A Closer Look at Every Team's QB Situation Heading into 2015 NFL Draft
It’s never a bad time to talk about quarterbacks.
Here we will address every NFL team’s situation behind center as it stands at the moment. We will also mention every quarterback on each team’s roster, regardless of his playing time to date.
While most teams are set on their starter for 2015, there are the usual exceptions. We will take a look at the competitions around the league and set the table in each instance.
The NFL draft is just over one month away, meaning there could be more changes ahead for some of these franchises.
Arizona Cardinals
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Carson Palmer, we barely knew you in 2014.
That’s not entirely accurate, but the veteran quarterback only started six games this past season. The team won all six of those contests, and Palmer threw 11 touchdown passes compared to only three interceptions.
However, the former Pro Bowler suffered a torn ACL in Week 10 against the St. Louis Rams and continues to progress following surgery.
Make no mistake, Palmer is the man in Arizona, and he had the hot hand when he was healthy. In his last 15 games dating back to 2013, he’s 13-2 as a starter, throwing more than twice as many touchdown passes (27) as interceptions (12).
The other three quarterbacks who saw action in 2014 will return this season as well...at least for now. Drew Stanton, Ryan Lindley and Logan Thomas combined for 10 touchdown passes and 11 picks in Palmer’s absence this past year.
Atlanta Falcons
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Matt Ryan hasn’t missed a start since his second year in the NFL (2009) and continues to put up good numbers despite the lack of a consistent ground attack and playing behind inconsistent and injury-plagued offensive lines.
The seven-year pro has thrown for 4,000-plus yards in each of the past four seasons, and his career numbers (181 touchdown passes, 91 interceptions) are impressive. It is worth noting that Ryan has been sacked 44 and 31 times the past two seasons—the two highest single-season totals of his career.
Of course, it’s Ryan’s postseason numbers that continue to haunt him. In five career playoff games, he’s 1-4 as a starter, throwing nine touchdown passes and committing 10 turnovers (seven interceptions, three lost fumbles) while being sacked 11 times.
One-time Houston Texans quarterback T.J. Yates and 2013 seventh-round pick Sean Renfree are in reserve.
Baltimore Ravens
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Can anyone remember the last time the Baltimore Ravens played a regular-season or postseason game without Joe Flacco starting behind center?
It was Week 17 of 2007, when Troy Smith took the field against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The following year, the first-round draft choice in 2008 from the University of Delaware was a Week 1 starter and hasn’t missed a game since. He’s been one of the guiding forces for a team that has reached the playoffs six times in seven years with him at the controls.
We just saw Flacco rebound from the worst season of his career thanks in part to an improved offensive line, as well as a lot more help from the ground game. In 2013, he threw 19 touchdown passes, and his 22 interceptions and the 48 times he was sacked were dubious personal highs.
This past season, the strong-armed passer threw more than twice as many touchdown passes (27) as he did interceptions (12) and was sacked a mere 19 times.
It doesn’t appear we will be seeing backups Keith Wenning, a sixth-round pick in 2014, and Bryn Renner any time soon.
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Buffalo Bills
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We come to the first of what will be our share of starting quarterback competitions.
But let’s backtrack. One year ago, 2013 first-round pick EJ Manuel opened the season as the starter for the Buffalo Bills under then-head coach Doug Marrone.
That idea lasted all of four games. Veteran Kyle Orton was inserted into the lineup, and a 2-2 start by Manuel became a 7-5 mark under Orton. The Bills finished 9-7, the franchise’s first winning season since finishing with an identical record in 2004.
Now Manuel will be challenged by not only new head coach Rex Ryan and new offensive coordinator Greg Roman, but journeyman quarterback Matt Cassel as well. The one-time New England Patriot veteran is back in the AFC East, where he began his career. The Bills obtained him in a trade with the Minnesota Vikings this offseason. Cassel once led the Kansas City Chiefs to a division title in 2010.
So will it be Cassel or Manuel who looks to end the longest current playoff drought in the league? Buffalo hasn’t been to the postseason since 1999. And are free-agent pickup Tyrod Taylor and Jeff Tuel truly in the mix as well?
Carolina Panthers
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Talk about taking a licking and continuing to click?
