2015 NFL Draft: Shane Carden Scouting Report
By Joe Wedra
The 2015 NFL Draft gives us a quarterback class that can’t be looked at anything less than a disaster. One guy that has the potential to come in and make an impact is East Carolina quarterback Shane Carden.
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In a group full of question marks and projects, Carden certainly fits the mold this year. However, there may be a team willing to take a chance in late rounds. Read a full scouting report below with a video clip from Draft Breakdown.
STRENGTHS
Carden took a leadership from the beginning with the Pirates, and effectively led the program to countless wins during his time under center. He appears to be a very team-friendly player on and off the field, something NFL teams covet.
The 6’2″ QB has above-average athleticism and ability to move the pocket to make plays on the run. He has very good short-area zip and showed good game-managing abilities in college (no, that isn’t a bad thing).
Carden makes the throws he needs to, showing off very good football IQ.
WEAKNESSES
With his NFL-friendly baseline skills, Carden doesn’t come without his flaws. In fact, you could argue his downside completely overshadows anything good he brings to the table.
Arm-strength is a major concern here. He doesn’t flash the ability to make big plays down the field, and has a tough time finding receivers that are up against moderate coverage in the second level.
It may be unfair, but his star WR Justin Hardy helped “pad stats” with his ability to get open. Carden does struggle to find receivers that can only make the catch in a tight window.
The biggest thing that jumps off the screen when you turn on the tape is Carden’s windup. You’ll see that early and often in the video above (even in the featured photo). Any NFL team that takes a chance with him will have to work on fixing his many technical flaws — they don’t end with simply the windup.
DRAFT STOCK
As of now, Carden is on the borderline of “draftable”. He’ll throw and the Combine and may interview well, but teams will ultimately turn on the tape to make their final decision. If that holds true, the ECU quarterback may have to wait until late in Day Three to hear his name called.