2022 is not shaping up as the best year to need a quarterback in the NFL Draft. Yet, several teams, including the Las Vegas Raiders, New York Giants, Tennessee Titans, and Carolina Panthers need to seriously consider this. The Cleveland Browns may also need a change, depending on ownership’s view on Deshaun Watson, who is under contract until 2026. The Pittsburgh Steelers are another team potentially in limbo, dependent on their sentiments about Justin Fields or Russell Wilson. The Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks, and New Orleans Saints also need to think about the future of their quarterback positions.
Teams need to be discerning at this time of the year while making evaluations. An instance from last spring brings this into focus when the Giants tried to move up in the draft but punted as they didn’t find a prospect they loved. The order of appeal among potential picks like Texas’ Quinn Ewers, Georgia’s Carson Beck, Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders, Alabama’s Jalen Milroe, Miami’s Cam Ward, and Mississippi’s Jaxson Dart is still being determined by league evaluators. There are limited options in the free agent market, with Sam Darnold, Justin Fields, Russell Wilson, and Joe Flacco as the best possibilities.
Regarding recent league performances, it is argued that Brock Purdy of the San Francisco 49ers should now be acknowledged among the top quarterbacks. While having had an obscure career initially, Purdy is proving his worth as a valuable player. The stats are compared with Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals, with the point being made that both have remarkably similar records. Yet, because of the way Purdy entered the league, and due to the 49ers’ gameplay approach, Purdy often gets less credit than he deserves.
In the recent game against the Houston Texans, Drake Maye of the New England Patriots showed strong performance as a starting quarterback. Despite having some downsides, this performance could help alleviate some of the tension on Jerod Mayo, the first-year head coach of the Patriots. Moreover, the game resulted in a better stat line than Jacoby Brissett ever had in any of his five starts.
A discussion follows about Bo Nix of the Denver Broncos. Nix has showcased impressive ability to deliver under pressure in the fourth quarter. However, the concern is whether this high productivity is due to the Broncos being overly conservative with Nix before the fourth quarter or the defenses slackening. Finally, the article clarifies the ranking transitions with Derek Carr being excluded due to an oblique injury and Anthony Richardson retained because his recovery timeline has been more unpredictable.
This evaluation of the situation in the NFL puts the focus on the quarterback condition, what changes teams might need to consider, and the performances of key players. The NFL is a dynamic landscape, and teams must now deliberate their future moves in the quarterback position. In particular, the skills and potential of players like Purdy, Maye, and Nix highlight the importance of the role and its impact on game results. The rankings shed light on the current standing of quarterbacks in the league, reminding teams to consider carefully the future value of these players.
