Clemson coach Dabo Swinney: If Browns pass on Deshaun Watson, it’s like passing up on Michael Jordan

College coaches will say ridiculous things in an attempt to give their players a boost in terms of their NFL Draft stock. The news making the rounds today is what Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said at the Senior Bowl: if the Browns pass on QB Deshaun Watson, it’s like they’re passing up on Michael Jordan.

It’s one thing to compare a college quarterback to a current top-of-the-league quarterback in the NFL. But Sweeney decided to bypass that and pick one of the most iconic basketball players of all time. I think most Browns fans are aware of this, but it’s another obvious sign that we should never pay attention to what college coaches say about their players...unless they say something negative, which would trigger a big red flag.

Also, hat tip goes out to CoolTrav on Twitter, who highlighted what Sweeney said two years ago about former Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd:

“Whoever gets [Boyd], he is going to change their franchise just like he changed Clemson. That young man changed Clemson. We have won more games in the last three years than anytime in the history of the school - back to back eleven win seasons. That's the first time that has ever happened. Tajh Boyd has been our leader. Not just the quarterback. He's been the leader of this team. ... I describe him as a bigger Russell Wilson.”

Boyd was a sixth-round pick in 2014 by the Jets, but didn't make the club and has had a hard time sticking around the Fall Experimental Football League (FXFL) and the CFL. So we see how that worked out.

Watson is obviously viewed as a much higher-level prospect and warrants some praise...but the Jordan comparison is just so laughable that it does nothing in itself to improve Watson’s stock.