ExtremeRavens Posted February 14 Posted February 14 The NFL offseason is just getting started. With two more weeks until the scouting combine begins in Indianapolis, there’s still so much to be decided as teams plan for free agency and the draft. For a handful of franchises, including those with new coaches and others who made the playoffs last season, who will play quarterback for them next season is the biggest remaining question. This could be a particularly interesting offseason of quarterback movement around the league, with a pair of Super Bowl champions, a breakout star and a four-time Pro Bowl selection among the passers who could have a new home next year. Here’s an early look at how the quarterback carousel could spin this offseason (teams are listed in descending draft order): Tennessee Titans: Sign a veteran and draft a rookie With the Titans holding the No. 1 overall draft pick, they’ll have their choice between the top two quarterback prospects: Miami’s Cam Ward and Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders. While giving coach Brian Callahan a young player to build his offense around and creating salary cap flexibility with a cheap rookie contract seems like a no-brainer, the question is whether Titans ownership will be patient enough to start a rookie quarterback. Tennessee might lean toward picking a blue-chip prospect such as Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter or Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter at No. 1 and addressing quarterback elsewhere. With Aaron Rodgers leaving the Jets, Sam Darnold potentially available after a disappointing finish with the Vikings and Russell Wilson and Justin Fields in limbo after a year together in Pittsburgh, there could be some intriguing veteran options available. Tennessee still has 2023 second-round pick Will Levis under contract for two more seasons, but a proven starter leading the offense while Ward, Sanders or a Day 2 pick get up to speed might make the most sense. Kirk Cousins worked with Browns coach Kevin Stefanski in Minnesota. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth) Cleveland Browns: Sign Kirk Cousins and draft a rookie After Deshaun Watson suffered a setback in his recovery from a torn Achilles tendon, he’s not going to be a part of the team’s 2025 plans — and might have played his last NFL snap. Jameis Winston, Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Bailey Zappe are likely not part of the future, either. That leaves the No. 2 pick as the best option to find a new starter. Ward or Sanders would at least create some excitement for a franchise that has had a long history of bad quarterback play and is in need of a reset after the disastrous trade for Watson. With coach Kevin Stefanski returning, there’s a solid infrastructure in place and a decent amount of draft picks to make improvements – especially if they get a haul for pass rusher Myles Garrett. But quarterback depth is important for a team that has not had a consistent starter since Baker Mayfield. That could lead to a move for Cousins, who struggled coming off a torn Achilles tendon in the first season of a $100 million deal with the Falcons and is expected to be released or traded. The 36-year-old is plenty familiar with Stefanski from their time together on the Vikings and will likely be open to signing a cheap contract. If he’s closer to full health next season, he could help stabilize one of the league’s worst offenses. New York Giants: Sign Justin Fields and draft a rookie The Giants should draft a quarterback at No. 3 overall if either Ward or Sanders is available, but that’s not their only path. Coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen are under pressure to turn things around after two disappointing seasons, so adding an experienced veteran might be a more appealing short-term option than starting a rookie. While Fields was benched in favor of Wilson midseason, he’s still only 26 and has potential as a dual-threat player. The former Bears first-round pick won’t be expensive and could thrive with a fresh start the same way Darnold, Baker Mayfield, Malik Willis and other highly touted prospects have in recent years. The other veteran options require a lot of optimistic thinking. Jimmy Garoppolo might have something left in the tank after spending time with Sean McVay and the Rams. Mac Jones is just 26 and has experience playing in New England and Jacksonville. Andy Dalton, Joe Flacco and Jameis Winston have put up big numbers in spot starts as recently as last year. Maybe New York could pry away a backup with some upside such as Cincinnati’s Jake Browning. There’s also an intriguing group of Day 2 quarterbacks in this year’s draft, led by Alabama’s Jalen Milroe, Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel, Louisville’s Tyler Shough, Syracuse’s Kyle McCord, Texas’ Quinn Ewers, Ohio State’s Will Howard and Notre Dame’s Riley Leonard. No matter what, the Giants need to leave this offseason with multiple options. Las Vegas Raiders: Sign Russell Wilson and draft a rookie New coach Pete Carroll and Wilson won a Super Bowl together in Seattle, so why not get the band back together? The 37-year-old Wilson showed flashes of his old self in helping the Steelers reach the playoffs, and while he’s no longer a star, he brings a sense of confidence and professionalism that has often been lacking from this franchise for years. As someone with intimate knowledge of Carroll’s philosophy and day-to-day operations, he could also help his former coach shape the culture in the building. Las Vegas has four picks in the top 75 of the draft, including No. 6 overall, so adding a cheap, long-term option at quarterback would also make a lot of sense. A college star such as Milroe, Gabriel or Ewers could at least build some excitement for the future. If the Saints are open to trading quarterback Derek Carr, the Jets would make sense as a landing spot. