2014 NFL Draft: Jacksonville Jaguars GM Not Sure on Quarterbacks Yet

Oct 18, 2013; Louisville, KY, USA; Louisville Cardinals quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) scrambles with the ball during the second half of play against the UCF Knights at Papa John

Despite the numerous gaping holes on their roster, the Jacksonville Jaguars are widely expected to look long and hard at selecting a quarterback with the 3rd overall pick. Opinions are varied on the top 3 quarterback prospects, but all 3 seem to be upgrades over the current situation in Jacksonville. Still, that doesn’t mean general manager David Caldwell feels pressured to take a guy 3rd overall.

In a recent article by CBS columnist Pete Prisco, David Caldwell talked about not forcing a quarterback at a certain draft spot just because of need.

"Having a franchise guy makes the world a lot easier, though. It can erase a lot of mistakes you make. But if you force it, you can screw it up. I don’t know if we’re going to find that guy, but I hope we do.– Jacksonville Jaguars General Manager David Caldwell"

This doesn’t preclude Jacksonville from taking a quarterback with the third overall pick, but it does imply that Caldwell likely won’t value all 3 of the top passers highly enough to draft them with their first round pick. Caldwell admitted that he hasn’t even talked to any of the top quarterback prospects yet, and that one-on-one time will go a long way in determining if any of the guys has the personality and charisma he’s looking for.

Caldwell also talked about not feeling pressured to draft a quarterback early, and that he’d rather have a fanbase frustrated because of passing on a quarterback than choosing the wrong one. He also spoke highly of Chad Henne and his ability to provide a stable presence behind center if he needs to start next year.

"Chad did a pretty admirable job for us. He was .500 in his last eight games. It was his first year in the system. Just because he’s a veteran doesn’t mean you know the system. He has good leadership skills. Guys rallied around him. Our feeling is if we can upgrade the offensive line, get some playmakers, improve the running game, I think he can sustain us and be our starter until somebody presents himself.– Jacksonville Jaguars General Manager David Caldwell"

While I wouldn’t call it a smokescreen, I think David Caldwell is going to great lengths to avoid making the Jaguars look desperate for a signal caller. The team has so many needs, but I’ll stick to my guns and count on Caldwell picking his guy in the first round this May.

-Daniel Lago

Yell at me on Twitter @dlago89