NFL rumors: Top 5 teams that need a quarterback
The offseason is quickly approaching for the NFL. Hell, for 28 teams, we’re already into the long stretch of trying to get better for 2018-19, hoping to still be playing this time next year.
Heading toward free agency in March, there are going to be a legion of quarterbacks potentially available, something we aren’t used to seeing in the modern NFL. Instead of old retreads without much of a resumè, we’ll see some high-profile names and a deep trade market for Kansas City Chiefs starter Alex Smith. Then there is the incoming draft class that is chock full with first-round prospects including Sam Darnold, Josh Rosen, Josh Allen, Baker Mayfield and Lamar Jackson.
So which teams will be going after signal callers the most? Here’s a short list.
5. Denver Broncos
The Broncos can preach confidence in Paxton Lynch, but only a fool has ears for that. After two years and a pair of coaching staffs, Lynch couldn’t beat out Trevor Siemian. Then, this week, it was reported that Mayfield was requested by Denver to work with its coaching staff at the Senior Bowl. Look for the Broncos to explore the veterans in free agency before circling back and taking a long, hard gaze at both Mayfield and Allen.
4. Arizona Cardinals
Arizona has to pick up a pair of quarterbacks. Why? Caron Palmer retired, and both Drew Stanton and Blaine Gabbert are hitting free agency, leaving the Cardinals without anybody on the depth chart. Since Stanton and Gabbert aren’t worth retaining, it’s time for a new approach in the desert. The Cardinals don’t pick until the middle of the first round, so perhaps taking a run at Kirk Cousins or Alex Smith wouldn’t be the worst idea. There are also the Minnesota Vikings quarterbacks in Teddy Bridgewater, Sam Bradford and Case Keenum, who are all slated for free agency.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars have a tough decision to make on Blake Bortles. Bortles had his fifth-year option picked up at $19 million for 2018 but could be cut without cap penalty. Jacksonville is in the AFC Championship Game but not because of Bortles, who has been mediocre at best. Do the Jaguars hold onto Bortles and rely on the defense, or do they try for Smith, Cousins and/or Eli Manning.
2. New York Giants
This is simple. Eli Manning is 36 years old and starting to decline in an obvious manner. The Giants have to start thinking about the future and with a new head coach in Pat Shurmur and a new general manager in Dave Gettleman, now is the time. Even if Manning stays for another year, New York has to use the second-overall selection in April’s draft to take a quarterback.
1. Cleveland Browns
General manager John Dorsey isn’t going to mess around. Holding the first and fourth-overall picks in the draft, he’ll land one of Darnold, Rosen or Allen, depending on who ends up with the highest grade on Browns’Â board at the end of the process. Cleveland has been terrible for years, but 1-31 over the past two seasons is insane even for the Browns. The time has come to draft the best quarterback in the group and get rolling.
