Cardale Jones....DRAFT STOCK?

[Mighty NorCal]

Something I thought unthinkable is seeming to gather a lot of traction, at least discussion wise, in the sports world.


Off of three games, many sports pundits believe Ohio State 3rd string QB Cardale Jones should declare for the NFL draft. Some even think he will go at the end of the first round!!!

At first I bristled at such a thing, but then I realized the Raiders and Jets exist.

Personally, I still find it absurd, but there is the argument to be made that...


1. He may very well get drafted
2. He has a young daughter to support
3. His stock may never get higher than right now

What say you, sports guys?

 

[Thriller Ant]

Just looking at raw stats from the two playoff games (I didn't see either), his numbers don't seem that impressive. With that said, he does seem to have good size and he isn't guaranteed to start at OSU next season, especially if Braxton Miller comes back. If I was him, I think would want to know that I was going in the first two rounds in order to declare, just to make sure I got at least one decent NFL payday. I totally see the line of thinking that his stock will never be higher, and that may be the case, but if that stock isn't super high, it's not worth declaring.

 

[Papa Pillman]

I hadn't even really entertained this idea until today, but...

Its a very interesting debate. For all of the limited experience, Cardale is still 6'5'' 250lbs. he's got a big arm that can drive the ball down the field with accuracy even while on the move, and offers above average improvisation, escapability, and mobility for a man of his size. Also his maturity to take the demotion to third string in the fall, sit the season as the back-up, and still develop to be ready to step right in and do the job he did, bodes well for his intangible upside.

We've seen recently that a blend of size and natural gifts of that type is enough to convince teams to at worst throw a mid-round flyer at a developmental QB prospect(we saw that last year with Logan Thomas managing to go in the top-120 players taken in the draft). Also we've seen guys with less college experience manage to get drafted and eventually become starters in the NFL(see Matt Cassel).

Also the circumstances create an interestingly perfect storm.

First: After Mariotta and Winston, Cardale compares favorably when projecting to the next level lumped with guys like Hundley and the emerging Garrett Grayson and is likely to end up ahead of the likes of Sean Mannion and Bryce Petty. Therefore even with electrifying a room and making a meteoric rise like a Manuel, he still likely slots as a sure top 4-5 QB off the board and very likely will slot in the top 75 overall picks.

And Second: Despite what you're gonna hear from talking media heads who spend the rest of the year only acknowledging OSU to slight them, Cardale WILL NOT by any stretch of anyone's imagination be a realistic option to start game one for the Bucks next year. In fact if all three options return, Jones is more likely to return to his third string position than he is to be the starter.

With a beautiful tiny baby girl to take care of and the options being almost sure riches versus busting his ass and still holding a clip board in the Shoe next year, the prospect of declaring for the NFL draft seems like a prudent choice for Cardale that no Buckeye or College football fan should second guess.

Going pro I think is the best decision he could make and I doubt his stock will ever be higher, but I don't expect Jones will; though if he does, congratulations to him. He'll always keep a place in the hearts of Buckeye Nation.

 

[rmp0012002]

He should have a year or two more experience in college but if Meyer is going to put him back as the second or third string QB then he should go pro. Sitting back on the bench would be a major slap in the face.

 

[Papa Pillman]

He should have a year or two more experience in college but if Meyer is going to put him back as the second or third string QB then he should go pro. Sitting back on the bench would be a major slap in the face.

Braxton is a two-time B1G offensive player of the year.

3 season totals: 59.3% comp./ 5292 passing yds/ 52 TDs to only 17 Int
and 3054 Rush yards/ 32 rush TDs

2012 and 2013 combined record as starter: 24-2
2012: 5th in Heisman voting
2013: 9th in Heisman voting

JT Barrett had the most prolific statistical season of any QB in OSU history, the most prolific statistical season of any freshman QB in B1G history, and one of the most prolific statistical seasons of any QB in B1G history period.

2014 totals: 64.6% comp./ 2834 passing yds/ 34 TDs to only 10 Int
and 938 Rush yds/ 11 rush TDs

Record as a starter: 11-1
2014: 5th in Heisman voting


Let's make one thing very clear- Cardale Jones sitting behind either of those men DOES NOT constitute a "slap in the face".

 

[Akhilleus]

I'm not a professional sports scout, so I don't know if there's something that catches people's eyes about him like the way he throws or something, but I can't see him being drafted in the first round. You're right his stock is at it's highest peak right now, but as far as future in the NFL goes I don't see much potential.

He was third string...so it's one thing to say yeah he was backup to Braxton Miller, but he was backup to the backup of Braxton Miller. Yes he performed well under Ohio State's system...but whenever we have great college football stars like Tim Tebow, JeMarcus Russell, Troy Smith, Matt Leinart, and maybe even Johnny Manziel in a couple of years...guys that were fantastic players and yet never lived up to that same potential in the NFL, I just can't see someone who was third string going out and finding that success, let alone being being drafted early?

The great Tom Brady was started for Michigan, and didn't go until the 6th round. So a third string backup QB who spit his load for a few games being taken in the first round?

