A Look at the NFL’s QB Rooms
The Amateurs evaluate each NFL team’s quarterback situation to see who will be under center for them in 2021.
With the new league year starting in the NFL, teams are moving pieces around to become more competitive in their pursuit of the Lombardi Trophy. The Amateurs will analyze each team’s quarterback room to see what they need to have success in the quarterback position.
NFC East
Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys finally relented to Dak Prescott and gave him the deal he wanted all these years and arguably deserves. Prescott is still in recovery after breaking and dislocating his ankle in Week 5 against the New York Giants. He was set to become a free agent but will now be $126 million richer. His absence was significant to the Cowboys' offense as they struggled to get going without him, even with former Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton under center and running back Ezekiel Elliott in the backfield. But it wasn’t all for naught, in fact, it was a blessing in disguise for the Cowboys. Blessed with a high first-round draft pick, the Cowboys are now in a position to comfortably address positions of problem. The Cowboys are better off drafting another position such as a cornerback, a defensive lineman, or even an offensive lineman than a quarterback.
New York Giants
The New York Giants should stay patient with Daniel Jones, despite his struggles this season. The second-year quarterback out of Duke has been more accurate at shooting the Giants’ foot than at throwing to his receivers. Not only is his interceptions a problem but he can’t seem to hold on to the ball. But the Giants should not look to get a quarterback this season. Jones has shown flashes of his potential in his rookie season. This was also his first season in Jason Garrett’s offense. The Giants’ offensive line has also been a hindrance more often than being a help to Jones this season. Daniel Jones also has Jerry Schuplinski, who developed Jimmy Garoppolo and Jacoby Brissett during his time with the Patriots, as his quarterback coach. The Giants should wait longer for Jones to develop more. In the meantime, New York should draft a premier wide receiver or a stud offensive lineman to improve Jones’ supporting cast.
Philadelphia Eagles
Jalen Hurts seems to be the Eagles franchise quarterback after usurping Carson Wentz for the job in week 14 before the Eagles dealt Wentz away to the Colts. Unlike their NFC East counterparts, Philadelphia needs to find a way to get enough cap space to give their new quarterback the pieces he needs to succeed. The Eagles will also be looking to get rid of their veteran players, starting with DeSean Jackson, Alshon Jeffery, and many more. Dealing away Wentz doesn’t automatically make Hurts the starting quarterback. With the sixth overall pick in this year’s draft, the Eagles might spend it to draft a quarterback with possibly Trey Lance, Zach Wilson, or Justin Fields still on the board. Would that be a wise move? It would be questionable at best since Hurts has shown flashes last season when he started. The Eagles are better off addressing other holes on their roster, especially with many of the Super Bowl 52 players closer to retirement age.
Washington Football Team
The Washington Football Team are not only nameless but they’re also quarterback-less. Former 2019 first-round draft pick Dwayne Haskins is no longer with the team, Taylor Heinicke is unproven as a long-term starter, and Comeback Player of the Year Alex Smith is now a free agent after Washington released him. Washington added a veteran presence into the locker room by signing Ryan Fitzpatrick. The addition of Fitzpatrick muddles further who Ron Rivera will start under center in 2021. Making the playoffs in the 2020 season might’ve hurt them in the long run, especially if they miss out on a potential franchise quarterback. Washington can potentially trade for Russell Wilson or Deshaun Watson who are unhappy with their respective teams but Washington is still deficient in many positions that trading valuable draft picks for those quarterbacks won’t help them compete. Trading for Jimmy Garoppolo or Sam Darnold also won’t put them in a better position than they do with Heinicke or Fitzpatrick under center. Heinicke might work as a franchise quarterback as the team trusts him to be a serviceable starting quarterback by giving him a two-year extension and with Fitzpatrick tutoring him. But drafting for a franchise quarterback will be inevitable in the next five years if Washington is looking to escape the hole of mediocrity.
NFC North
Green Bay Packers
Aaron Rodgers just got off an MVP-winning season so the Packers don’t have to worry about their starting quarterback for the 2021 season. Backup quarterback Tim Boyle is set to be a free agent and will most likely leave Green Bay with 2020 first-round pick Jordan Love waiting in the wings. The Green Bay Packers will once again try to make a Super Bowl run with Rodgers under center and fans are hoping the front office will make some free agent signings on defense that can help boost some positions in need such as the linebacker and defensive tackle.
