NFL quarterback power rankings: AFC South edition

1. Houston Texans

Deshaun Watson: 2019 – 3,852 yards, 33 Total TD, 12 INT

Before this slide begins, let’s go over some of the players chosen before Deshaun Watson in the 2017 NFL Draft: Mitchell Trubisky, Leonard Fournette, Corey Davis, Mike Williams and John Ross.

Now that is out of the way, here is why Watson is the best quarterback in the division.

Watson is dynamic, athletic, and he can make the throws. He is also a natural-born leader, a trait we saw him display during his college days at Clemson.

In his first three years in the NFL, Watson has gone 24-13. He has been named to the Pro Bowl twice, and he is 1-2 in the playoffs. He has been successful behind one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL.

In his career, Watson has been sacked 125 times in 38 games. To put that into perspective, Carson Wentz has been sacked 129 times in 56 games, and Patrick Mahomes has been brought down just 45 times in 31 games. The Chiefs and Eagles know how important it is to protect their star quarterbacks.

Watson can play and become a superstar in this league. Bill O’Brien just needs to make sure he does not continue to put his quarterback in harm’s way.

O’Brien also must stop taking weapons away from Watson. This past offseason, he traded DeAndre Hopkins to the Arizona Cardinals for David Johnson. Not necessarily wise to take top-end talent away from your quarterback.

Watson is the best gunslinger in this division and it is not close. He is also one of the best in the entire NFL. However, he needs help and protection to jump into the top-five threshold.

With that help, Watson will continue to take steps towards becoming one of the NFL’s best.