Statistically, it wasn’t a great year for Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton in 2014. During the regular season, he owned a 5-8-1 record, threw for 3,127 yards and 18 scores and ran for 539 yards and five touchdowns. But he also committed a total of 17 turnovers and was sacked 38 times in 14 games.
Still, when it was all said and done, he did help the team win a second straight division title, a first in the NFC South. Of course, the Panthers owned a woeful 7-8-1 record, but at least they played their best football when it counted.
We did see veteran quarterback Derek Anderson a few times in 2014, including Week 1 at Tampa Bay while Newton was recovering from a hairline rib fracture suffered during the preseason. That was after an offseason in which the first overall pick in 2011 had to bounce back from ankle surgery and get to know a new group of wide receivers.
A few days before the team’s Week 15 rematch with the Bucs, Newton was in a car accident that kept him out of that game. Anderson led the club to a victory, and Newton came back to wrap up the division the final two weeks, as well as lead the team to a playoff win over the Arizona Cardinals.
Things didn’t end well one week later in Seattle, but considering all Newton had to overcome this past year, anyone questioning his leadership and savvy had to be impressed. Anderson and third-stringer Joe Webb remain in reserve.
Chicago Bears
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Will there really be an open competition for the starting quarterback job in the Windy City?
Just ask John Fox.
“It’s all an open competition,” the Chicago Bears head coach told reporters this week at the NFL owners meeting (via John Mullin of CSNChicago). “Obviously you’ve got to start somewhere and my experience in football, really in anything, it’s not where you start a competition; it’s where you finish it."
Competition comes in the form of Jimmy Clausen, who made one start in place of Cutler in 2014.
Meanwhile, the nine-year veteran is coming off a forgettable year in which he threw a career-high 28 touchdown passes but also turned over the football a disturbing 24 times.
But what you see with Cutler is what you get. During his days with the Bears and Denver Broncos, he threw for 27,749 yards and 183 scores while giving up the football 161 times—including 130 interceptions.
We’ll soon find out how Fox feels about those numbers and if the positives indeed outweigh Cutler’s negatives.
Cincinnati Bengals
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There’s little doubt that Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton has his shortcomings.
He’s also helped lead the club to four consecutive playoff appearances (and counting)—an unprecedented feat for this franchise.
The team is committed to the 2011 second-round pick, who is coming off a very pedestrian 2014 campaign in which he totaled as many turnovers (19, including 17 interceptions) as touchdown passes (19). Part of that was the season-long absence of wideout Marvin Jones, injuries to A.J. Green (who missed three games) and the inconsistency of Mohamed Sanu.
However, Dalton has also been part of the problem. In four seasons and 64 starts, he has thrown for 99 scores but has also committed 77 turnovers, including 66 interceptions. And that doesn’t include his postseason follies, which add up to one touchdown pass, six interceptions and a pair of lost fumbles in four contests—all losses.
A year ago, the Bengals used a fifth-round pick on University of Alabama quarterback A.J. McCarron, now the team’s backup as veteran Jason Campbell was not re-signed. Would head coach Marvin Lewis entertain the idea of ever benching Dalton should his turnover issues continue? It may bear watching in 2015.
Cleveland Browns
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Since returning to the NFL as an expansion team in 1999, the Cleveland Browns have had eight head coaches, amassed an 84-172 record and started 22 different quarterbacks.
Ummm...make that 23?
This offseason, the Browns signed journeyman Josh McCown, who was cast off by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after one season. The team still has hopes for Johnny Manziel. Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com has the latest on when we may see the 2014 first-round pick.
The roster also features Connor Shaw, who made his first NFL start in Week 17 this past season, and Thaddeus Lewis, one of the aforementioned 22 starting quarterbacks to actually return to the team for the first time since 2012.
It will make for another interesting summer for the franchise, which hasn’t enjoyed a winning season since 2007 and has made just one playoff appearance (2002) in the past 16 years.
Dallas Cowboys
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This past season, the Dallas Cowboys finished 12-4, captured the NFC East and won a playoff game for the first time since 2009—which also marked the last time the team reached the postseason.
So did any of 2014’s success change the perception of quarterback Tony Romo? To a degree, yes, because the four-time Pro Bowler played well in the playoff split with the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers.
A look at Romo’s career numbers may surprise. The former undrafted free agent has thrown for 33,270 yards and 242 scores compared to only 110 interceptions.
