

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