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CFB National Championship: NFL Draft Prospects to Watch

By Eric Gamboa

Jan 8, 2017; Tampa, FL, USA; View of the trophy and helmets for Clemson Tigers and Alabama Crimson Tide during the head coaches news conference at the Tampa Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 8, 2017; Tampa, FL, USA; View of the trophy and helmets for Clemson Tigers and Alabama Crimson Tide during the head coaches news conference at the Tampa Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 31, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Clemson Tigers quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) throws the ball against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the second quarter in the 2016 CFP semifinal at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Clemson Tigers quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) throws the ball against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the second quarter in the 2016 CFP semifinal at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports /

Deshaun Watson, Clemson Tigers, Quarterback

Quarterback Deshaun Watson has experienced a bit of a decline in his overall grade, and he is certainly not the highest graded player playing in CFB National Championship. But 49ers fans should still watch him play.

The 49ers have an uncertain situation at a the QB position and it stands to reason that the 49ers will look to select a QB at some point during the 2017 NFL Draft.

Watson would have been a heavy favorite to have been selected No. 1 overall in last year’s NFL Draft had he declared. Instead, Watson returned for one more season. This season, his play faltered enough times, leading draft pundits to drop him out of the first round.

The concerns are legitimate. He plays in a scheme which uses plenty of zone-read and spread concepts. The label of being a spread QB further drops Watson’s stock.

Further hurting Watson is his thin frame. At 6-foot-3 and weighing 215 pounds, Watson has a thinner frame than what is considered ideal. One of Watson’s best abilities is his ability to run the rock, which raises questions about how his frame will holdup to NFL hits.

But, make no mistake about it, Watson is a competitor. It is in the biggest of games, when the pressure is at its highest, that Watson delivers his best performances.

Expect Watson to do the same against Alabama on January 9.