With Deshaun Watson entering his third NFL season, the Texans have already begun building their roster around their franchise quarterback.
"We feel like we have a long-term solution at the quarterback position with Deshaun Watson," general manager Brian Gaine said on Thursday at the NFL Scouting Combine. "I said this last year, as long as I'm here, I'm going to make every effort to put the pieces in place around him to help him, support him and help him be successful on the field."
The Texans drafted an offensive lineman last year in Martinas Rankin and added two more in free agency in tackle Seantrel Henderson as well as guards Senio Kelemete and Zach Fulton. However, building the team around Watson extends to more than just the players that protect him on every play. Gaine wants to draft playmakers on both sides of the ball that give Watson as many opportunities as possible to score.
"That might be on the perimeter, that might be on the offensive line, that might be in the backfield, that might even be on defense – a guy that can generate more turnovers that gets the ball back to him even more than that," Gaine said. "He's certainly a centerpiece in terms of how we want to build our team and it's a focal point of how we want to build the roster."
Last season, Watson became the first quarterback to record at least 4,000 yards and 25 passing touchdowns and rush for 500 yards and five touchdowns in a single season in NFL history. Through 16 starts, he finished threw 26 touchdowns, nine interceptions and set a franchise-record 103.1 passer rating. Watson also rushed 99 times for 551 yards (5.6 avg.) and five touchdowns and earned his first Pro Bowl nod.
On Monday, the Texans placed a franchise tag on star pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney. Free agency begins on Wednesday, March 13.
Check out the best shots of QB Deshaun Watson from the 2018 season.
An image from the Oct. 25, 2018 regular season home game against the Miami Dolphins. The Texans won 42-23.
An image from the Dec. 23, 2018 regular season away game against the Philadelphia Eagles. The Texans lost 30-32.
An image from the Sept. 30, 2018 regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts. The Texans won 37-34 in overtime.
fAn image from the Sept. 23, 2018 regular season home game against the New York Giants. The Texans lost 22-27.
An image from the Sept. 9, 2018 regular season away game against the New England Patriots. The Texans lost 20-27.
An image from the Aug. 19, 2018 preseason away game against the San Francisco 49ers. The Texans won 16-13.
An image from the Aug. 9, 2018 preseason away game against the Kansas City Chiefs. The Texans won 17-10.
An image from the Aug. 25, 2018 Texans preseason away game against the Los Angeles Rams. The Texans lost 20-21.
An image from the Aug. 19, 2018 preseason away game against the San Francisco 49ers. The Texans won 16-13.
An image from the Aug. 19, 2018 preseason away game against the San Francisco 49ers. The Texans won 16-13.
An image from the Dec. 30, 2018 regular season home game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Texans won 20-3.
An image from the Jan. 5, 2019 Wildcard game against the Indianapolis Colts. The Texans lost 7-21.
An image from the Nov. 26, 2018 home game against the Tennessee Titans. The Texans won 34-17.
An image from the Jan. 5, 2019 Wildcard game against the Indianapolis Colts. The Texans lost 7-21.
An image from the Nov. 26, 2018 home game against the Tennessee Titans. The Texans won 34-17.
An image from the Oct. 14, 2018 regular season home game against the Buffalo Bills. The Texans won 20-13.
An image from the Oct. 7, 2018 Week 5 home game against the Dallas Cowboys. The Texans won 19-16.
An image from the Dec. 23, 2018 regular season away game against the Philadelphia Eagles. The Texans lost 30-32.
An image from the Dec. 23, 2018 regular season away game against the Philadelphia Eagles. The Texans lost 30-32.
An image from the Dec. 23, 2018 regular season away game against the Philadelphia Eagles. The Texans lost 30-32.
An image from the Jan. 5, 2019 Wildcard game against the Indianapolis Colts. The Texans lost 7-21.
An image from the Oct. 25, 2018 regular season home game against the Miami Dolphins. The Texans won 42-23.
An image from the Sept. 30, 2018 regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts. The Texans won 37-34 in overtime.
An image from the Sept. 16, 2018 regular season away game against the Tennessee Titans. The Texans lost 17-20.
An image from the Oct. 25, 2018 regular season home game against the Miami Dolphins. The Texans won 42-23.
An image from the Nov. 26, 2018 home game against the Tennessee Titans. The Texans won 34-17.
An image from the Sept. 30, 2018 regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts. The Texans won 37-34 in overtime.
An image from the Oct. 25, 2018 regular season home game against the Miami Dolphins. The Texans won 42-23.
An image from the Sept. 16, 2018 regular season away game against the Tennessee Titans. The Texans lost 17-20.
An image from the Sept. 30, 2018 regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts. The Texans won 37-34 in overtime.
An image from the Oct. 21, 2018 regular season away game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Texans won 20-7.
An image from the Sept. 16, 2018 regular season away game against the Tennessee Titans. The Texans lost 17-20.