Minnesota Vikings
Kirk Cousins is a very good game manager and that’s pretty much it about him. Cousins is good enough most of the time to not lose the game for his team but he also can’t win games on his own. His contract also makes it impossible for him to be traded or cut because of the huge cap hit so Vikings fans will have to bear with him for at least another two seasons. But with the emergence of Justin Jefferson, in addition to Adam Thielen and Dalvin Cook’s presence on offense, will definitely help Cousins play well every game. The Vikings had a lot of problems last season that prevented them from making the playoffs but most of the time Cousins wasn’t the cause of their losses.
Chicago Bears
The Bears last year’s offseason decided not to pick up Mitch Trubisky’s fifth-year option. With Nick Foles left on the roster essentially as the only quarterback with starting experience, the Bears are in the market for a quarterback. They are reported to be in heavy pursuit of Russell Wilson, although they probably have to give a king’s ransom for the Seahawks to agree on the trade. Other starters such as Jimmy Garoppolo or Sam Darnold could also be available for a cheaper trade. The Bears who made the playoffs last season are also not in an ideal spot to draft a quarterback in the first round with probably only Mac Jones still remaining on the board when Chicago picks at 20. If they miss on all their swings on veteran quarterbacks and also are only able to draft a Day 2 or Day 3 quarterback, Nick Foles, to the horror of many, will most likely be the starter to begin the 2021 season.
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions traded away Matthew Stafford to the Los Angeles Rams and got Jared Goff in return on top of the draft picks they got. The rebuilding Lions are at a crossroad with their quarterback situation. They can try to trade away Goff so another team can take the brunt of his contract or stick with him as a bridging quarterback while the Lions accumulate young talents through this year and next year’s NFL Draft. Whichever route the Lions take, their quarterback situation is surprisingly better than probably half of the team in the league. As bad as Goff is, he’s still an average quarterback that can be serviceable as a starter and made the trip to the Super Bowl before. If the Lions coaching staff can utilize him well, Goff might be able to make the Lions competitive, at least in the NFC North for second place behind the Packers.
NFC South
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tom Brady is still in Tampa, they just won a Super Bowl, and they probably will again in the near future! The one-year contract extension Brady just signed is basically his way of helping the Buccaneers create more cap space so they can either re-sign free agents from their Super Bowl-winning roster or a free agent currently on the market. With Tom Brady planning to play until at least 45, there’s still no end in sight to his reign.
Atlanta Falcons
Matt Ryan is still a borderline top 10 quarterbacks in the league on his best days but he has struggled mightily when Julio Jones was missing games because of injuries. The arrival of Arthur Smith as the head coach might help Ryan regain his MVP-winning season form, just like Smith did with Ryan Tannehill in Tennessee. The Falcons are also not short of weapons But with Ryan not getting any younger, the Falcons might be in a prime position to take a rookie quarterback in the first round without having to start them immediately. While Ryan is still under contract until 2023 when he’s going to be 38 by then, the rookie quarterback can learn behind him and get used to the NFL without being exposed to hits and pressures of NFL defenses.
Carolina Panthers
Teddy Bridgewater might be on the move again as the Panthers seem unimpressed with his first performance in 2020. Bridgewater was quite up and down and at his best, he was barely above average compared to the rest of the league. The Panthers were 5–11 under Matt Rhule’s first year as a head coach and will pick at No. 8 in the first round. Trey Lance might still be available and with Matt Rhule’s previous experience in the college ranks, they might be a fit for one another. In the meantime, the Panthers are quite loaded on offense with Christian McCaffrey, Robby Anderson, and DJ Moore still on the team in 2021. Whoever is under center for the Panthers in 2021 will have quite the supporting cast with those three aforementioned players highlighting the offensive personnel.
New Orleans Saints
It’s still uncertain who the Saints still have under center in 2021 as Drew Brees retires after 15 years in the league. The Saints will still have Taysom Hill and Jameis Winston but whether or not Hill is a long-term option is still up for debate as he will be 31 when the 2021 season starts. The Saints’ cap space situation also prevents them from pursuing other quarterbacks, either from the free-agent market or trading for one. But it seems that the Saints are satisfied with having Hill and Winston manning their quarterback room after they re-signed Winston to a 1-year, $12 million deal to extend his stay in New Orleans. But the possibility of a rookie quarterback to the room is still not out of the realm of possibility. The Saints are reported to be interested in Mac Jones but he might not be available at the 28th pick with many teams also looking to add a new quarterback to their team.
NFC West
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks should be worried at Russell Wilson’s happiness with the team as he suddenly expressed disgruntled feelings with the team’s management. Firing Brian Schottenheimer, with whom Wilson had a good relationship, might’ve been the last straw for the quarterback in his list of disagreements with the Seahawks. Rumors are swirling around that the Bears are actively pursuing a trade for Russell Wilson. Whatever the outcome is, the Seahawks might need to start taking some actions in the quarterback position, whether it is keeping Wilson happy or start searching for a new quarterback.