I disagree now that his draft value may never be higher. He'll be a Junior next year, with Braxton Miller gone that job will be open. If he earns the starting gig and performs like he has been, then he may just earn that early draft spot. He said himself he isn't ready for the NFL. But if he isn't going to ever be anything anyways, he might as well get drafted and at the very least make the league minimum (Which is a salary that an everyday person would kill to make in the primes for their careers).

I think his best bet is staying in school, and either transferring to a bit of a smaller but well known school in need of a QB or if he can get the starting job for Ohio State then fantastic. I don't think his value is very high as it is, he may go undrafted even but at the very highest I'd think 6th round, MAYBE 5th but very unlikely. Even if he was the starting QB, I think it's always better for guys to stay in college at least through their Junior year. Johnny Manziel likely would have been better off I think, but time will tell for that.

 

[rmp0012002]

Cardele just led your team to the three biggest wins in the history of the school so he must know how to run the offense. What's he gonna tell Cardele, "love that new trophy in my office but I gotta let the other guys have their positions back, maybe in two years you can start for the Buckeyes". "Thanks coach but kiss my ass, I'm out of here". It's not his fault the 1st and 2nd string QB's got hurt, now they have to fight to get their positions back.

 

[Akhilleus]

Cardele just led your team to the three biggest wins in the history of the school so he must know how to run the offense. What's he gonna tell Cardele, "love that new trophy in my office but I gotta let the other guys have their positions back, maybe in two years you can start for the Buckeyes". "Thanks coach but kiss my ass, I'm out of here". It's not his fault the 1st and 2nd string QB's got hurt, now they have to fight to get their positions back.

I'm expecting Braxton Miller to skip his Senior year and enter the NFL draft. Especially with the QB controversy that is bound to at least touch the service at the start of next season.

I think Miller is ready, I actually thought he was a Senior. So we'll see what happens. Either way I think Cardele should transfer to another D1 school. There has to be one of the big schools losing a QB this year that could sure need one. I'm not too privy on NCAA squads so I couldn't pick which ones, but there has to be a better spot for him if he isn't going to get the starting gig for Ohio State.

 

[Mighty NorCal]

Everything I have read projects Miller as an RB/WR, Brad Smith/Denard Robinson type.


I think he will either forgo his senior season or switch positions.


JT "Bad News" Barrett was utterly phenomenal, and will likely reclaim the spot at OSU this summer.

Not so sure that if he will end up sitting on a bench anyways, sitting on an NFL bench while being paid isn't the best for him (and his child)

 

[Papa Pillman]

Everything I have read projects Miller as an RB/WR, Brad Smith/Denard Robinson type.


I think he will either forgo his senior season or switch positions.

He won't declare this year. Failures to guarantee him a draft position in the first two rounds kept him out of last years draft, and his stock won't be any higher after sitting with an injury.

I don't see a position switch being in the cards either.

More likely than either of those scenarios is for Miller to go the "Graduate Transfer" route, ala Russel Wilson most notably.

If Braxton can find a major conference program to bring him into the fold as their 2015 starter, that may be the best strategy if his draft stock is his chief concern.

If he could get out if Urban's system, and into a system that won't call for him to execute as many designed runs and read options, and one that puts an emphasis on him making more throws and has more progressions than he's been asked to read at OSU, that might be what helps him to prove to NFL scouts that he has what it takes to play under center at the next level(assuming he doesn't crash and burn in such a set-up).

 

[Mighty NorCal]

He won't declare this year. Failures to guarantee him a draft position in the first two rounds kept him out of last years draft, and his stock won't be any higher after sitting with an injury.

I don't see a position switch being in the cards either.

More likely than either of those scenarios is for Miller to go the "Graduate Transfer" route, ala Russel Wilson most notably.

If Braxton can find a major conference program to bring him into the fold as their 2015 starter, that may be the best strategy if his draft stock is his chief concern.

If he could get out if Urban's system, and into a system that won't call for him to execute as many designed runs and read options, and one that puts an emphasis on him making more throws and has more progressions than he's been asked to read at OSU, that might be what helps him to prove to NFL scouts that he has what it takes to play under center at the next level(assuming he doesn't crash and burn in such a set-up).

*COUGH* ahem Oregon *COUGH*


This could be a route as well. I feel FSU, Clemson, or Florida could be solid landing spots.....


If not, God forbid....a certain new high profile coach in the Big Ten who surely could utilize a marquee player...


Either way. I don't think Braxton Miller is going to be effecting Cardale Jones' spot on the depth chart any further.

 

[Akhilleus]

So Cardale Jones is saying that he won't enter the NFL draft, which I think was the best choice for him. While his stock may possibly be at his highest value, that value isn't that much. So he's better of at least trying to improve that value and continue getting his education in school.

Now the article I'm reading is saying that Cardale has chosen to stay at Ohio State. I think this is just a matter of bad wording, because that's not what they're saying. They're saying that he isn't entering the draft, but the possibility of him transferring to another university is still very open.

While I personally think that's the best option for Cardale, I'm starting to think he isn't going to do it. He's born and raised in Cleveland, he's probably always been a big fan of Ohio State. But he needs to realize if he wants to be drafted high in the NFL, it needs to be coming off a year starting for the NCAA. Being drafted as a college backup is like the equivalent of being fourth string on an NFL roster.