Ohio State quarterback Cardale Jones has started three games in his college career, and already the talk of leaving early for the NFL is picking up steam. The third-string quarterback who led Ohio State on a perfect 3-0 run through the postseason to win the Big Ten championship, Sugar Bowl and national championship says the NFL is something he will think about.
“I’m not going to say ‘definitely,’” Jones said, via NFL.com. “[The NFL] is something that I’ll consider. My most important focus is getting my degree.”
It would be unprecedented for a quarterback to start three games in his college career and declare early for the NFL Draft, but given the way Jones has played in his magical three-game stretch it is not surprising some speculation about the idea has turned up. It is probably not realistic, as any NFL team would likely refrain from drafting a quarterback with just three career starts, even if those three games were the three biggest of the season. When NFL franchises are investing so much money into quarterbacks, it simply makes no fiscal sense to take that kind of risk on Jones right now.
It would also be unwise for Jones to declare early based on the strength of his three games this postseason and little to nothing else. Jones may have put together a good quality highlight package this month, but he needs to show more if he wants to be drafted as a quarterback and make it in the NFL. He needs to show consistency over a longer stretch of time. If he leaves early, he may be doing so off of some misguided advice.
Does Jones have the skills? Yeah, he may have the attributes to be a very good quarterback. But just remember the caution we should take with small sample sizes. Remember how many rushed to give Texas A&M quarterback Kenny Hill the Heisman Trophy in 2014.
College underclassmen have until January 15 to declare early for the NFL Draft.