Aside from Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson and Kansas City Chiefs superstar Patrick Mahomes, the 2017 NFL Draft did not produce all that much talent at the quarterback position. Despite this, Deshaun Watson believes that his draft class is “one of the best” in terms of the quarterback position.
Watson discussed his draft class earlier this week when was asked about Mahomes and what he has meant to the Chiefs organization.
“He’s been taking that team, taking the organization to higher and higher heights,” said Watson via Cleveland.com. “I mean he’s doing a hell of a job and you’ve got to give him credit, you’ve got to do nothing but salute to him and what he’s been doing and what he’s going to continue to do. And he just makes everyone else around him better.”
Watson then went on to boldly claim that his and Mahomes’ success in the NFL makes the 2017 draft class “one of the best ever” for quarterbacks.
“I think he was the 10th pick, I was the 12th. So both of us have a lot to prove and we want to continue to just show that we’re one of the top classes that have been drafted. So that’s the plan.”
Given the fact that only Watson and Mahomes have stuck on as starters in the NFL, many disagreed with this opinion from Watson.
How dare they forget Nathan Peterman and Chad Kelly
— RW (@robglae) August 25, 2023
Buddy, you’re the Alex smith to his Aaron Rodgers https://t.co/EJ0Im9L3tr
— Cole(Max Kepler fan page) (@cdeegz8) August 25, 2023
Patrick Mahomes does, I’m not going to pretend Watson isnt the most overrated QB of all time https://t.co/vJiJvkiY6k
— bengals for life (@cdvsmith) August 25, 2023
2000 draft class was best of all time
— daveyparts (@daveyparts) August 25, 2023
It certainly makes it the best QB draft class of 2017.
— Jon Walsh (@PersonalFoul) August 25, 2023
All the accolades Mahomes has already racked up over his career certainly boosts up the 2017 draft class. But does that really make it the best QB draft class ever?
Plenty would argue that the 1983 NFL Draft that saw Jim Kelly, Dan Marino, and John Elway is far more accomplished. You could even argue that the 2020 NFL Draft class including Joe Burrow, Tua Tagovailoa, Justin Herbert, and Jalen Hurts is a better class overall.
Regardless, Watson clearly sees himself in the Mahomes echelon, and it will certainly be interesting if he can return to a high level of play in his second year in Cleveland.
