Down and Dynasty
Last week we looked at some of the rookie non-quarterbacks and whether they surprised us in a good way — Phillip Lindsay — or a not so good way — Rashaad Penny. This week we are going to look at the quarterbacks.
Baker Mayfield, Cleveland Browns — I was firmly in the start him now camp from the time Mayfield was drafted. Mayfield possesses the mental toughness to handle adversity without losing self-confidence. Mayfield came on in relief of Tyrod Taylor in Week 3 and provided a much-needed spark leading the Browns to their first win of the season completing 17-of-23 for 201 yards. In the three games Mayfield has started since then he has thrown the ball more than 40 times per game, completing just 55.6 percent of his passes after completing 68.5 percent in college. Mayfield is making some plays though, and as he gets more experience he will increase the completion percentage lead this team to some more wins. The surprise for me, or maybe I’m not surprised, is that Hue Jackson insisted in starting Taylor rather than letting the talented rookie earn his stripes.
Sam Darnold, New York Jets — Darnold delivered the first surprise for the quarterback class being the only one to win the starting job coming out of camp. Through six games Darnold has the Jets at 3–3 and has been up-and-down along the way, completing 107-of-179 passes, 59.8 percent, with nine touchdowns and seven interceptions. While Darnold has struggled at times, he has shown the resiliency that will suit him well in his development. The Jets did with Darnold what the Browns should have done with Mayfield — let the rookie play and get the experience that will be crucial to his development.
Josh Rosen, Arizona Cardinals — Rosen ascended to the starting role due to injury, much like Mayfield. And like Mayfield and Darnold before him, Rosen has completed less than than 60 percent of his passes across his three plus games with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Rosen has some good offensive pieces to work with in David Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald and Christian Kirk, but unfortunately he is saddled with a subpar offensive line and an offensive coordinator in Mike McCoy who is, shall we say, just plain offensive. I think the only real surprise here was that Sam Bradford was able to stay healthy into the third game.
Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills — Allen is probably my least favorite quarterback of the Top 5. A cannon for an arm, and sometimes the ball even goes where he is aiming. Buffalo is a terrible situation for rookie and veteran alike having lost three of their Top 5 offensive linemen in the off-season and having an aging Shady McCoy as the only weapon. Allen came on in relief of a disastrous Nathan Peterman start in game one versus the Ravens and has kept the job until injuring he ulnar nerve in Week 6. Allen has been as advertised in leading the Bills to a 2–4 record while completing 56 percent of his passes for two touchdowns and five interceptions. Allen has also added 155 yards and three touchdowns on the ground.
Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens — Jackson is the most electric athlete of the Top 5 quarterbacks and the Ravens have built a package of plays around him to take advantage of that athleticism, having him rush 17 times for 88 yards across five games. Jackson has completed 1-of-5 passes for 24 yards. The biggest surprise for me has been that Jackson just doesn’t look like a competent quarterback in relation to the passing game. The Ravens have not deployed him in that fashion often, but he seems to be looking at his first receiver and then running. Jackson and Joe Flacco could not have more opposite styles and skill sets so it will be up to the coaches and players surrounding the two quarterbacks to have a full grasp of two very different offenses.
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