VIDEO Jaguars quarterback Blaine Gabbert, the 10th overall pick in this year’s NFL draft, signed a four-year contract worth $12 million on Thursday. The deal is fully guaranteed and includes an option for a fifth year.
First round picks are usually expected to come right in and make immediate impacts for their NFL clubs. That’s the situation rookie QB Blaine Gabbert finds himself in.
Selected by the Jaguars with the 10th overall pick of this past April’s draft, he’ll enter training camp looking to compete for a starting job with 9-year veteran David Garrard.
“I’m going to go out there and play football,” Gabbert said. “I’m looking forward to competing and learning from those guys ahead of me [on the depth chart].”
In fact, Gabbert considers his “competitive attitude” to be his greatest strength. “I’m not going to settle for anything less than winning football games,” he said. “That’s what it boils down to. You either win or you lose.”
Of course, the NFL lockout hasn’t done him any favors. Gabbert admits that it’s been a challenge “not being able to have contact with the coaching staff, going over the playbook with them, and really not having any rookie minicamp.” That being said, he did receive a playbook and has been able to get together with his teammates at the Jaguars’ player-organized workouts.
Still, all indications are that Gabbert will begin the season as Jacksonville’s back-up QB, learning on the sidelines much like guys like Aaron Rodgers and Kevin Kolb did early in their careers.
But if he plays well enough in training camp and preseason action, Gabbert is hoping that the coaches won’t hold his youth against him. “I just want to come in and compete,” he explained. “That’s all you can ask for. The best man will play.”
Regardless of whether or not Gabbert wins a starting job this year, he clearly has a bright future. The Missouri product possesses a prototypical 6’4, 234-pound frame and a strong, accurate arm. And with his burning desire to succeed, there’s little doubt that he’ll be a fixture of NFL Sundays for years to come.
