Todd McShay: Deshaun Watson only 'slightly better' than Sam Darnold

[Bronx]

Extend this beast....lol

Sam Darnold and Deshaun Watson have operated on different ends of the spectrum throughout their young NFL careers.

Darnold has struggled in his first three seasons with the Jets, completing less than 60% of his passes and tossing only 45 touchdowns to 39 interceptions. This past season was Darnold’s worst yet, as he passed for a mere 2,208 yards and nine touchdowns to 11 interceptions in 12 games.

Watson, meanwhile has developed into one of football’s elite quarterbacks. He shined for a lowly Texans team last season, throwing for a career-high 4,823 yards and 33 touchdowns to go along with a 70.2% completion percentage and only seven interceptions.

Yet, for some reason, ESPN’s Todd McShay does not see much of a difference between the two.

Watson has been linked to the Jets for weeks, as he’s made it clear that he wants out of Houston. The 25-year-old formally requested a trade weeks ago, and New York has been labeled as an attractive landing spot.

Yet McShay, appearing on ESPN’s “First Draft” podcast Wednesday, suggested that the Jets should avoid offering a haul for Watson because he’s only “slightly better” than Darnold.

“I don’t think you’re getting a huge upgrade,” McShay said. “If I’m the Jets sitting at No. 2, I’m saying, ‘You know what? I love Deshaun. He’s a really good player. I might even think he’s slightly better than Sam, but if Sam’s content and Sam wants to help us build this thing, we have picks two and 23 in the first round this year; 34, 66 and 87. So, five picks in the first 87. That should be at least four starters that you’re getting right there and two really impact starters with that second and 23rd overall pick.

“‘And then, by the way, we have two first-rounders next year, a first-rounder in the second and a first-rounder in the third.’ So, you’re talking about four first-rounders, two second-rounders and three third-rounders. Count those up. I mean, you’re building half of a roster right there in the next two drafts.”

McShay has long been a proponent of Darnold. He defended him last offseason, saying that he was “more talented than Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray and Joe Burrow coming out of college.” That line of thinking did not seem too far-fetched at the time given that the jury was still out on all three signal-callers, but Mayfield led the Browns to the playoffs in 2020 while Murray took a big leap forward in his second season. Burrow impressed before his rookie season got cut short due to injury.

It’s one thing to argue that the Jets should hold onto their draft capital and build around Darnold, but McShay’s notion that Darnold and Watson are comparable on any scale is preposterous. Watson has been to the playoffs twice and has produced at an elite clip throughout his career. Darnold, meanwhile, is more known for his inconsistencies and turnovers.

There is still time for Darnold to turn his career around, and he might get that chance with the Jets in 2021. But any Darnold vs. Watson debate is a pointless one. There is no doubt who the better player is.

[munchmemory]

What brand of food does McShay feed his seeing eye dog?

[Patriot Killa]

same guy who says Fields is his #16th prospect.

[Jetlife33]

Weird take 

[pointman]

Todd McShay is a McIdiot who suffered injuries ending his college career. At this point, it is safe to reasonably conclude said injuries were of the head variety prompting him to make such moronic statements. I also heard McShay prefers salads to Egg McMuffins. 

[pointman]

1 minute ago, munchmemory said:

What brand of food does McShay feed his seeing eye dog?

You motherf... I laughed soo hard at this when I told the people in my vicinity not to disturb me as I have "important" things I need to get done. 

[joewilly12]

[Bronx]

1 minute ago, pointman said:

salads

Tossedl?

[jetspenguin]

3 minutes ago, Bronx said:

Sam Darnold and Deshaun Watson have operated on different ends of the spectrum throughout their young NFL careers.

Darnold has struggled in his first three seasons with the Jets, completing less than 60% of his passes and tossing only 45 touchdowns to 39 interceptions. This past season was Darnold’s worst yet, as he passed for a mere 2,208 yards and nine touchdowns to 11 interceptions in 12 games.

Watson, meanwhile has developed into one of football’s elite quarterbacks. He shined for a lowly Texans team last season, throwing for a career-high 4,823 yards and 33 touchdowns to go along with a 70.2% completion percentage and only seven interceptions.

Yet, for some reason, ESPN’s Todd McShay does not see much of a difference between the two.

Watson has been linked to the Jets for weeks, as he’s made it clear that he wants out of Houston. The 25-year-old formally requested a trade weeks ago, and New York has been labeled as an attractive landing spot.

Yet McShay, appearing on ESPN’s “First Draft” podcast Wednesday, suggested that the Jets should avoid offering a haul for Watson because he’s only “slightly better” than Darnold.

“I don’t think you’re getting a huge upgrade,” McShay said. “If I’m the Jets sitting at No. 2, I’m saying, ‘You know what? I love Deshaun. He’s a really good player. I might even think he’s slightly better than Sam, but if Sam’s content and Sam wants to help us build this thing, we have picks two and 23 in the first round this year; 34, 66 and 87. So, five picks in the first 87. That should be at least four starters that you’re getting right there and two really impact starters with that second and 23rd overall pick.

“‘And then, by the way, we have two first-rounders next year, a first-rounder in the second and a first-rounder in the third.’ So, you’re talking about four first-rounders, two second-rounders and three third-rounders. Count those up. I mean, you’re building half of a roster right there in the next two drafts.”

a first rounder in the 2nd and a 1st rounder in the third??? what the hell is he talking about?