In 2014, he was brilliant down the stretch, as the Cowboys put at least 38 points on the board in each of their final four games. Romo threw 12 touchdown passes and just one interception over that stretch. And it helps when you have the NFL’s leading rusher in DeMarco Murray, meaning the veteran signal-caller was no longer a one-man show. With Murray off to Philadelphia, will the team remain committed to the run this upcoming season?
Backup Brandon Weeden made one start for the team when Romo was injured in 2014, and Dustin Vaughan remains on the depth chart as well.
Denver Broncos
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Some have a tendency to focus on what Peyton Manning hasn’t done with the Denver Broncos.
Here, we’ll try and focus mainly on the positives.
Consider that the veteran signal-caller did not play football in 2011 due to numerous neck surgeries and how in three seasons in the Mile High City, he’s led the team to a 38-10 regular-season record and thrown an astonishing 131 touchdown passes compared to only 36 interceptions.
But 12 of those 36 picks came in his final nine outings. The team has won the AFC West each season with him behind center but has yet to win a Lombardi Trophy. In 2014, the Broncos were knocked out of the playoffs at home for the second time in three years, and no one will forget their 43-8 loss in Super Bowl XLVIII in 2013.
In regard to Manning’s future, we shall see. The team has added quarterbacks through the draft in recent years in Brock Osweiler (second round in 2012) and Zac Dysert (seventh round in 2013). But we will soon find out just how healthy Manning is after a quad injury limited his effectiveness down the stretch of 2014 and in the playoffs.
Detroit Lions
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Not that anyone really needs any reminders, but Matthew Stafford was the first overall pick in the 2009 NFL draft.
After spending the early part of his career spending more time off the field than on it, he’s become a fixture in the Detroit Lions lineup. Stafford has not only started every game each of the past four seasons, but has also led the club to the playoffs in two of the last four years.
In 2014, the six-year pro put up modest numbers, throwing for just 22 scores opposed to 12 interceptions. But he completed 60.3 percent of his passes and developed a knack for fourth-quarter comebacks. All of this while running back Reggie Bush (now with the 49ers) and wideout Calvin Johnson were limited by injuries.
As for Stafford’s backups, the team re-signed Dan Orlovsky this offseason and Kellen Moore remains on the roster. But unlike earlier in Stafford’s career, when he missed 19 games in his first two years, there hasn’t been much need for backups as of late.
Green Bay Packers
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As of now, the backup quarterback for the Green Bay Packers is Scott Tolzien.
And there’s no reason to double-check on the team’s starter.
For the second time in four years, Aaron Rodgers was voted the NFL’s Most Valuable Player. He completed 65.6 percent of his passes for 4,381 yards, 38 touchdowns and a mere five interceptions. You could have easily made a case for him being the league’s Comeback Player of the Year considering that in 2013, he was limited to just nine games and an appearance in the NFC Wild Card Round.
The numbers are really astounding when it comes to Rodgers. Going back to 2011, the 10-year pro has played in 56 regular-season contests and thrown 139 touchdown passes compared to a mere 25 interceptions. Rodgers has thrown for at least three scores in 29 of those games.
Perhaps the only question remaining is whether general manager Ted Thompson will bring back reserve Matt Flynn or opt to draft a young quarterback with one of the team’s nine selections.
Houston Texans
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Let the battle begin.
Similar to the Arizona Cardinals this past season, the Houston Texans started three different quarterbacks and also saw a rookie get some action.
In order of appearance, it was Ryan Fitzpatrick, Ryan Mallett (obtained in a trade with the New England Patriots) and Case Keenum (re-signed in December)—with a smattering of Tom Savage. (Thad Lewis was also on the roster late in the season.)
And also like the Cardinals, the Texans had problems keeping their signal-callers healthy.
This offseason, the team traded Fitzpatrick to the Jets and Keenum to the Rams while re-signing Mallett and adding free-agent Brain Hoyer, whom head coach Bill O’Brien is familiar with thanks to the duo’s days in New England. Hoyer spent the last two seasons in Cleveland, where Lewis now resides...again.
Got all that? Now who will emerge as the starter in the expected battle between former O’Brien pupils in Mallett and Hoyer?
Indianapolis Colts
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Despite his penchant for turnovers this past season, it’s safe to say quarterback Andrew Luck isn’t in danger of losing his job.
