Derek Carr will visit Jacksonville Jaguars tomorrow
Fresno State Bulldogs quarterback Derek Carr (4) prepares to throw a pass. Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
If the Jacksonville Jaguars take a quarterback in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft, then most people expect it to be Teddy Bridgewater, who is still my top-rated prospect at the position. Although it’s anyone’s guess as to what David Caldwell and Gus Bradley are thinking, the top option for the Jaguars early in the second round of the draft is Fresno State Bulldogs signal-caller Derek Carr. Quarterback is the team’s biggest need, but the Jaguars also aren’t going to put their franchise back by investing in the wrong quarterback. They need to take “their guy” as high as possible if they are sold on someone, but they could wait a bit and try to pull some value in Carr.
While I think Carr will be taken in the first round and thus there’s a distinct possibility the Jaguars will take him third overall, that speculation remains to be seen. What we do know is that the Jaguars will work Carr out tomorrow, as reported by ESPN NFL Nation’s Michael DiRocco.
Carr is my second-ranked quarterback prospect in the draft, as he clearly has all the physical tools you look for in a franchise quarterback. He clearly has the strongest arm in the class, and he also possesses terrific athleticism. Carr can break down zone coverage, succeed in spread and pro-style offenses at Fresno State, showed great intangibles, carried a team on his back, and is a solid decision-maker.
He isn’t polished, though, and would need close coaching in order to develop more consistent accuracy and much better footwork so that the ball doesn’t sail on him as often and so that he does a better job of passing under pressure. I think Carr would be a good pick for the Jaguars if they are sold on him, but the Jags might be best off waiting to see if they can get some top value on him. I think Jadeveon Clowney, Khalil Mack, and Teddy Bridgewater (in no particular order) look like their three best options with the third overall pick. That said, nobody should rule out the chances of Jacksonville taking Carr in the first.