College: Alabama

Height: 6’4”

Weight: 213

College Stats

Positives

Decision Making/Accuracy: McCarron is a guy who doesn’t make a lot of bad decisions. He rarely makes a bad throw and takes care of the football extremely well. He doesn’t throw many passes that the defense can get their hands on by putting it where only his receiver can get to it.

McCarron can progress through reads and doesn’t lock onto one receiver. If the first option isn’t open he doesn’t try to force anything, but he finds the open guy. McCarron puts good touch on the ball and leads his receivers so that they can pick up yards after the catch. McCarron has to be extremely accurate because he lacks arm strength.

Pocket Poise: McCarron has always had one of the best offensive lines in the country and one of the best run games to keep the defensive pressure off of him. On top of that, he has some of the best receivers in the country that are almost always open. This year however, the Alabama line has had a few breakdowns and McCarron was always poised and didn’t get rattled. He stood in there and moved well in the pocket to make the throw.

Negatives

Arm Strength: McCarron has the typical arm strength of a game manager. He doesn’t have enough arm strength to make all the throws needed in the NFL and fit the ball into the tight windows that NFL defenders give quarterbacks. McCarron can get away with that type of arm strength in college, especially when his offensive line keeps pressure off of him and his receivers are some of the most talented in football. With a run game like Alabama has every year, teams stack the box and give McCarron a lot of open space to throw the ball into. In the NFL that open space won’t be there and he doesn’t have the arm to make contested throws and throw people open.

NFL Comparison: Colt McCoy, San Francisco 49ers

The comparisons between the two are uncanny. Both of them were on extremely talented teams and are amongst the most winning quarterbacks in college history. Neither has extremely strong arms, but has good accuracy and touch on their passes. Both of them are good, but not great athletes. They have the ability to pick up yards on the ground, but won’t be confused for Cam Newton anytime soon. Their best attributes are their minds as neither have great physical traits.

Draft Outlook: 3rd – 4th Round

McCarrons winning ways and sound decision making will give him a place in this league as a solid backup and spot starter, though his lack of arm strength will keep him from being a long term starter. A team will take him in the middle rounds because he won’t lose you games, though he can’t go out and carry a team either. If a team buys into the winner label too much they may reach and grab him a round or two too early, but the 3rd and 4th rounds are where he should go.

Best Fit: West Coast Offense

McCarron would never be able to play in a down field passing attack like Bruce Arians runs in Arizona. He will have to go to a team that runs a west coast scheme based on accurate short passes. If a team throws the majority of its passes under 15 yards and values a quarterback being accurate and allowing his receiver to pick up yards after catch, then McCarron would be a good guy for them to take.