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez) New York Jets: Acquire Derek Carr and keep Tyrod Taylor After a torn Achilles tendon in 2023 and a messy 5-12 finish in 2024, the Rodgers era is over in New York. For new coach Aaron Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey, a blank slate awaits. That doesn’t mean the Jets are planning a hard reset, though. There is still some talent on this roster, headlined by cornerback Sauce Gardner, wide receiver Garrett Wilson and defensive tackle Quinnen Williams. Getting Rodgers and wide receivers Davante Adams and Allen Lazard off the books could also open up significant cap room to make improvements. That makes New York an intriguing landing spot for Carr, who has a no-trade clause and would likely need the Saints to pay a portion of his remaining salary. Assuming both sides are ready to move on, the 33-year-old could come over in a trade and provide a steady veteran presence while the new regime retools the roster. Taylor, who turns 36 in August, is also under contract for one more season at a reasonable price along with 2024 fifth-round pick Jordan Travis. New Orleans Saints: Sign Daniel Jones As always, the Saints face a significant salary-cap crunch this offseason thanks to their long-standing practice of deferring money to future years. But GM Mickey Loomis isn’t going anywhere, so it’s likely going to be business as usual for a team that hasn’t been able to escape mediocrity since Drew Brees and Sean Payton left. In that case, Jones looks like a perfect buy-low candidate for a cash-strapped team. He could follow the same path as Darnold, who signed a one-year, $10 million deal with the Vikings and revived his career after spending time in San Francisco with Kyle Shanahan. Jones, who became Darnold’s backup in Minnesota after being cut by the Giants last season, has shown flashes of the raw talent that made him a 2019 first-round pick and could have a similar resurgence in New Orleans. At the very least, he’s a better option than previous mid-round picks Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener. New coach Kellen Moore should also be familiar with Jones after facing him in the NFC East with the Cowboys and Eagles. Their success will depend on whether the Saints can significantly upgrade their offensive line and group of pass catchers. Pittsburgh Steelers: Sign Aaron Rodgers and draft a rookie Mike Tomlin is a Hall of Fame coach, but it’s clear that something needs to change in Pittsburgh. It should start at quarterback. The Steelers have remained competitive with Ben Roethlisberger, Mason Rudolph, Duck Hodges, Mitchell Trubisky, Kenny Pickett, Fields and Wilson, but they have not won a playoff game since January 2017. As good as Tomlin is at keeping his team in the hunt, a lack of firepower has left them overmatched against elite teams. Pittsburgh needs to take a big swing, and that could mean taking a chance on Rodgers. There are major questions about how he’d fit in the locker room after some turbulent years in Green Bay and New York and whether he has anything left in the tank at 41 years old, but the four-time NFL Most Valuable Player would at least raise the ceiling of the offense. The most logical path for the Steelers to find a franchise quarterback, however, is through the draft. Milroe is perhaps the biggest lottery ticket of all, a dynamic playmaker with a rocket arm who could have a Jayden Daniels-like impact if he reaches his full potential. Gabriel is undersized, but his accuracy, quick release and experience could help him succeed. Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart has plenty of desirable traits worth betting on. No matter what, the Steelers need to take a risk on someone to escape their current rut. Minnesota Vikings: Bring back Sam Darnold and keep J.J. McCarthy While the Vikings are no doubt eager to hand over the reins to 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy, they shouldn’t be so quick to move on from Darnold. The 28-year-old is coming off a career season, and while coach Kevin O’Connell and wide receiver Justin Jefferson had a lot to do with that success, he’s shown the ability to lead a strong offense when he has a strong supporting cast around him. The big question is how much Darnold will cost. The one-year franchise tag will be around $41 million, which might be prohibitive even for a team with a decent amount of cap space. The transition tag, which takes the average of the top 10 salaries at the position instead of the top five, is cheaper and would give Minnesota the chance to match any offer. A short-team deal — perhaps similar to the three-year, $100 million contract with $50 million guaranteed that Mayfield signed last offseason with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers — might make sense for both sides as McCarthy gets back up to speed following a significant knee injury. Have a news tip? Contact sports editor C.J. Doon at cdoon@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/CJDoon. View the full article Quote
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