Los Angeles Rams
The Los Angeles Rams might not have a first-round pick until 2023 but they now have a top 10 quarterback under center in Matthew Stafford. Stafford, long-suffering in Detroit, will now have a team with adequate supporting casts around him and also a dominant defense to help keep his team in the game. The Rams are suddenly a strong contender for the Super Bowl with Stafford as Sean McVay can now do more things he couldn’t when Jared Goff was the quarterback in Los Angeles. The league should expect difficulty trying to stop an explosive Rams offense next season.
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers probably thought they got their franchise quarterback in Jimmy Garoppolo when they traded for him in 2017. But, now they seem to want to move on from Garoppolo. It’s not that he is bad for the 49ers; after all, he led them to Super Bowl 54. But it was his only full season in San Francisco. From 2017 to 2020, he has only played six games or less every year except in 2019. Although Kyle Shanahan can make it work, Jimmy Garoppolo is an above-average quarterback at his best. He can look really good but he’s not a proven winner that can take over a game when it matters, just like in his Super Bowl loss against the Chiefs. The 49ers are in a position to take Mac Jones to replace Garoppolo but right now that just seems like a lateral move, assuming the latter is fully healthy, and SanFrancisco might find themselves in the same position again some years from now.
Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals will have to make sure Kyler Murray develops more in his third year in the league, especially as a passer. Murray didn’t show significant improvements last season and also ended up playing through injuries as a result of hits he sustained when running with the ball. Kliff Kingsbury, who is supposed to be an offensive genius, didn’t put any creativity in his playcalling and mostly had Murray throwing the ball to Deandre Hopkins. Obviously having a receiver as good as Hopkins is great and he must get the ball as much as he can but the offense becomes highly predictable. An improvement akin to Lamar Jackson’s MVP season is now expected from Kyler Murray in the 2021 season.
AFC East
New England Patriots
Facing a problem that used to always plague their AFC East rivals, the Patriots are still in the search for someone long-term to be under center post-Tom Brady. Last season’s quarterback Cam Newton is back with New England. But that doesn’t leave much optimism with the Patriots’ quarterback situation because Cam Newton is simply not Cam Newton anymore. Bill Belichick might still look for other options, whether through trading or browsing the free-agent market. Names such as Jimmy Garoppolo and Jacoby Brissett have also been linked for a reunion with the Patriots. Disgruntled quarterbacks Deshaun Watson and Russell Wilson might also be available for the right price. Given the Patriots' inability to draft in the first round, they might as well trade it to the Texans or the Seahawks for a long-term solution in Watson or Wilson. Whatever Belichick decides to do for the quarterback position, it’s time he realizes a stop-gap solution to replace Tom Brady won’t bring him back to Super Bowl glory.
Rafiandra Putra Andika, The Amateurs NFL Writer and a Patriots fan:
There will be another year of Cam Newton under center in Gillette Stadium. This could be an optimistic move from the Patriots because Newton barely had any help last season from the offense. But this year with full involvement in the offseason and an upgraded offense with free agency signings such as Jonnu Smith and Nelson Agholor, the Patriots' front office probably believes Newton can perform at his best, or at the very least decent while the defense becomes the priority. This might also be a pessimistic move because the New England Patriots are no longer a sexy destination for players to play in. Matthew Stafford has said that he was fine with being traded to any other team than the Patriots. The front office seems uninterested in the opportunity to land Deshaun Watson or Russell Wilson via trade. Lack of assets is one thing, but if they’re not trying to go for the trade, that’s an issue in the front office. Either way, it’s going to be another roller-coaster season for Patriots nations around the world. For me personally, I don’t like this move as their first option. I’d rather have Cam Newton re-signed after the Patriots fail to trade for Watson or Wilson.
New York Jets
The New York Jets are expected to pick a quarterback with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Although Sam Darnold is still under contract, he hasn’t shown any significant improvements in his three years starting for the Jets. Granted some leeway will have to be given to him as he was playing under Adam Gase for the majority of his young career, but Darnold hasn’t shown any improvement since his college days. Although there’s still some hope Darnold’s potential can be salvaged with proper coaching, it might be better for both parties to have a fresh start. Robert Saleh and Mike LaFleur can start with a rookie quarterback they truly wanted and Darnold can start fresh training under a new environment. The Jets might be able to get at least a second-round and a third-round draft pick for Darnold, if not this year then next year. The Jets will probably start entertaining offers after the NFL Draft to evaluate both their rookie quarterback and Darnold before deciding on what to do.
