The euphoria created by Deshaun Watson in his first three starts for the Texans is unprecedented for a rookie quarterback in Houston.

Fans had high expectations for Dan Pastorini (1971), Warren Moon (1984), Steve McNair (1995) and David Carr (2002), but none elevated the excitement level like Watson entering Sunday night's nationally televised game against Kansas City at NRG Stadium.

While the Texans prepare for the Chiefs, this is a good time to revisit the draft-day trade that brought Watson to Houston.

General manager Rick Smith, who had scouted Watson extensively, deserves credit for trading up from No. 25 to 12 to select Watson - the third quarterback taken behind Mitchell Trubisky (Chicago) and Patrick Mahomes (Kansas City).

Smith convinced Cleveland to swap first-round picks by offering the Texans' No. 1 draft choice in 2018.

Smith wanted Watson so badly he tried to trade with the New York Jets up to No. 6 but couldn't work out a deal that was suitable to both teams.

Now, at the quarter point of his rookie season, Watson is rewarding Smith's faith in him.

In his three starts, the Texans are 2-1. Watson has completed 62-of-91 (68.1 percent) for 709 yards and six touchdowns. He has thrown three interceptions. His rating is 99.6.

Watson ignited Sunday's 57-14 victory over Tennessee with four touchdown passes and one rushing score. He's the first rookie since Minnesota's Fran Tarkenton in 1961 to accomplish that feat.

"Our goal is to win a championship, and I think we have a chance with a guy like him," Smith said. "That's why I thought it was worth moving up to get him.

"He had a wonderful game (against Tennessee), but in this league it's about one thing - winning championships. I think he's got all the ingredients to help lead his team to a championship."

Smith has to make sure he provides Watson with the help he needs to excel.

Smith finds the players, and Bill O'Brien and his staff coach them.

Checking every box

O'Brien is doing a terrific job of coaching Watson. O'Brien coaches Watson hard, and the rookie welcomes that kind of intense tutelage.

O'Brien's game plan and play calls have taken advantage of Watson's arm strength, mobility and decision-making.

In the Texans' domination of the Titans that moved them into a tie for first place in the AFC South, the 57-point explosion was the third most in NFL history by a rookie quarterback.

Nobody - not Smith, O'Brien or owner Bob McNair - can say with a straight face they expected Watson to be this good this quick. Now everyone's going to have fun watching him develop.

Smith scouted Watson in person on multiple occasions during his career at Clemson. He wouldn't have traded up 13 spots if he didn't think Watson could become a franchise quarterback.

Smith attended the national championship game in January between Clemson and Alabama in Tampa, Fla.

"I was looking for confirmation of the things I'd seen on tape," Smith said.

Before Watson threw for 420 yards, including the winning touchdown pass, Smith watched him during pregame warmups.

"During pregame, the process is about how he readies himself," Smith said. "I was looking for how he interacts with his teammates. Is he confident? How he's preparing? What's his demeanor like in this type of environment?"

Watson checked every box on Smith's scouting report before, during and after the victory over Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide.

Smith spent time with Watson at the combine and before the draft when the quarterback came to Houston. They had dinner the night before Watson spent the day at NRG Stadium while Smith went to Pittsburgh for the funeral of Steelers owner Dan Rooney.

Everyone - coaches, personnel department and administrative staff - fell in love with Watson because they believed he had that "it" factor.

"I've been searching for what 'it' is for a while," Smith said. "When you're talking about a quarterback, you're talking about the ability to garner confidence in everybody around you. If they do their jobs, you'll give them a chance to win."

'A presence about him'

In other words, Watson can make the players around him better with his confidence, ability and leadership. He has that aura that causes teammates to gravitate to him.

"Deshaun's got a presence about him that the best ones have," Smith said. "It's almost like an energy, a sense of calm when you're in a heightened environment, a pressure situation, and emotions get high. Anxiety rises.

"If you have the ability to calm your emotions and make good decisions in that environment, it ends up with good results. I think it's something inside him. He was blessed to have been in the right environment (at Clemson) to cultivate that."

On Sunday night, Watson will be in a pressure-packed environment in front of Texans fans and a national television audience - the kind of atmosphere he seems to thrive in.

Imagine the expectations if Watson leads the Texans to a victory over the NFL's only unbeaten team.