In his three seasons with the Indianapolis Colts, the first overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft has started every game and led his team to three straight 11-5 finishes and just as many playoff appearances.
Each year, the Colts have advanced further in the postseason. As a rookie, Luck and his club lost to the Baltimore Ravens in the Wild Card Round. One year later, the Colts defeated the Kansas City Chiefs, only to lose to the Patriots in the divisional round. This past season, the Colts came within one game of Super Bowl XLIX, defeating the Cincinnati Bengals and Denver Broncos before succumbing to the Pats in the AFC title game.
Back to Luck: While he led the NFL with 40 touchdown passes in 2014, he also coughed up the football 22 times, and five of those turnovers were returned for scores. His career playoff numbers have not been great, either. With veteran Matt Hasselbeck returning for another year, the learning continues.
Jacksonville Jaguars
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Remember when the Jacksonville Jaguars selected University of Central Florida quarterback Blake Bortles with the third overall pick in 2014 and claimed he wouldn’t see the field in his rookie season?
That lasted roughly 10 quarters, and the talented prospect saw the field perhaps more than he planned. In 14 games (13 starts), he threw for 2,908 yards and 11 scores but was picked off 17 times. Bortles was also sacked 55 times, so it was somewhat surprising that he lost just one of his seven fumbles.
New right tackle Jermey Parnell and two-time Pro Bowl tight end Julius Thomas should not only aid Bortles’ cause in terms of pass protection, but the latter will also prove to be a great underneath and red-zone target.
Veteran Chad Henne, the opening-day starter in 2014, remains Bortles’ backup, with former University of Miami product Stephen Morris slated to be the third-stringer.
Kansas City Chiefs
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The Kansas City Chiefs finished 9-7 this past season and fell short of the playoffs during head coach Andy Reid’s second year on the job. And as we have heard ad nauseam, the team went through all of 2014 without a wide receiver catching a touchdown pass.
Was that the fault of the wideouts or the quarterback? Both? It appears we are about to find out.
Gone are wide receivers Dwayne Bowe, Donnie Avery and A.J. Jenkins. Enter lucrative free-agent pickup and former Philadelphia Eagle Jeremy Maclin.
But will we see more than 18 touchdown passes from Alex Smith, who's set to begin his second decade in the NFL? He did complete 65.3 percent of his passes with only six interceptions, but he was sacked 45 times this past season.
While Chase Daniel returns as the backup, Tyler Bray, 2014 fifth-round pick Aaron Murray and former Oakland Raiders starter Terrelle Pryor make for a busy quarterback depth chart.
Miami Dolphins
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Watching quarterback Ryan Tannehill progress over his three-year career has to have been encouraging for head coach Joe Philbin and the Miami Dolphins.
In 2015, the former first-round pick will have a slew of new targets. Gone are wide receivers Brian Hartline, Mike Wallace and Brandon Gibson and tight end Charles Clay. Coming in are wideout Kenny Stills, acquired via trade from the New Orleans Saints, and free-agent pickup Jordan Cameron. The former Cleveland Browns tight end will look to bounce back from an injury-riddled 2014 season, mostly due to concussion issues.
Tannehill still has wide receiver Jarvis Landry, who surprised many by leading the team in receptions during his rookie campaign one year ago. But let’s not bury the lede. In his first two seasons combined, the QB completed just 59.4 percent of his throws with 36 touchdowns and 30 interceptions.
In 2014, Tannehill hit on 66.4 percent of his passes and threw more for more than twice as many scores (27) as interceptions (12).
Veteran Matt Moore recently re-signed and remains Tannehill’s backup, with McLeod Bethel-Thompson looking to see his first taste of NFL action.
Minnesota Vikings
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The numbers were modest, but the upside may be quite impressive.
Teddy Bridgewater was the final pick in the first round in 2014. He would play in 13 games (12 starts) and throw 14 touchdown passes compared to 12 interceptions. In fact, Bridgewater (14-12), Matt Cassel (3-4) and Christian Ponder (0-2) combined for just 17 scores opposed to 18 interceptions in 2014.
Cassel was dealt to the Buffalo Bills and Ponder inked a one-year deal with the Oakland Raiders.
This offseason, the team added veteran journeyman Shaun Hill in place of Cassel, who was the team’s Week 1 starter one year ago but was injured and eventually gave way to Bridgewater. Pat Devlin is the third-string quarterback these days.
