NEWSLETTER
Last year presented a wave of change at the quarterback position throughout the NFL. I didn’t admit it then, but there was a point when I felt overwhelmed by the rumors and different possibilities that flooded my timeline, brain, and ultimately, this site.
And to think, this offseason could bring even more change.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets that the expectation in league circles is that this will be “an unprecedented offseason of QB movement” in the NFL. He also predicts more than 18 quarterbacks change teams this offseason. And to amplify his point, Schefter casually throws together a list of names who could be on the move:
There are roughly 10 QBs locked into starting jobs for Opening Day of the 2021 NFL season. This is expected to be an unprecedented offseason of QB movement.
My Over/Under of teams changing QBs this off-season is 18. I’ll go with the over. pic.twitter.com/hOKVRaE3Pj
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 25, 2021
Holy Toledo! What a group.
Deshaun Watson is a star entering his prime. Aaron Rodgers and Ben Roethlisberger have started (and won!) Super Bowls. Matthew Stafford is an established veteran deserving better than what the Lions have provided. Cam Newton has won an MVP and led his team to a Super Bowl appearance. Dak Prescott is coming off a serious injury, but is a two-time Pro Bowler. Carson Wentz has an injury history of his own, but has posted big numbers when healthy. Jared Goff and Jimmy Garoppolo have been paid handsomely while playing well enough during important stretches to take their respective teams to the Super Bowl. Teddy Bridgewater is a high-functioning game-manager. Ryan Fitzpatrick embodies endurance and veteran savvy. Alex Smith’s return was one of the best football stories of 2020. Sam Darnold and Jameis Winston have the unfulfilled potential that accompanies high-profile top-10 picks. And so does Mitchell Trubisky, I suppose.
All of that without even touching this spring’s NFL Draft-eligible prospects. Toss in Trevor Lawrence, Justin Fields, Zach Wilson, Trey Lance, Mac Jones, Kyle Trask, and others into the mix for good measure. Now we’re talking about 21 quarterbacks who could conceivably start for any number of teams in 2021. What chaos!?
I guess if there ever was a year to take a big swing at quarterback — like the one Bears GM Ryan Pace hinted at earlier this month — this would be it.
