The Top 10 Teams In Need of a Switch at Quarterback
This list is a compilation of QB’s that have not performed up to expectations or are on theeir last leg of their career and we identify teams that might need to think about the future of the franchise instead of holding on to relics of the past because of what a QB might have been 10, 5, or even 1 year ago.
I don’t expect a lot of people to agree with me or the opinions of why it might be important to recognize the need for a switch at the most important position on the team, but it is perfectly fine to not agree with me nad give me every counter argument you can think of. At the end, this is an opinionated post with a little insight for the future of franchises and their most coveted position.
10.
New York Jets
The evaluation I had on Zach Wilson was no where near being in the top 10 of his drafr class let alone in the first round. I understand the Jets wanted to have a franchise QB, but Zach Wilson has not developed as he should have and his time off the field didn’t quite prove to be beneficial.
To top it off, the QB should always be accountable for and responsible for the teams perforance on the field. Zach Wilson’s post game comments didn’t show his leadership as the face of the franchise of the New York Jets. With the benching of Wilson, Mike White, from Western Kentucky, played very well in Wilson’s absense.
Zach Wilson should be benched as the New York Jets look to improve their season with the hopes of back ending into the playofffs. If the Jets are going to have a chance, Mike White likely gives them the best chance to win.
9.
Indianapolis Colts
With Jeff Saturday taking over the interim coaching position, his first decision was to put Matt Ryan back at QB1. While he was able to change the QB status, do the Colts believe that Matt Ryan has more than this season left in the tank? Do the Colts have any faith in Sam Ehlinger long term.
The off season will be a telling one for the Colts but the real question comes down to if the Colts and Jim Irsay are impatient enough to want to win now in which they surf the free agent and back up QB market to solidify the position for a year or two, or does Matt Ryan have another go and continue to build around him, which his successor than is not a part of the ground building process.
8.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
It’s no secret that Tom Brady is on his way out and committed to leaving his wife and kids to have one more season in the NFL. While former Florida QB, Kyle Trask sits on the bench, is he the next starting QB for the Bucs in 2023? We know that Brady is going to the booth to call games, but do the Bucs believe in Trask enough to give him the starting gig in 2023?
The answer has to be Yes. He was a 2nd round pick in 2020 and needs to be given the chance to prove he can be an NFL QB. If he didn’t learn anything sitting behind the Greatest QB of All Time, then maybe he is not the answer. With the Bucs still in a playoff hunt in a terrible division, you have to believe that Trask is the least of the Bucs worries this off season.
7.
Washington Commanders
You have to love Taylor Heinicke. If not the man, at least the story. While the Commanders have gone through immense change over the last year, the back up QB has remained consistent and ready. Scott Turner knows that Taylor Heinicke knows the playbook. While Washington brought in Carson Wentz and they tried to sell his abilities as “Wentz is our guy”, he clearly was not.
Taylor Heinicke is the best back up QB in this business and the best back up QB for this team. He is limited on arm strength and decision making under pressure, but manages the game very well and can control the flow at any point. At 29, his career is not old but not young, and being named the starter for the rest of the season even with a healthy Wentz, seals the deal on Wentz coming back to the team. Washington has one of the harder decisions to make this off season as it pertains to the starting or franchise QB of the future.
6.
Los Angeles Rams
The Los Angeles Rams are a year away from winning the Superbowl and like most Superbowl winning teams, they tend to falter after a successful season. The question is, Matt Stafford and his ability to stay heatlthy. The other question lies with, if this is it for Stafford or the Rams move in another direction, which way to they go?
The Rams built their Superbowl franchise on smart off season moves and using free agency to their advantage, when, the common thought was to build through the draft. Unfortunately, the build through the free agency method runs a higher risk of injury due to wear and tear on a veterans body being in the league for a while. In this case, if Stafford is able to get healthy, he could be viable, but the back ups on the Rams are clearly not.
5.
Green Bay Packers
Yes, it had to be said. The time for Aaron Rodgers to move on has to be after this season. He got paid a lot of money to be in Green Bay for the next 3 seasons, and fiscally it might not make much sense, but for the overall good of the team, Rodgers needs to think about his future.
Reviewing his contract he just signed, he is guaranteed a lot of money which makes this decision by the front office and Aaron Rodgers much more critical. Rodgers is chasing the elusive 2nd ring, but the way that Green Bay does business, he will likely never see it. With Davante Adams gone, his WR relationships are null except for Alan Lazard. Even Randall Cobb was brought in for some level of familiarity.
This off season has to be the most impactful for the young receivers on the Packers, and that means Doubs and Watson. While Rodgers, fiscally uncuttable and not really wanting to retire, has an off season to think about what he can do to help this team, the best he can do is to work with Doubs and Watson all off season. The level of trust is just not there, and Rodgers is an extremely insecure quarterback.
4. Denver Broncos
With that said, it is believed the Broncos have a capable QB on their roster at least to finish the season and let Wilson calm down, recover, and get his focus back into football. Being traded to Denver has certainly shown a different side to Wilson in which his mental clarity has not been all there. Switch to Brett Rypien and finish the season. At some point, Russell Wilson has to catch on and that could be in his 2nd season with Broncos.
3. New Orleans Saints
There there is Taysom Hill who trained for the starting QB job in New Orleans only to get moved to TE and become a fantasy rocker for most of the season. I guess anyway you can secure yourself on the roster.
2023 might be the time to take a few picks and package them to move up and get a young QB that can lead the team. The question is, which one? The Saints are not a bad team and have talent in place all around the field, but the QB position leaves them vulnerable to turnovers and inconsistent play.
2. Seattle Seahawks
In 2022, I cannot tell you how many times I mocked a QB to the Seahawks only to have them pass on every pick they had in each round. It’s an older technique used to develop the rest of the team so the QB is not brought in to fail immediately. If the rest of the team is solid, and the QB is still weak in the knees, he can rely on the rest of the team to at least pad him a bit until he gets more comfortable.
The 2023 NFL Draft will be interesting to see if the Seahawks are able to either pick a QB or package a few picks and get one they want early.
1. Carolina Panthers
Carolina did draft Matt Corral in the 3rd round of the 2022 NFL Draft, and I still think there might be some glimmer of hope to build a team around him. Trading away Christian McCaffrey adds some high end draft picks which can address some much needed areas to improve the team overall. I believe that Matt Corral could take the starting role for 2023 and run with it if he has a productive off season.
Carolina needs to just cut their losses with Darnold and Mayfield and add another mid round QB, or sign a free agent for depth behind Corral. Unfortunately, until a new HC is hired, there is no telling what the direction of the QB position is going to go. The Panthers need to add to the WR corps badly. D.J. Moore is not what he used to be, and they traded away Robbie Anderson.
With Terrace Marshall Jr., Leviska Shenault Jr., and Shi Smith, the WR room seems to have a lot of talent off the field, but for some reason are not able to get it done on the field. I believe Corral could lead this team if given the chance and stayin healthy. But as the saying goes:
New coach, New QB.
This list is just a Top 10 of teams that need to think about their QB situation after the 2023 season. Some of these teams are in worse shape than others and some have committed more money to the QB position which leaves the rest of the team being unable to improve because of an overvalue at the QB position and misunderstanding the market of the QB value.
The 2023 NFL Draft will be interesting to see what moves are made, if any, to get one of the top 3 QB’s in the draft, if they all declare.
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-Campbell