[pointman]

Just now, joewilly12 said:

 

Your meme posting has gotten significantly better over the last month or two. I am willing to venture/speculate/accuse you of having outside help. 

[Spoot-Face]

[pointman]

Just now, Bronx said:

Tossedl?

The non Salehd variety. Probably even says "hold the croutons". 

[joewilly12]

Just now, pointman said:

 

Your meme posting has gotten significantly better over the last month or two. I am willing to venture/speculate/accuse you of having outside help. 

Practice makes perfect. Thanks 

[Mike135]

[addage]

JD paid him to say it to upset the Sam haters.

[Integrity28]

 

suuuuriously tho, McShay had been the worst at what he does for ... well, when wa his start date.

Dog poo takes, like Stephan a. On paint chips

[kdels62]

The only person that might agree with him is on this board. 

[pointman]

Just now, kdels62 said:

The only person that might agree with him is on this board. 

Singular? There are several people here that think Sam is Aaron Rodgers 2.0 just needing to be nurtured, coddled, and breastfed by a savant offensive genius (not named Gase of course) to unlock his Mortal Kombat levels of badassery. 

[Pac]

Poorly worded but the sentiment is valid.  I will not be upset if we don't get Watson and I'd prefer not trading 3 firsts, let alone 4 to make it happen.

 

[Stark]

9 minutes ago, addage said:

JD paid him to say it to upset the Sam haters.

To pump up trade value. 

[Pac]

18 minutes ago, Bronx said:

“‘And then, by the way, we have two first-rounders next year, a first-rounder in the second and a first-rounder in the third.’ So, you’re talking about four first-rounders, two second-rounders and three third-rounders. Count those up. I mean, you’re building half of a roster right there in the next two drafts.”

Someone please decipher this.

[Adoni Beast]

Slightly better is an enormous stretch.

But whatever the fans think, most of the league still think Sam’s ceiling is off the charts. 
 

[dbatesman]

so he’s a JN poster, is what you’re saying

[kdels62]

2 minutes ago, pointman said:

Singular? There are several people here that think Sam is Aaron Rodgers 2.0 just needing to be nurtured, coddled, and breastfed by a savant offensive genius (not named Gase of course) to unlock his Mortal Kombat levels of badassery. 

 

2 minutes ago, Pac said:

Poorly worded but the sentiment is valid.  I will not be upset if we don't get Watson and I'd prefer not trading 3 firsts, let alone 4 to make it happen.

 

@pointman you were right I underestimated this board

[Pac]

Just now, kdels62 said:

 

@pointman you were right I underestimated this board

totes..  I've been calling Sam, Aaron Rogers 2.0 for a decade now..

[kdels62]

1 minute ago, Pac said:

totes..  I've been calling Sam, Aaron Rogers 2.0 for a decade now..

You’re the one agreeing with Todd McShay

[JustInFudge]

[Pac]

3 minutes ago, kdels62 said:

You’re the one agreeing with Todd McShay

I agree with the sentiment that all is not lost with an avalanche of picks the next 2 years including the 2nd overall and giving Sam a final chance with a real offense surrounded by a capable RB, improved OL that actually plays together more than a handful of games, and receivers who opposing teams have to actually worry about.

Lets see if the Pats want to run cover zero all game with Chase, Mims, Crowder, and Harris in the backfield.

[CTM]

9 minutes ago, dbatesman said:

so he’s a JN poster, is what you’re saying

So simple .. and here I was trying to to fit Pac into Todd McShay: Todd McPac, Pac McShay.. Todd PacShay.. none of it flows

[kdels62]

3 minutes ago, Pac said:

I agree with the sentiment that all is not lost with an avalanche of picks the next 2 years including the 2nd overall and giving Sam a final chance with a real offense surrounded by a capable RB, improved OL that actually plays together more than a handful of games, and receivers who opposing teams have to actually worry about.

Lets see if the Pats want to run cover zero all game with Chase, Mims, Crowder, and Harris in the backfield.

Sure because Sam will just get hit before he releases the ball. The Pats didn’t run cover 0 all day because of our WRs but because our QB has been worst in the league against the blitz every year he’s been in the league.

[Pac]

6 minutes ago, CTM said:

So simple .. and here I was trying to to fit Pac into Todd McShay: Todd McPac, Pac McShay.. Todd PacShay.. none of it flows

Todd McShay would slap your mug so violently your hair piece would fly 10 yards from your dome.

[CTM]

6 minutes ago, Pac said:

Todd McShay would slap your mug so violently your hair piece would fly 10 yards from your dome.

Maybe but Pac McShay is a feckless rolie polie

[dbatesman]

17 minutes ago, CTM said:

So simple .. and here I was trying to to fit Pac into Todd McShay: Todd McPac, Pac McShay.. Todd PacShay.. none of it flows

Partial to Todd PacShay, personally

[Larz]

Disagree with slightly lol but the point really is if Watson couldn’t carry the Texans roster, why believe that he can carry the jets?

houston will want a lot of what the jets have in the next 2 drafts to build around the QB they take at #2

The jets should take a QB at 2 and build around him or build around Sam 

Having Watson with junk around him and a mega contract just makes us the lions 

[kevinc855]

Watson 33 TDs 7 ints

Darnold 9 TDs 11 ints

Yea just a slight upgrade ?‍♂️