NFL Draft Rumors: Derek Carr Proclaims Himself Best QB; Jace Amaro on Jets’ Short List

Derek Carr
Derek Carr
John David Mercer USA TODAY Sports

Confidence is important for a young NFL quarterback. Derek Carr has no shortage of it, apparently.

In an interview with NFL Network’s “NFL AM,” Carr proclaimed himself the draft’s best quarterback and that the tape backs up his claim.

“Absolutely,” Carr said when asked if he thinks he’s the best quarterback in this class. “I say that with respect to all the other guys. …Of course it’s not easy to for me to answer a question like that, but I absolutely think so. There’s no doubt in my mind. We can turn the film on, sit down and watch it. And I’ll convince you.”

“No doubt,” Carr said when asked if he thinks he’ll be drafted ahead of the more hyped quarterbacks. “I think so. I really do. From what I’ve heard from GMs, from what I’ve heard from coaches, what they’re telling me, I do. From what they’ve been saying, hopefully it works out that way.”

Carr has visited with all of the teams picking in the top 10, but is still more likely to come off the board in Round 2 — to a team that elects to draft another position of need with its first pick and goes after its quarterback early in the second.

The New York Jets re-signed tight end Jeff Cumberland this offseason, but the team reportedly has eyes on Texas Tech’s Jace Amaro.

According to the New York Daily News, Jets general manager John Idzik attended Amaro’s Pro Day in March and is on the team’s “short list.” Amaro is slated to visit the team facilities in Florham Park in May prior to the draft.

Amaro is the second-ranked tight end behind North Carolina’s Eric Ebron in the XN Sports Draft Rankings. He’s coming off a 2013 campaign in which he recorded an FBS-record 1,352 receiving yards by a tight end. He’s drawn comparisons to Rob Gronkowski, though he was utilized more like Jimmy Graham with the Red Raiders. The Jets have been linked to a wide receiver with the 18th pick, but Amaro is a very capable pass-catcher the team can go after in Round 2.

The New Orleans Saints hosted five cornerbacks at the team facilities on Tuesday, ESPN reported. Among them: Aaron Colvin of Oklahoma; Justin Gilbert of Oklahoma State; Demetri Goodson of Baylor; Bradley Roby of Ohio State; and Pierre Desir of Lindenwood.

The Saints recently signed veteran Champ Bailey, but cornerback remains an area of need. The team is projected to take TCU’s Jason Verrett in the XN Sports Mock Draft 2.0.

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Sam Spiegelman
Sam Spiegelman is a native New Yorker covering sports in New Orleans. He likes Game of Thrones way too much. Tweet him @samspiegs.