Derek Carr was expected by many to go in the first round of the NFL Draft, ahead of all three quarterbacks taken in the minds of some mock-drafters. But he was still available as the draft resumed Friday, and the Oakland Raiders took him with the fourth pick in the second round.
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The quarterback of the present in Oakland is veteran Matt Schaub, acquired from the Texans in the offseason, and it was expected that the Raiders would spend a high pick on the quarterback of the future. They made the move in the second round after using the fifth overall pick in the first round on linebacker Khalil Mack. Carr is now in position to be groomed for a few years down the road.
Of course, Derek is now the second Carr brother to be drafted to play quarterback in the NFL, 12 years after big brother David was the No. 1 overall pick by the expansion Houston Texans in 2002. The brothers floated the idea that whoever picks Derek might also sign the 34-year-old David as a de facto quarterback coach/backup/support system.
If there is anything he can teach Derek about surviving pass rushes, Derek will surely find it welcome - David was sacked 249 times in his five-year career in Houston, yet he managed to squeeze six more seasons out of his career, as a backup mostly with the Giants.
Derek Carr leaped into the forefront of the draft discussion as a senior last year with a 5,000-yard, 50-touchdown, eight-interception season, although one of the questions about his prospects was about whether he was a product of Fresno State's system.
But he impressed on his pro day, particularly since he participated a day after being hospitalized with a stomach virus; he wore down on his deep throws near the end, but scouts didn't hold it against him. At 23, he's also older than the average rookie quarterback (Blake Bortles is 22, Johnny Manziel and Teddy Bridgewater 21).