PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 27: Deshaun Watson of Clemson reacts after being picked #12 overall by the Houston Texans during the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft at the Philadelphia Museum of Art on April 27, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Early returns on Deshaun Watson should have the rest of the NFL on notice

Only time will tell if Watson can meet the expectations set in Houston.

Deshaun Watson enters his career with the Houston Texans facing high expectations. Watson is already competing against Tom Savage for the starting role and has looked impressive thus far according to coach Bill O'Brien.

On Tuesday, O'Brien said Watson was "ahead of any rookie quarterback" he's ever been around.

Though not a rookie, O'Brien worked closely with Tom Brady during his tenure with the New England Patriots as an offensive coordinator. He's also had his share of rookie quarterbacks during his time in Houston, none of which entered with the same expectations as Watson, who was selected in the first-round of this year's draft months after leading Clemson to a national championship.

But Watson has dealt with praise and expectations throughout his college career, even drawing comparisons to Michael Jordan from his former coach at Clemson, Dabo Swinney, when asked about teams potentially passing on the quarterback during the NFL Draft.

"It caught me off guard," Watson told CBS' Jim Rome in February. "He called me actually afterward and kind of laughed about it, but he was being serious too. He just feels that confidence in me and what I can do at the next level and he just really wanted to apply the pressure on the other teams, whoever has that selection of a quarterback would miss out."

Only time will tell if Watson can meet the expectations set in Houston. But if his college career is any indication, the Texans may have finally found their franchise quarterback.