Based solely on results, AJ McCarron would have been one of the top-rated quarterbacks in the NFL draft. But the quarterback who led Alabama to two straight BCS championships wasn't enough of a prospect to go in the first two days, and on Saturday he was taken by the Cincinnati Bengals in the fifth round, the 164th player picked, one spot behind Southeastern conference rival Aaron Murray.
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McCarron's record as a starter was 36-4 and the Crimson Tide won the 2011 and '12 national titles. Throughout the evaluation process, he was considered solidly in the second tier at his position, behind eventual first-round picks Blake Bortles, Johnny Manziel and Teddy Bridgewater. He wound up being the ninth quarterback taken.
On Saturday, after he had been passed over in the first three rounds, reports surfaced on ESPN, NFL Network and Pro Football Talk that McCarron had rubbed teams "the wrong way" when he met with them. The reports counteracted the perception that McCarron makes up for less-than-elite physical ability with leadership and intangibles.
Another potential doubt in scouts' minds is that McCarron was surrounded with NFL talent that contributed just as much as he did to the four years of winning - particularly on the offensive line, where two members were taken in the first round last year and tackle Cyrus Kouandijo went in the second round this year.
Still, the 6-foot-3, 220-pound McCarron threw 74 touchdown passes to 15 interceptions in his three years starting, had a streak of 291 attempts without an interception, and was runner-up for the Heisman Trophy last year.