Examining the NFL’s QB market in the offseason: Which players are expected to change? Which teams in 2024 will require a new arm?
In professional sports, the position of quarterback is the most crucial. And the utmost level of scrutiny follows. The intense spotlight doesn’t go away during the offseason either, since teams work hard every year to strengthen their position behind the plate.
I believe that this is an excellent time to speculate about what could be in store for several teams and players at the position in the 2024 offseason after spending the season ranking quarterbacks on a weekly basis.
Even with Bill O’Brien’s return, New England’s underdog problem persisted. Mac Jones was not successful. Bailey Zappe isn’t a sustainable solution. And the Patriots are considering using a top-15 pick on a quarterback for the second time since Tom Brady left for Tampa. By selecting third overall, they will have a better chance of finding a long-term solution at the position this time. Depending on what Chicago does with the first overall pick, they might end up third in the passing hierarchy, but it’s still reasonable to assume the Pats will choose a quarterback. The Jones/Zappe combination is just too strong for them to run it back.
Arthur Smith’s tenure in Atlanta came to an end when he chose to ride along with Desmond Ridder rather than look for an outside option who could outperform backup Taylor Heinicke. While Ridder showed glimpses of brilliance here and there, the team’s performance as a whole and his individual play fell short of expectations. The Falcons should be looking for a new quarterback again, and their search could go in a number of directions. The first avenue of inquiry would be the head-coaching search. Finding a good fit between the signal-caller and the coach is the aim, right? Is the goal to sign the best player on the roster? If Chicago is willing to part ways with Justin Fields in favor
It makes sense that many were taken aback when Russell Wilson was benched near the end of the 2023 regular season. The decision made the most sense when considering the financial aspect, as Wilson wasn’t performing terribly. However, the Broncos attempted to turn it into a football game as well, and that combined to create a sort of PR campaign that revealed to me one thing: they’re thinking about moving on. Here, I’m not debating whether Wilson can still sling it. Rather, I would like toknow how, or if they can at all, they will locate a replacement. Will there be a trade up from the No. 12 pick in the draft? Would they look for another old hand to fill the void? All of this is yet to be seen. Do not misunderstand: Wilson could still be eligible for a return if the price is right. But after two years of disappointment, Broncos fans—who have been put to the test time and time again since Peyton Manning rode off into the sunset after winning Super Bowl 50—have regrettably found themselves in a situation that is all too familiar.
In 2023, Ron Rivera tied himself to Sam Howell, and for a while, he had a fortune-telling appearance. Except for a spurious run of on-field success, though, a change felt inevitable as soon as the franchise’s ownership changed. When that failed to materialize, Rivera was let go. The change could also be disastrous for Howell, who nearly destroyed the goodwill he had established with some unexpectedly impressive early-season performances as he struggled with turnovers in the closing minutes. Howell might not be seen as highly by a new administration as Rivera was, and Washington is in possession of the second overall pick.in a great position to choose a new quarterback under center from what looks to be a compelling class of quarterbacks, with North Carolina’s Drake Maye and USC’s Caleb Williams having announced their plans to enter the draft. Although it might seem strange to some, Washington occasionally switches out UNC quarterbacks (Howell) for other quarterbacks. In this chilly, results-oriented world, it seems as though a new signal-caller is headed to Washington.