Gone is wide receiver Greg Jennings; enter wideout Mike Wallace. Could the speedster help Bridgewater expand his game a bit? The second year for the former University of Louisville standout could be fascinating.
New England Patriots
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Four weeks into 2014, there were some ready for the Jimmy Garoppolo era to begin with the New England Patriots.
Will they never learn?
Yes, quarterback Tom Brady and his team got off to a very slow start. But as we all know, it’s how you finish, and the season ended with a 28-24 Super Bowl triumph over the Seattle Seahawks.
How well did the 15-year star perform after the team’s sluggish 2-2 start? The Patriots went 13-2 in their final 15 contests (including three playoff games), and Brady threw for 39 scores compared to only 11 interceptions. In his first four games, he threw four touchdown passes and was picked off twice.
It’s safe to say Brady isn’t showing any signs of slowing down after all.
By the way, the third quarterback on the current roster is Garrett Gilbert, a sixth-round pick by the St. Louis Rams one year ago.
New Orleans Saints
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Were the New Orleans Saints actually entertaining the thought of trading quarterback Drew Brees this offseason?
In case you’re not convinced, head coach Sean Payton told the media at the owners meetings this week (via Jeff Triplett of ESPN.com) that there was “not one iota” to the rumors that the team’s leader was available to the rest of the league.
That being said, Brees didn't have one of his better years, and the fact that the team’s defensive unit took the season off didn’t help. Following a 2013 campaign in which he threw for 39 scores and was picked off only a dozen times, the veteran passer threw six few touchdown passes (33), five more interceptions (17) and was responsible for 20 of the team’s 30 turnovers.
Luke McCown remains the backup, and Ryan Griffin is on the roster as well.
So is Brees, who will be adjusting to life this season without running back Pierre Thomas, wide receiver Kenny Stills and tight end Jimmy Graham. The trio combined for 193 receptions and 14 touchdown grabs (10 by Graham) in 2014.
New York Giants
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Coming off a 2013 season in which he led the NFL with 27 interceptions and committed 30 of the New York Giants’ league-high 44 turnovers, quarterback Eli Manning rebounded in fine fashion for 2014.
But how much longer will the two-time Super Bowl champion remain with the team he has played for since 2004?
Dan Graziano of ESPN.com reported earlier this week that the organization would have little problem with Manning playing out the final year of his contract and not immediately signing him to an extension.
This past season, the 11-year pro threw 30 touchdown passes and just 14 interceptions in the first season under offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo. And bigger and better things could be on the horizon with 2014 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Odell Beckham Jr., fellow wideout Victor Cruz and free-agent running back Shane Vereen.
Ryan Nassib enters his third season as Manning’s backup, and the team added Ricky Stanzi this offseason. Of course, both are playing behind a quarterback who has made 167 consecutive regular-season starts.
New York Jets
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There’s another new sheriff in town, as Rex Ryan was relieved of his coaching duties in New York and then shuffled off to Buffalo. General manager John Idzik was let go as well.
Enter new head honcho Mike Maccagnan and new sideline leader Todd Bowles (the 2014 NFL Assistant Coach of the Year) as the Green and White start anew again.
But will that include a permanent change at quarterback? It’s been a rough two years for 2013 second-round pick Geno Smith. The Jets have committed a combined 53 turnovers these past two seasons, and Smith owns 41 of those miscues, including 34 interceptions.
Maccagnan has added the likes of wide receiver Brandon Marshall and tight end Kellen Davis in terms of skill positions. He also traded for veteran quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, who started most of the season for the Houston Texans in 2014. Matt Simms remains with the Jets as well.
Under new offensive coordinator Chan Gailey, it will be interesting to see how this all plays out.
Oakland Raiders
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For the 12th straight year, the Oakland Raiders failed to finish a season with a winning record. The team opened 2014 with 10 consecutive losses before the team split its final six contests. The Raiders also went through two head coaches in Dennis Allen and interim leader Tony Sparano.
Now make it three head coaches in less than a calendar year, as Jack Del Rio goes from Denver Bronocs defensive coordinator to the Silver and Black’s sideline boss.
