Texans introduce QB Deshaun Watson

HOUSTON – The Houston Texans introduced their first round draft pick, quarterback Deshaun Watson, during a press conference Friday afternoon.

Houston traded with Cleveland Thursday night to select the Clemson quarterback with the 12th overall pick in the NFL draft.

[WATCH: Texans fans react to new quarterback Deshaun Watson]

Watson said his emotions have been "sky high" since he was drafted.

"My emotions just have been sky high since I got the call. It's just surreal to think that I'm officially a National Football player," he said.

[WATCH: Deshaun Watson on how to stay humble]

The Texans traded away the 25th overall pick draft in Thursday's first round as well as their first-round selection in 2018 to nab Watson.

"We were excited to move up in the first round to select Deshaun. We think he can add to our football team as a man as a football player and a new member to our community," Texans General Manager Rick Smith said.

[PHOTOS: Inside the 2017 NFL Draft Party]

The Browns already have Houston's second-round pick in 2018 after receiving it in the trade for Brock Osweiler this offseason. 

Houston was in desperate need of a quarterback after giving up on Osweiler and trading him away one inconsistent season after signing him to a $72 million contract in 2016.

Watson's college coach, Dabo Swinney, made waves in the media when he compared Watson to Michael Jordan.

Watson touched on the topic during the introductory press conference.

"I understand I'm not Michael Jordan. And I guess he (Swinney) sees greatness in me. And hopefully in 10 to 15 years, people can talk about my name like they do about Michael Jordan," Watson said.

[WATCH: Deshaun Watson on being compared to Michael Jordan]

The only quarterbacks on their roster before the draft were Tom Savage and Brandon Weeden, giving Watson a great chance to start as a rookie.

Texans Head Coach Bill O'Brien and Smith said Savage would be the starter to start the season.

Savage was the first player to text Watson after he was drafted.

This is the first time the Texans have selected a quarterback in the first round since taking David Carr with the first overall pick in their first season.

[WATCH: Bill O'Brien on Deshaun Watson]

During the press conference, Watson said he loved the pre-draft visit with the Texans. He said he felt comfortable and had a great visit with O'Brien and that everything felt right.

[WATCH: Bill O'Brien on what was so impressive about Deshaun Watson during visit]

Watson has been open about the support he gets from his family -- his mother in particular is a very important source of strength.

"My mom -- she's my rock. She's the one that raised me. Single parent mom with four kids and the struggles that we went through, it was tough," Watson said.

[WATCH: Deshaun Watson on the surprise he has for his mother for her birthday]

Watson said he was excited to get to work in Houston with his new teammates.

"I still have a lot to learn. I'm gunna get here and go to work," he said. "I know it's going to be a challenge, which is what I'm up for. But also I have a lot to learn so I'm just anxious to get here and to get to work and learn from Brandon Weeden and Tom Savage -- two guys that I'm a huge fan of, who I watched while they were in college, so it's going to be a fun ride."

Watson threw for 4,593 yards and 41 touchdowns last season to lead Clemson to the national title.

[WATCH: Rick Smith on trading up to get Deshaun Watson]

The two-time Heisman Trophy finalist led Clemson to 28 wins in his last two seasons and to consecutive appearances in the national championship game. Watson went 32-3 in his career as a starter, which is the best winning percentage for a quarterback in school history. He finished his career third in Atlantic Coast Conference history with 12,094 yards of total offense and threw for 10,163 yards and 90 touchdowns in his career.

[WATCH: Deshaun Watson on where he gets his confidence from]

He joins a team featuring star receiver DeAndre Hopkins, who also went to Clemson. Hopkins, Houston's first-round pick in 2013, expressed his excitement about the pick by simply tweeting a smiling face emoji soon after he was selected.

 

 

 

 

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