2012 NFL Draft: Patience at QB could be Jaguars only option

by Adam Stites on Dec 23, 2011 3:25 PM EST

I'm confident that the Jaguars aren't in the market for a quarterback in the 2012 NFL Draft with the exception of maybe pursuing a backup level quarterback in the later rounds of the draft. Regardless, if Blaine Gabbert doesn't develop into the quarterback that the Jaguars intended for him to become when they selected him 10th overall earlier this year and is later considered a bust, many will look back to the 2011 draft and subsequent drafts for players that the Jaguars could have had instead.

Many look back at the 2004 NFL Draft when the Jaguars passed on Ben Roethlisberger to select Reggie Williams as a perfect example of the mistake of passing on a franchise quarterback despite the fact that the team felt good with 2003 1st round pick Byron Leftwich. However, recent news may make it easier to be patient with Gabbert through the 2012 NFL Draft, because it may be the team's only choice.

USC quarterback Matt Barkley announced yesterday that instead of foregoing his senior year to enter the draft that he will stay in Southern California for his fourth and final season. Had he come out of college, he was projected by many to have been a top 10 selection and possibly the 2nd quarterback taken after Stanford's Andrew Luck.

Sports Illustrated draft analyst Tony Pauline reported hours before Barkley's announcement that sources had told him that he was likely to stay in school and the news came as less of a shock to those who had read his reports. Another tweet added even more intrigue to the 2012 NFL Draft, though:

Also- as of today the word is Robert Griffin III/Baylor & Landry Jones/Oklahoma will also return to school.Could change, still interesting.

With Barkley returning to USC there is little doubt that Heisman Trophy winner, Robert Griffin III, would be the 2nd best quarterback on most analyst's boards if he decides to come out and may even be worth a top five selection.

While it seems extremely unlikely that the Jaguars would give up on Gabbert after only 14 starts, Griffin III would certainly be a test of their patience if he was on the draft board when the Jaguars time to pick came. But if he chooses to stay in school it's hard to make an argument for any quarterback being taken early in the draft.

While I certainly think the Jaguars should and will stay patient with Gabbert through April, if Robert Griffin III makes the shocking decision to stay at Baylor for one more season, it may be their only choice.

Tweet Comment 20 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

If Barkley and RG III and Landry are all there in the 2013 draft

that would be very good since it really “forces” antoher year of Gabbert and gives him the chance to really show he is capable of leading this offense for at least the next decade

"The dictionary is the only place that success comes before work. Hard work is the price we must pay for success. I think you can accomplish anything if you're willing to pay the price." -Vince Lombardi

by Jagsrok9008 on Dec 23, 2011 3:28 PM EST reply actions

Why does he stay in college?

Does he want the degree badly? Or does he think his draft status will be better next year? What types of reasons do people in Barkley’s situation give?

by CheapSeat on Dec 23, 2011 3:49 PM EST reply actions

He probably

wants to be the #1 QB in the draft, and he probably figured Griffin would go to the NFL, but now if he stays too, it’s still in jeopardy.

Anyone interested in making money easy and quick on the interne, let me know through twitter or facebook(preferably facebook).
"thanks for hating"
"Give it up now before its too late!…. CJ will be shut down? Nevermind, its already too late." AZ TiTan10

Follow Me On Twitter

by rhettchrystal on Dec 23, 2011 5:01 PM EST up reply actions

Hes got it good

Hes almost certainly not from a family thats hurting for money, hes a QB at one of the most glamorous programs in the country, USC is bowl eligible next year so theres probably some pride involved, he probably does want to get his degree and he probably has enough confidence in himself that hes going to keep getting better and will be in a great position next year to get into the league.

Don’t underestimate how cool it is to be the only real quarterback in LA, UCLA doesn’t count right now :P

by jstnblke41 on Dec 23, 2011 5:07 PM EST up reply actions

He went to Mater Dei High School

So yeah he’s not hurting for money.

Follow me on Twitter

by Adam Stites on Dec 23, 2011 5:10 PM EST up reply actions

Great sports programs

Their basketball team is loaded.

by jstnblke41 on Dec 23, 2011 6:16 PM EST up reply actions

His sophomore and junior seasons were under probation

No chance to play in a bowl or compete for a championship. The only bowl he’s played in was the Emerald Bowl in 2009. Now he has a chance to actually go do it big.

Follow me on Twitter

by Adam Stites on Dec 23, 2011 5:09 PM EST up reply actions

if they all return

ima be a sad man. next years draft will be good for qbs but this years will be the worst in a while. all the gabbert lovers will get what they want. the gabbert haters will have to sit and wait and either eat their words or suffer through another terrible season

Cold Blooded

by Jaggaholic82 on Dec 23, 2011 3:56 PM EST reply actions

Chances are

This is the situation regardless -→ “gabbert haters will have to sit and wait and either eat their words or suffer through another terrible season”

by CheapSeat on Dec 23, 2011 5:08 PM EST up reply actions

What does this mean for Kalil?

Thought he and Barkley were a package deal. I’ve been looking into Reiff, a lot, and it would sure hurt my feelings if he became the top Tackle in the draft…

by Mr.Awesome on Dec 23, 2011 4:15 PM EST reply actions

I don't know

besides Luck, Kalil is top guy in this draft, so he can really only have his stock drop.

Follow Me On Twitter

by rhettchrystal on Dec 23, 2011 5:02 PM EST up reply actions

I hope they both stay in school.

I wont have to listen to all the online “experts” tell me that Blaine Gabbert is a wash and we need to draft Barkley or Griffin. Can the BG haters honestly say that if Gene gets a true #1 and #2 WR next year and bolsters the line, that Blaine Gabbert is really going to have the troubles he has experienced this year? Plus the defense will be healthy again. This is the best news I read in football all week.

by JagSoldier on Dec 23, 2011 6:31 PM EST reply actions

My thinking

You have to draft Blackmon/Jeffery/Floyd in the 1st round and get another WR later maybe 3rd or 4th. You let Gabbert play next year with a full offseason and a true #1 WR. Having a true #1 helps out M80 as well and lets him get less attention from the defense. Even if RG3 is available I really don’t think any rookie QB could be successful with this WR core. Then if Gabbert doesn’t pan out you have a big time WR and you address QB in 2013

BFIB

by tiquanunderwear on Dec 23, 2011 6:45 PM EST reply actions

We are NOT drafting any of those WR's with the 4-6th pick. No way.

If we pick that high we need to draft a big guy. Grab the DE out of UNC or grab an O-lineman. We should pick up a WR or two in FA. Don’t force the WR pick that high. That wont work out well for us.

by Ironmanxrs2 on Dec 23, 2011 8:13 PM EST up reply actions

I can see us drafting 2 WR’s and maybe even more. Honestly, I think RG 3 is good enough to force us to draft a QB even if we didn’t want to previously. But outside of drafting a QB in the late rounds as a project, I don’t see it happening. Landry has a shot to be really good but we likely wont have a extra pick in the mid to late first to pick him up.

by Catfanatic1979v1 on Dec 23, 2011 7:44 PM EST reply actions