For a team that has made a slew of changes in recent years, one that won’t occur is at starting quarterback, as 2014 second-round Derek Carr brings this team some encouragement. As a rookie, he completed 58.1 percent of his throws for 3,270 yards, 21 scores and only 12 interceptions. Carr did lose four of his team-high 10 fumbles, but there’s plenty of promise in the form of the young quarterback.
While one-time starter Matt McGloin remains with the club, general manager Reggie McKenzie signed former Minnesota Vikings first-rounder Christian Ponder this offseason.
Philadelphia Eagles
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Is anyone quite sure what the Philadelphia Eagles are doing yet?
No doubt that’s OK with head coach Chip Kelly. He plans on doing things his way, and who’s to argue after back-to-back 10-6 seasons?
This offseason, he made a trade with the Rams for quarterback Sam Bradford, a deal that sent former Pro Bowler Nick Foles to St. Louis. He re-signed Mark Sanchez, who started the final eight games for the Birds when Foles went down with a broken collarbone. He also has Matt Barkley and G.J. Kinne on the current roster.
We haven’t seen Bradford in action since October 2013. He missed his final 25 games with the Rams due to knee injuries. We saw Sanchez this past season, as he threw for 2,418 yards and 14 scores, but he also turned over the ball 14 times.
Yep. Kelly may be just getting warmed up when it comes to his starting quarterback.
Pittsburgh Steelers
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Money well spent? When it comes to quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh Steelers, history says yes indeed.
Back in 2008, the franchise signed Big Ben to big bucks, giving its young signal-caller an eight-year, $102 million deal. That season, Roethlisberger led the Black and Gold to a win in Super Bowl XLIII. Two years later, the Steelers were back in the Super Bowl (XLV), falling short in a 31-25 loss to the Green Bay Packers.
Two weeks ago, the organization once again re-upped with its starting quarterback. NFL Media Senior Analyst Gil Brandt touched on the possible long-term effects of Roethlisberger’s five-year, $99 million contract.
Veteran Bruce Gradkowski remains the backup, and youngsters Landry Jones and 2015 offseason addition Tajh Boyd are on the depth chart as well. Roethlisberger continues to get better with age, and this past season, his 4,952 passing yards were tied with the Saints’ Drew Brees for the most in the league.
St. Louis Rams
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Many NFL fans and observers are aware of the fact that the Buffalo Bills own the current longest playoff drought in the NFL (1999). They are followed closely by the Cleveland Browns and Oakland Raiders, who haven’t been postseason-bound since 2002.
Guess who is fourth on the list? The St. Louis Rams haven’t enjoyed a winning season since 2003 and haven’t been to the playoffs since 2004.
Some of the issues have been at quarterback. And the team will have a couple of new ones in Nick Foles and Case Keenum, obtained in offseason trades with the Philadelphia Eagles and Houston Texans, respectively. Austin Davis returns as well after making eight starts this past season.
The Rams are looking for more production from their aerial game. The team ranked 23rd in the NFL in passing in 2014, and Davis and Shaun Hill (now with the Minnesota Vikings) combined for only 20 touchdown passes.
San Diego Chargers
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In 2016, will we be watching the Los Angeles Chargers? It certainly could happen.
In the meantime, could we see the San Diego Chargers trade quarterback Philip Rivers? Apparently, that’s not happening.
“It's not even on our radar,” said Chargers general manager Tom Telesco last week to Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com. “He's a Charger.”
As well he should be. But the 11-year veteran and his team failed to reach the playoffs after a 2013 season in which Rivers captured NFL Comeback Player of the Year honors and Mike McCoy’s club captured a wild-card berth.
Rivers is in the final year of his current contract, and there are no immediate plans to extend that. One of the issues seems to be the franchise’s speculated move to Los Angeles.
In any case, the Bolts have no intention of dealing away their reliable signal-caller, a player who has started every game for the team dating back to 2006—which makes current backups Kellen Clemens and Brad Sorsensen almost footnotes.
San Francisco 49ers
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These days, there is a new coaching regime (sort of) and a lot of new faces when it comes to the San Francisco 49ers.
But will the same old offensive problems that plagued this team in 2014 resurface this fall?
Of course, most of the fingers were pointed at quarterback Colin Kaepernick. The talented performer was erratic at best this past season, throwing 19 touchdown passes and 10 interceptions while losing five of his eight fumbles. A 'Niners team that scored 406 points in 2013 saw that number reduced to 306 points one year later.
