Sunday served a stark reminder that the NFL may not only be suffering from a lack of quality at the quarterback position but also depth.
Seven teams made changes behind center merely since fielding their Week 8 lineups. Only two were reversions to players expected to be QB1s, the Cleveland Browns’ Deshaun Watson and New York Giants’ Daniel Jones – and he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament that casts his future with the team in serious doubt.
This state of affairs is about to converge with a 2024 draft that could showcase several potential franchise passers – USC’s Caleb Williams, North Carolina’s Drake Maye, Oregon’s Bo Nix, Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. and Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders among them.
That could mean an NFL buyer’s market with injured Kirk Cousins presently bound for free agency with other veterans potentially available, recent offseasons featuring prominent quarterback trades.
Which clubs could be poised to make a switch? Here are 12 to monitor closely:
NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.
Arizona Cardinals
Maybe they roll with QB Kyler Murray, who has yet to play since suffering an ACL tear late last season. And maybe a team hurtling toward the No. 1 overall pick, which would mean the temptation of Williams and the talent so often (and unfairly) compared to Patrick Mahomes, makes a hard turn to starboard.
Atlanta Falcons
With second-year QB Desmond Ridder now in observation mode from the pine and newly promoted starter Taylor Heinicke little more than a patch, this talent-laden squad is shaping up as something similar to the 2022 New York Jets – just a proven quarterback away from serious contention. Unfortunately, unlikely to be anyone of Aaron Rodgers’ caliber available in 2024. And, unfortunately, Atlanta never made a serious run at Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson when the opportunity arose earlier this year.
Chicago Bears
Maybe they have their guy in third-year QB Justin Fields. And maybe they opt to reboot the position, a decision they had to mull in 2023, given Chicago is currently projected to pick second and third overall in 2024. Moving on from Fields would be as much a financial stratagem – similar to the Jets’ divorce from Sam Darnold in 2021 after just three seasons – as one made for football reasons.
Denver Broncos
Hardly fair to pin their struggles on Russell Wilson, who’s played much better during his second season in the Rocky Mountains – already matching his 2022 TD pass total (16). Yet if HC Sean Payton doesn’t believe Wilson is the long-term guy, better not to drag this out – and maybe that means finding a trade partner willing to take on his contract, or designating him a post-June 1 cut in 2024 so as not to completely wreck Denver’s salary cap.
Green Bay Packers
Despite the vote of confidence recently issued by GM Brian Gutekunst, Year 1 of the Jordan Love Experience has been a decidedly mixed bag. Perhaps appropriately, the Pack will likely have a nice mix of options next year – including sticking with Love, who’s under contract through 2024, drafting a potential replacement … or both.
Las Vegas Raiders
Hindsight always brings clarity, but they sure seem foolish for not pursuing a quarterback atop the 2023 draft – or even simply taking Will Levis at No. 7. But, for now, veteran Jimmy Garoppolo is attached to the bench while fourth-round rookie Aidan O’Connell tries to make a case he is worthy of wearing Derek Carr’s No. 4 jersey for the next decade-plus. But if not?
Minnesota Vikings
Cousins, torn Achilles and all, is out of contract after a season in which he was playing exceptionally well. Doesn’t mean he can’t be re-signed. Also doesn’t mean the Vikes can’t move on rather than hope a 35-year-old who’s never proven he can win big can make it all the way back physically.
New England Patriots
Who would have pegged them to have the AFC’s worst record midway through the season? But, as such, they’re careening toward a prime opportunity to replace 2021 first-rounder Mac Jones, the team needing to make a decision on his fifth-year option next spring. But given his inconsistency, Jones appears increasingly unworthy of sitting on Tom Brady’s throne – and this is another scenario that could present the chance to reset the positional wage scale – so don’t be surprised if Bill Belichick and Co. go Ctrl-Alt-Delete.
New York Giants
Jones signed a four-year, $160 million deal in the offseason but – even before Sunday’s knee injury – he’d seemed to regress to the inconsistent player whom the organization didn’t deem worthy of a fifth-year rookie option prior to the 2022 campaign. In fairness, Jones has been plagued by a poor offensive line and dearth of downfield weapons. In fairness to the Giants, they may have to reconsider the position regardless – but especially given the specter of Jones’ upcoming rehab, to say nothing of his problematic neck injuries. Still, even if the G-Men opt to move on, cap considerations likely keep him on the roster until 2025.
Seattle Seahawks
Plenty of speculation, founded or not, that they’d strongly consider Florida QB Anthony Richardson in the 2023 draft with the fifth overall pick … had the Indianapolis Colts not snatched him at No. 4. But this much is true – Seattle can dump QB Geno Smith and his team-friendly contract at any point … and the 12th Man was probably strongly considering it following Sunday’s 37-3 loss to the Ravens.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Now with his fourth team in six seasons, Baker Mayfield has been … fine. Fine probably won’t get you much more than another short-term bridge deal, whether in Tampa or elsewhere in 2024, with the Bucs soon having to reassess their QB depth chart anew.
Washington Commanders
First-year starter Sam Howell has been decent, aside from the ungodly amount of sacks he’s absorbed – a league-worst 44, putting him on track to break the single-season record (76). But “decent” may not be sufficient for a new ownership group possibly looking to make a splash − especially after clearing the decks of potentially expensive DEs Chase Young and Montez Sweat.
***
Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Nate Davis on X, formerly Twitter @ByNateDavis.
