Raiders go QB route for Fresno State's Carr
NEW YORK - For once, Derek Carr didn't emulate his older brother.
David Carr was the top overall pick in the 2002 NFL draft, the first player ever taken by the Houston Texans. Derek, who also went to Fresno State and, like his elder brother enters the league with a wife and child, went 36th overall when Oakland selected him in the second round Friday night.
Eleven years younger than David, Derek Carr also must hope he gets better protection with the Raiders than David did with Houston. David Carr never reached the expectations of a No. 1 pick, in great part because he was sacked so often during his time with the Texans.
"I learned everything that he did right and everything that he did wrong," Derek Carr said. "He told me that if he could do anything, he hopes he made the path smoother for me as I transition into the NFL."
Derek Carr rewrote the Bulldogs' record book, throwing for more than 10,000 yards and 100 touchdown passes.
He led Fresno State to consecutive Mountain West Conference titles in his final two seasons and passed for 5,082 yards and 50 touchdowns in 2013. He guided a spread offense that relied on his quick decision making, fast release and ability to move in the pocket. All in a season where his son was born with a serious problem with his intestines a month before he stepped on the field.
Oakland acquired veteran Matt Schaub to be its starter, but he will get a serious push from Carr.
In other picks Friday:
- Houston had 20 hours to think about the first pick of the second round, then went for a blocker. The Texans selected UCLA guard Xavier Su'a-Filo, who joins the first overall pick, defensive disrupter Jadeveon Clowney of South Carolina, in Houston. The two of them can have fun colliding against each other in minicamps and training camp. The 6-foot-4, 307-pound Su'a-Filo, who went on a Mormon mission while in college, also has played tackle.
- The Cowboys took Boise State defensive end Demarcus Lawrence, who they hope will emulate their departed sacks leader with the same first name, DeMarcus Ware, now with Denver. "I'm my own Demarcus," Lawrence said. "I don't like to try to be nobody else. I'm going to be me, and I'm going to do it well."
- Cleveland, more active than any team in the first round, added a protector for Johnny Manziel by grabbing guard Joel Bitonio of Nevada, who also can play tackle or center. The Browns caused the biggest stir on opening night when they traded up to No. 22 to get Johnny Football. "I think he's a heck of a quarterback," Bitonio said. "Hopefully, he comes in and he's ready to compete and just ready to work and do well for the Cleveland Browns."
Cleveland did not choose any receivers even though Josh Gordon is reportedly facing suspension by the NFL for violating the league's drug policy again. Gordon was suspended for the first two games of 2013, but still led the league with 1,646 yards receiving in 14 games. He had 87 catches and nine touchdowns.
- Eastern Illinois QB Jimmy Garoppolo, a star on the FCS level from the school that produced Tony Romo, went to New England near the end of the second round. Could he be the heir to Tom Brady, who Garoppolo says has been his favorite NFL player? "I feel good about it," Garoppolo said. "Whether I was coming in as the starter or as the backup, I'm going to go in and approach it the same way. I'm going to go out there and try to get better each and every day. That's what good football players do."
- After Washington selected Virginia tackle Morgan Moses, who was on hand at the draft, with the 66th pick, Moses joked: "I thought my phone was broken." Several mock drafts had Moses going in the first round.
The teams already were busy on the trade block, with five in the first 75 minutes of the second round. There were only five all through the opening round.
It took 54 selections, a draft record, for a running back to go. Bishop Sankey of Washington was chosen by the Titans, who cut Chris Johnson this spring. Two more went in the next three selections: Jeremy Hill of LSU to Cincinnati, and Carlos Hyde of Ohio State to San Francisco.