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2014 NFL Draft: Jaguars likely to 'date' a QB, not marry one

The Jacksonville Jaguars will need to do something at the quarterback position in 2014, and they're likely to simply "date" one in the draft.

Joe Robbins

The Jacksonville Jaguars will need to do something to address the quarterback position in the 2014 NFL Draft. Generally when you need a franchise quarterback you want to have the top overall pick in the draft so you can pick whichever quarterback you want, but the Jaguars once again are just out of reach of that spot with the No. 3 overall pick.

It's likely that one of, possibly all three of, Blake Bortles, Teddy Bridgewater and Johnny Manziel will be available at the third overall pick for the Jaguars, but the general feeling continues to push towards the team not picking a signal caller with the third overall pick.

Full disclosure: I think they should pick Teddy Bridgewater if he's available, but at this point I don't believe they're going to pull the trigger on a quarterback at three.

So with that being said, we'll look at something I proposed last season about not marrying a quarterback and simply dating them. If you draft a quarterback in the first round, let alone the top three of the draft, you're married to that quarterback. If they fail, you fail.

The Jaguars can pick up a potential elite level pass rusher or a talent like Sammy Watkins in the NFL draft this year, and while they really won't go anywhere until they get a quarterback, with having seven picks in the Top 150, it's the perfect time to date a quarterback.

I've written in the past, and still believe, that finding a quarterback beyond the first round that is a successful starter is tough. Lately however there as been a bit of a trend in finding players beyond the first round. While I don't believe it's a trend that will continue, I do think the 2014 draft is a perfect draft to take that chance and hope a talented guy is available at the top of the second round.

You can bring in a guy who can compete to start immediately, but you're not investing that "marriage" pick to the player in class. You're also leaving yourself room to potentially pick another quarterback in the next draft if you happen to be picking in the Top 10 again, because you're simply dating and not marrying.

At some point the Jaguars are going to have to marry a quarterback, so make sure it's the right one.