Buffalo Bills
Josh Allen will be the Bills quarterback for years to come. After years of replacing quarterback after quarterback, the Bills now have an MVP candidate in Allen. Allen has shown yearly improvements that far surpassed the other quarterbacks in his draft class. Nothing more can be said about the Bills quarterback situation with praises heaped on them and Josh Allen throughout the season.
Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins, despite the rumors going around, have their franchise quarterback, at least for the 2021 season. Despite Tua Tagovailoa’s struggles as a rookie, there’s plenty of promise in his play last season. Granted, a lot of his weapons especially late into the season were injured, even the ones still playing. It seems likely the Dolphins still believe in Tua Tagovailoa and with two first-round draft picks at their disposals, Miami can get another weapon for Tua and another piece on defense. Expect a huge improvement with Tua in his second year as the starter.
AFC North
Baltimore Ravens
Lamar Jackson was good in 2020 but it was a step below his MVP season in 2019. The Ravens struggled offensively before they found a new groove late in the season to make it to the playoffs. A lot of the blame was put on Lamar Jackson but he was actually not the major part of the problem to the offense struggling. Some of Jackson’s numbers and percentages actually improved in 2020 compared to 2019. However, the losses of Marshall Yanda to retirement and left tackle Ronnie Stanley to a season-ending injury put a damper on the league’s most explosive offense in 2019. The 2020 Ravens was also a very run-heavy team but didn’t become creative in the run game until late into the season, so Lamar Jackson’s misses on the passing game were more prominent due to the sample size. The passing game also lacked creativity, clumping too many receivers’ routes in the middle of the field, not providing enough space for Jackon’s weapons to get open. Jackson is by no means a bad passer but Greg Roman’s passing plays didn’t help Jackon’s passing game in 2020. For Jackson to develop better as a passer in 2021, the Ravens need to add a big-bodied receiver to play outside and help create space for Marquise Brown and Mark Andrews. Roman and his new passing game assistants Keith Williams and Tee Martin must also come up with plays that attack all spaces of the field.
Cincinnati Bengals
Joe Burrow was great for the Bengals in 2020 but sadly his season ended prematurely due to the knee injury he sustained against Washington in week 11. Due to the severity of his injury, there’s the likelihood of Burrow missing at least the beginning of the 2021 season, even though he aims for a Week 1 return. Ryan Finley will be the only other Bengals quarterback under contract when the new league year starts but the Bengals will most likely add another quarterback, whether it be Brandon Allen, another veteran free agent, or a late-round rookie from the 2021 NFL Draft. The Bengals will probably go with whoever looks best during the preseason and go with whoever has the hot hands week in, week out until Burrow comes back.
Cleveland Browns
After a disappointing sophomore year, Baker Mayfield bounced back in 2020 as he led the Browns to their first playoff appearance since 2002. Under new coach Kevin Stefanski, Mayfield improved a lot as a passer, especially with the offense tailored to fit Mayfield’s strengths with play action passes, designed rollouts, and the use of 13 personnel. The backfield duo of Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt under Stefanski’s scheme also helped with opposing teams having to take into account the run game when facing the Browns. Expect another good season from Baker Mayfield, especially with the return of Odell Beckham Jr. from his injury and the addition of rookies from the 2021 NFL Draft.
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Ben Roethlisberger-era in Pittsburgh lives on for another year. After signing a new reduced contract for the 2021 season, No. 7 will be under center again in Pittsburgh. Roethlisberger is still an above-average quarterback in the league but he is regressing hard. His four-interception performance against the Browns in the playoff seemed very telling that he is no longer the Ben Roethlisberger of old. The Steelers need to realize that Roethlisberger is now better serving as a game manager and create plays that can allow him to succeed in putting the ball in the dynamic playmakers the Steelers have in Chase Claypool, Diontae Johnson, and possibly, Najee Harris if the current mock drafts are true. They also need to protect Roethlisberger better by drafting an offensive lineman or two from the draft. It’s about time the Steelers plan for life after Big Ben.
AFC South
Houston Texans
Deshaun Watson wants out and the Texans aren’t letting him go. As of the time this article is written, Watson leaving Houston is still unlikely as Nick Caserio said he’s not entertaining any calls inquiring about his quarterback. But, keeping a disgruntled quarterback on the team that might refuse to play in the upcoming season can bring turmoil to the team’s morale, especially with a new head coach in charge. In the meantime, Caserio must bring in weapons and more protection to Houston to convince Watson the Texans are serious about making him happy. But, Caserio must also prepare a Plan B in case keeping Deshaun Watson in Houston doesn’t work out and start looking for a quarterback that can start for them in 2021.
