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Nick Saban: Passing on A.J. McCarron would be a huge mistake

Allstate Sugar Bowl - Oklahoma v Alabama

NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 2: Quarterback A.J. McCarron #10 of the Alabama Crimson Tide warms up before his game against the Oklahoma Sooners before the BCS Sugar Bowl on January 2, 2014 at Mercedes-Benz Superdome New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jackson Laizure/Getty Images)

Jackson Laizure

Alabama’s A.J. McCarron isn’t often mentioned as one of the top quarterbacks in the 2014 NFL draft, but Nick Saban thinks he should be.

Saban, who won two national championships with McCarron as his quarterback, told Michele Steele on ESPN that the NFL teams that pass on McCarron will live to regret it.

“I think anybody that doesn’t take A.J. in one of those earlier rounds is going to make a huge mistake, because I think he’s going to be a very, very good player,” Saban said. “First of all, he has all the athletic talent to make all the throws that he needs to make at the next level. . . . Guys who can make quick decisions, process the information and throw the ball accurately are the guys that usually end up being pretty good NFL quarterbacks.”

Few people would put McCarron ahead of Teddy Bridgewater, Johnny Manziel or Blake Bortles, but McCarron said at Alabama’s Pro Day that he views himself as the best quarterback in the draft. Saban seems to agree.