Deshaun Watson isn't playing in the Senior Bowl.
The junior quarterback graduated from Clemson in three years, making him eligible to participate in the annual exhibition attended by scouts from every NFL team. Expected by most prognosticators to be taken in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft, the two-time Heisman Trophy candidate decided not to play.
Nonetheless, that hasn't stopped reporters from asking Tigers coach Dabo Swinney about the man that led the school to its first national championship in 35 years earlier this month. Swinney has always heaped the high praise upon Watson, but Tuesday he took it to another level. Amid ongoing talk among draft analysts that North Carolina product Mitch Trubisky should be the first signal-caller selected, Swinney compared his guy to an all-time great that wasn't picked No. 1 overall.
Here's what he had to say:
MORE: NFL Mock Draft 2017
#Clemson's Dabo Sweeney says If #Browns Hue Jackson passes on Deshaun Watson at 1 he's "passing on Michael Jordan" pic.twitter.com/OLxZGwrliD
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) January 24, 2017
Michael Jordan notoriously went third overall in the 1984 NBA Draft behind Hakeem Olajuwon and former Kentucky standout Sam Bowie
If Swinney is right, what team(s) are going to wind up regretting their decision like the Trail Blazers back in the day?