2014 NFL Draft: Jaguars Not Expected to Take QB With Henne Back?

Dec 22, 2013; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Chad Henne (7) looks for a receiver to pass to during the game against the Tennessee Titans at EverBank Field. Mandatory Credit: Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports

The Jacksonville Jaguars re-signed Chad Henne on Friday and expect him to be their starting quarterback heading into OTAs, but does that mean they won’t be taking a QB in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft?

That’s what sources are telling Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union.

“League source on Jaguars: ‘With Henne back, I don’t expect them to take QB until 2nd round and maybe not until 3rd or 4th round.'” O’Halloran said. “I’ll throw a $2 wager out there the Jaguars trade down in round 2 and take Garoppolo.”

I recently mocked Garoppolo to the Texans with the 33rd overall pick, so I don’t think the Jags will be able to trade down in the second round very far–if at all–if Garoppolo is their guy. They may even have to jump into the first round.

This reeks of when the Denver Broncos had Kyle Orton, and refused to admit their desperate need for a quarterback. The Broncos and Josh McDaniels at that point in time drafted Tim Tebow in the first round (trading down in the first round) acquiring a number of picks on the way as their QB of the future while Orton held the fort down, but that wasn’t for long.

The Jaguars will only be going with Henne if they are truly not in a ‘win now’ phase, which they clearly aren’t.

Obviously the Jaguars were much more competitive last year for a good stretch, and with another good draft things will really be looking up for them, but they certainly aren’t going to invest a third overall pick in a guy they don’t believe can be a franchise QB when they can have a potentially elite defender like Jadeveon Clowney or Khalil Mack, and there’s a better than good chance they’d wind up with one of the two.