Ian Rapoport of NFL Network dropped a Draft Day bombshell on us, but not the one any of us expected.
While the league waits on pins and needles to see what the Niners do with the third overall pick, former Broncos and Jets quarterback Tim Tebow, who hasn’t played an NFL snap since 2012, is apparently trying out for the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Jags, of course, are coached by Urban Meyer, who oversaw Tebow’s rise to stardom at the University of Florida, where he won a Heisman trophy and two National Championships.
Tebow, who recently retired from baseball after a brief stint as an outfielder in the Mets’ minor-league system, will be converting from QB to tight end, a change he had previously resisted despite encouragement from coaches, who felt his size (6’3”/245) would make him an asset at that position. Learning a new position at 33 after spending nearly a decade out of the league won’t be an easy hill to climb, though Tebow is certainly athletic enough to make that transition.
Making a mid-career move from quarterback to another position is rare, but not unprecedented. Former Virginia Tech QB Logan Thomas recently made a successful conversion to tight end while Terrelle Pryor, after flaming out at quarterback, enjoyed a career resurgence as a 1,000-yard receiver for the Browns.
Obviously, Tebow’s services won’t be required at quarterback with the Jaguars all but certain to draft Clemson prodigy Trevor Lawrence with Thursday’s top pick. Drafted 25th overall in 2010, Tebow has contributed 29 touchdowns (17 passing, 12 rushing) over 35 NFL appearances including 16 starts for the Broncos and Jets. Tebow also had training camp stints with the Patriots and Eagles, but didn’t crack either team’s Week 1 roster.
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