2027 NFL Scouting Report: C.J. Carr

Prospect Summary:

The NFL has an insatiable demand for starting quarterback talent, and there could be plenty of teams eyeing Carr to be their franchise quarterback. Carr has the potential to receive starter grades from NFL scouts, and that would lead to him being a first-round pick in the 2027 or 2028 NFL Draft. Sources say that Carr has great intangibles with his character, leadership, and being a good teammate.

There is no doubt that Carr has the talent to be a starting quarterback in the NFL. Carr is an accurate pocket passer with excellent field vision and intelligence. Carr moves his eyes quickly to read his progressions and has a great understanding of his offense and where his receivers are going to be. He has a well-developed football IQ that comes from growing up in an accomplished football family. Carr makes good decisions with the ball and uses his arm and mind to hurt defenses downfield. Carr throws a very catchable ball and has a natural ability to throw perfect touch passes, dropping in the ball at exactly the right spot. With his excellent ball placement, Carr leads his receivers for more yards, and he also places passes where his receiver can make the reception without putting it in danger of being intercepted. While Carr does not have an elite cannon for an arm like Josh Allen, Carr has a solid arm and can make all the throws.

Carr is not a running threat for NFL defenses, but he is not a statue in the pocket. He does a nice job of moving in the pocket to buy some time, and he shows no fear throwing in the face of the rush. Notre Dame used Carr on designed runs, and he did a nice job on those. As a pro, Carr will be able to pick up yards if the defense doesn’t account for him, but he won’t be a dangerous running quarterback at the professional level.

Carr does not really have any flaws to his play; he just does not have an elite skill set in terms of a power arm or great running ability. Team sources have told me they compare Carr to Brock Purdy and Bo Nix. They say that Carr is not as good of a runner as Nix, but they are similar-style passers. Like those two coming out of college, Carr does not blow evaluators away with exceptional physical tools, but like them, he is accurate, smart, efficient, and a natural football player.