Clemson’s Deshaun Watson shows off his arm at pro day

CLEMSON, S.C. — Deshaun Watson put on an impressive show for NFL teams Thursday, making the case at Clemson’s pro day that he should be the first quarterback taken in next month’s draft.

Watson went through a crisp workout for scouts and evaluators for all 32 teams, including three head coaches: Chicago’s John Fox, Pittsburgh’s Mike Tomlin and Tennessee’s Mike Mularkey.

Watson, a Heisman Trophy finalist each of the past two years who is skipping his senior season, completed 54 of 62 throws at Clemson’s indoor practice facility. Most throws were quick strikes and right into the hands of guys such as Jordan Leggett, Artavis Scott and Mike Williams, who all helped the Tigers win the national championship in a title-game rematch with Alabama in January.

“Once again, he showed why he’s the best,” center Jay Guillermo said. “You don’t get another Deshaun Watson. He had a good day.” Watson thought so, too. “I just thought I’d throw the ball, do what I’ve got to do. I had fun with my guys one more time,” said Watson, who expects to meet with seven or eight NFL teams for interviews and workouts before the draft, set for April 27-29 in Philadelphia.

He appears to be in competition with North Carolina’s Mitch Trubisky and Notre Dame’s DeShone Kizer to be the first quarterback off the board at the draft. Watson has been projected to be picked anywhere from No. 3 to the bottom of the first round.

Watson did not run the 40-yard dash, do cone drills or complete any workout Thursday other than throwing. The practice facility grew very quiet as the 6-foot-2, 215-pound Watson took snaps, and when he let the ball go, though, people could hear the zip.

“You hear it whistling in the air,” Guillermo said. “I turned back to him one time and said, ‘Man, you’re slinging it.’”

Watson gave NFL executives a prolonged look at him taking snaps under center, something he did not do too much of in Clemson’s offense.