Why the Jacksonville Jaguars Don't Need a Rookie Quarterback

There seems to be the general idea that the Jaguars need to draft a rookie QB with the 8^th overall pick. Many mock drafts have the Jaguars drafting Mark Sanchez and even Todd Mcshay mentioned that the Jaguars could be in the market for a QB. I find this alarming for many reasons, but mainly because it implies that David Garrard is not a long term solution. I’ll use this article to explain why I think that the Jaguars do not need a rookie QB.

Rewind to 2007. Jack Del Rio makes the controversial decision to fire franchise QB Byron Leftwich in favor of David Garrard. Garrard went on to lead the Jaguars deep into the playoffs, his 4^th quarter scramble put the Jags in field goal range to beat the Steelers on the Wild Card game. He also only threw an amazingly low three picks. The next season the Jaguars had a lackluster season and people already want Jacksonville to consider other options at QB…WHY!???! Garrard was hardly the problem. The Jaguars offensive line suffered numerous injuries and the backups let Garrard get knocked around like a piñata. Garrard was sacked twice as much in 2008 as he was in 2007. The two wide receivers, Jerry Porter and Troy Williamson, added in the off season combined for 211 yards and 2 touchdowns. Maybe the Jacksonville front office should admit that trading Marcus Stroud was probably a bad decision! 2008 is in no way singularly David Garrard’s fault and he should not be made its scapegoat.

Taking a look at 2009 Jerry porter is gone, Matt Jones got fired, and Fred Taylor has moved on. Garrard now has even less weapons than he had last year. There are rumors that Torry Holt will be visiting Jacksonville, which would go a long way towards helping Garrard. Only one QB plays so why draft another QB when you could grab a WR or OT with that premier pick that would support your QB. Remember when Garrard was receiving nothing but praises a year ago. People seem to have too short a memory…why try and ruin a perfectly good QB by demonstrating a lack of faith in him?

If Jacksonville is desperate for a controversial QB choice I have two suggestions both equally controversial. The first is more feasible; why not bring back Byron Leftwich? He knows the system and has evidenced his starter caliber in his year with the Steelers. Leftwich may not want to rejoin the team that so abruptly fired him, but it would be a solid solution that might just put Garrard back into the 2007 frame of mind. My other suggestion is Michael Vick. If Vick is allowed back into the NFL the Jags could use him to replace the production of Fred Taylor and give the Jags offense a boost. It would also provide an interesting QB competition that would force Garrard to demonstrate the value of his passing attack over the obvious value of Vick’s scrambling game. Either way, Leftwich or Vick, Garrard would be forced to step up his game.

The Jaguars have a solid QB in David Garrard. The Jaguars pick should be used to help elevate Garrard’s play, not potentially run it into the ground. Garrard needs to return to his 2007 form, and drafting Mark Sanchez or Matt Stafford will not accomplish that. If anything it will demonstrate the Jacksonville front office has little faith in him and Garrard’s play could decline. Maybe a veteran QB added to the mix might do elevate his play, but Garrard should be Jacksonville’s long term solution. For the reasons I have stated, I believe the Jacksonville Jaguars do not need a rookie QB.