Former quarterbacks coach Geep Chryst is the team’s new offensive coordinator, so familiarity won’t be an issue. But familiar and talented faces such as running back Frank Gore, wide receivers Michael Crabtree and Stevie Johnson and three-time Pro Bowl guard Mike Iupati are no longer with the team.
Perhaps Kaepernick can develop a little deep-ball rapport with newcomer Torrey Smith, who was picked up from the Baltimore Ravens this offseason. In any case, it’s an important season for the four-year pro, who these days is being backed up by Blaine Gabbert.
Seattle Seahawks
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It’s no doubt a play that Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson has seen in his mind over and over again.
With a chance to take the lead over the New England Patriots late in Super Bowl XLIX, Wilson’s quick slant pass turned into instant disaster, as cornerback Malcolm Butler stepped in front of Seattle wide receiver Ricardo Lockette and ensured the Pats of a victory.
Of course, the good has far outweighed the bad during Wilson’s three-year stay in the Pacific Northwest. Now as he enters the final year of his original rookie contract, many expect him to break the bank...sort of.
It’s not like he hasn’t earned it. He owns a 36-12 regular-season record as a starter and has led the team to the playoffs in each of his three seasons, including back-to-back Super Bowl appearances. He’s thrown 72 touchdown passes compared to only 26 interceptions and has also rushed for 1,820 yards and 12 scores. He’s emerged as a leader on a very talented team.
That doesn’t mean head coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider won’t opt for a quarterback in this draft, especially with a league-high 11 selections at their disposal. Wilson’s current understudies, B.J. Daniels and R.J. Archer, are inexperienced.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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The last time the Tampa Bay Buccaneers owned the first overall pick in the NFL draft was back in 1987, when the team wore those orange, Creamsicle-like outfits and made Vinny Testaverde the top selection.
Now the buzz is that the team will make 2013 Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston the first pick on April 30.
That remains to be seen. For now, the team has two quarterbacks on the roster in Mike Glennon and Seth Lobato, the former Northern Colorado product who signed a future contract with the team last December.
In two seasons, Glennon has thrown 29 touchdown passes and 15 interceptions in 19 games. But he’s also completed just 58.8 percent of his throws. He and Josh McCown (now with the Cleveland Browns) combined for 21 touchdown passes and 24 turnovers in 2014, with McCown accounting for 15 of those miscues.
Come next month, there figures to be significant turnover at the position.
Tennessee Titans
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On the night of April 30 in Chicago, will we see quarterbacks go off the draft board with the first two picks for the second time in four years?
In 2012, it was Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III. Will this year see Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota be the latest one-two quarterback grab in the NFL draft?
It certainly could happen, but will the Tennessee Titans be a part of that. They own the second overall pick this year, and while it appears the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are leaning toward Winston, we are not so sure the Titans will select Mariota.
For now, Ken Whisenhunt’s club will roll with 2014 sixth-round pick Zach Mettenberger, who got a chance to play as a rookie and had his good and bad moments. He played in seven games (six starts), threw eight touchdown passes and seven interceptions while losing a pair of fumbles. Veteran Charlie Whitehurst and Alex Tanney are on the squad as well, the former seeing his share of action in 2014 as well.
Washington Redskins
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Things may be just getting warmed up for the Washington Redskins.
Could the franchise that just three years ago gave up a second-round selection in 2012 and first-round picks in both 2013 and 2014 to move up and take quarterback Robert Griffin III with the second overall selection be getting ready to move on from one Heisman winner to another?
Last week, Mike Jones of The Washington Post reported that general manager Scot McCloughan would not have any issues if there was a quarterback on the board at the No. 5 spot and he happened to be the best player available.
Meanwhile, via Jones, head coach Jay Gruden stated that Robert Griffin III should feel pretty good about knowing he’s the team’s starting quarterback these days, although he echoed the sentiments of McCloughan.
This past season, the first under Gruden, the Redskins went through three different starting quarterbacks in Griffin, Kirk Cousins and Colt McCoy. The trio combined for 18 touchdown passes and 25 turnovers while being sacked 58 times. Could we see a fourth signal-caller in the mix in just over a month?
All free-agent information and player signings/transactions are courtesy of Spotrac. Depth chart information comes via Ourlads. Unless otherwise noted, all player and team statistics come from Pro-Football-Reference.com and ESPN.com.
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