Derek Carr not a first-round talent in one exec’s eyes
Fresno State Bulldogs quarterback Derek Carr (4) looks towards the crowd after the Bulldogs defeated the Utah State Aggies 24-17 at Bulldog Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Fresno State Bulldogs quarterback Derek Carr is widely regarded as one of the top three quarterback prospects in the 2014 NFL Draft, and he is usually taken off of the board in the top ten of most mock drafts. Carr has put up mind-boggling numbers this season at Fresno State, but he has benefited from facing weak competition. Still, the tape shows that Carr has all the physical and mental tools to be a good quarterback in the NFL, but plenty of questions still remain. How will Carr fare out against better competition? That’s the big one.
There is at least one executive who isn’t sold on Derek Carr, and his comments can be found in this week’s edition of Albert Breer’s “NFL Notebook” on the NFL Network. This NFC personnel executive told Breer, “I like him, but he’s not a first-round talent. His athletic ability and arm strength … he’s just not dynamic.”
Question, does a quarterback have to be dynamic in order to be a first-round pick? I think we get too caught up in hoping that a quarterback has Colin Kaepernick’s physical tools etc., but you don’t have to be a hyper-athletic running quarterback to be successful; not everything is about the new-age QB anyway. Take a look at the best quarterbacks in the league right now. How many of them are new-age passers? Not many, to be honest. As long as Carr has great decision-making and accuracy (the former is the most important when it comes to Carr), then he’ll be fine, especially if he lands with a team that can use his abilities correctly.
The executive is correct in saying that Carr isn’t dynamic, but people aren’t drawn to Carr due to any of that stuff. No, Carr is regarded as a high-level quarterback due to his physical tools and quick release. Accuracy and decision-making are going to be tough to judge, so that’s what Carr has to prove in the Senior Bowl, against USC, and in pre-draft workouts. Carr is rising, but he still has a lot to prove. And honestly, he’s “dynamic” enough, because he has plenty of arm strength and physical tools as far as arm talent goes. Athletic ability? Screw it, not every QB needs to be athletic. Ever heard of Tom Brady? Peyton Manning? How athletic are those guys? Matt Ryan? I hate it when people try to evaluate QBs like they have to be these great playmakers.