State schoolboy legend and Washington Huskies star Jake Locker is headed to Nashville, where, with the Tennessee Titans’ unsettled quarterback situation, he’ll have a chance to be an NFL starting quarterback this September.
Locker becomes the highest-drafted quarterback in University of Washington history (Don Heinrich, 35th overall in 1952) and the highest-drafted Husky since Steve Emtman (1st overall in 1992). Reggie Williams (9th overall in 2004) was the last Husky to be picked in the first round.
Tennessee thought they had their franchise quarterback in 2006, when they drafted Vince Young 3rd overall. But Young’s personal problems and clashes with Titans coach Jeff Fisher caused the Titans to release him. ESPN’s Chris Mortensen says a football source called Locker, known for his humility and leadership qualities, “the anti-Vince Young.” Kerry Collins started 7 games for the Titans next season, but he’s a free agent. The only Titans QB under contract is Rusty Smith, who started once last season in a shutout loss.
Locker is the second quarterback taken in this draft, a big surprise, as Missouri’s Blaine Gabbert was considered by most to be the second quarterback taken after Cam Newton. ESPN’s Todd McShay predicted that Locker wouldn’t be drafted until the second round.
If the NFL schedule stays the same, with NFC teams playing a matching AFC division on a rotational basis, Locker will first face the Seahawks at some point in the 2013 season. Unless the two teams meet in the Super Bowl. ;)
