Last year, NFL analysts predicted to land on the 2017 All-Rookie Team. After just seven games with six starts, Watson’s performance did indeed earn him a spot among the NFL’s best newcomers in 2017, though he was the only rookie quarterback on the list.
“In less than half a season, Watson showed the makings of a Pro Bowl-caliber quarterback who's capable of taking a team to the playoffs,” NFL media senior analyst Gil Brandt wrote. “I liked what I saw a lot, especially in his final appearance of 2017: that 402-yard, four-touchdown effort against Seattle in Week 7.