Indianapolis Colts
The Colts reunited Frank Reich with Carson Wentz by trading a 2021 third-round pick and a conditional 2022 second-rounder that can become a first-round pick. The Reich-Wentz duo was part of the Eagles’ Super Bowl-winning campaign in 2017 and the Colts would hope Reich can reignite the same magic with Wentz under center. Wentz who struggled hard last season will try to bounce back with a supporting cast much better than what he had in Philadelphia. If Reich and the Colts can fix Wentz’s mechanics and bring his confidence back to his 2017 form, the Colts can become one of the strongest Super Bowl contenders next season.
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars still have last season’s starter Gardner Minshew under contract but everyone and their grandmas know who new head coach Urban Meyer will have under center next season. With the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft, the Jaguars will almost certainly draft Trevor Lawrence, barring any twist come draft day. Minshew is a more than capable backup but with free agent Alex Smith still on the market, Meyer might opt for his former protégé at the University of Utah to backup and mentor Lawrence. The Jaguars will still be in rebuilding mode next season while Lawrence acclimates to the NFL.
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are the only AFC South team with a guaranteed certainty in the quarterback position. Ryan Tannehill, coming off his best-ever season, will be leading the Titans offense again next season. Under Arthur Smith, Tannehill was able to thrive and revamp his career after moving on from the Dolphins. Smith was able to mold the offense to Tannehill’s strengths. New offensive coordinator Todd Downing will have to do the same if he wants to maintain the same level of output from Tannehill. But at least Tannehill still has Derrick Henry and AJ Brown to lean on to and doesn’t have to put the weight of the offense on his shoulders alone.
AFC West
Kansas City Chiefs
Patrick Mahomes, enough said. Although the Chiefs imploded in Super Bowl 55, Mahomes still showed he might be the best quarterback in the NFL. The play calling didn’t adjust and his receivers were disappointing but the Chiefs have nothing to worry about in the quarterback position. But with the release of both Eric Fisher and Mitchell Schwartz, the Chiefs have to figure out a way to maintain at least a bit of protection for Mahomes moving forward, especially with teams adopting the defensive blueprints the Raiders and the Buccaneers used to stop the Chiefs’ offense. They’re one step closer by adding Joe Thuney on a 5-year, $80 million deal but they still have to fill in the gaps left by Eric Fisher, Mitchell Schwartz, and other possible free agents from their offensive line.
Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers have a franchise quarterback in the reigning offensive rookie of the year Justin Herbert. The presence of Herbert alone solves a lot of problems other teams don’t have the luxury of. Despite their 7–9 record, the Chargers actually have nice pieces on both offense and defense. However, the Chargers need to address their offensive line with Mike Pouncey retiring and the other linemen not being able to stay healthy. The Chargers have replaced Pouncey with the signing of Corey Linsley, making him the highest-paid center in the NFL. They also signed former Steelers Matt Feiler to a 3-year, $21 million deal. Feiler can provide guard/tackle flexibility to the Chargers' never-completely-healthy offensive line. Despite these signings, the Chargers’ offensive line had the fifth-most combination of offensive line in the 2020 season. Northwestern’s Rashawn Slater or USC’s Alijah Vera-Tucker might still be available on the board with Chargers picking 13th. Slater or Vera-Tucker will add stability to the Chargers offensive line as an interior lineman and give Herbert more time to throw.
Las Vegas Raiders
It’s not an offseason without Derek Carr being reported to be on the move from the Raiders. But Carr will probably stay with the Raiders as he wasn’t part of Las Vegas’ problems last season. Carr finished with 27 touchdowns and 9 interceptions. Former first-round pick Marcus Mariota had a nice showing against the Chargers in week 15 but that performance was far from enough to usurp Carr as the starting quarterback. Mariota will probably be dealt away and teams have been reportedly interested in acquiring him from the Raiders.
Denver Broncos
The Broncos seem to be looking for another quarterback for their franchise with reports coming out that Denver’s front office lost their faith in Drew Lock. Lock played in 13 games last season and tied with Carson Wentz for most interceptions with 15. Lock only threw for 16 touchdowns but he has a great corps of young wide receivers, especially with Courtland Sutton coming back from a torn ACL. The Broncos' lack of trust for Lock is not without base, given the Bronco's action to address their offensive weapons in the 2020 offseason and the emergence of Garrett Bolles as a Pro Bowl left tackle. The addition of Melvin Gordon also should’ve helped relieve some of the pressure on Lock to carry the offense himself. But in reality, the Broncos offense stuttered many times last season. With the Broncos in play to trade for Watson, don’t be surprised if someone new is under center for Denver in 2021.
