NFL Teams That Need a New Quarterback
It’s that time of year again. The NFL offseason. A time for hope. A time for change. A time for new quarterbacks. Here are the NFL teams that need a new quarterback.
The Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are in dire need of a new quarterback. They have not had a winning season since 2007 and they have not made the playoffs since 2002. Their current quarterback, Baker Mayfield, is not the answer. He was drafted in 2018 with the first overall pick and has not shown much improvement. The Browns need to find a new quarterback who can lead them to a winning season and finally make the playoffs.
The team’s current quarterback situation
The Browns are in a bit of a quarterback quandary. They have two young quarterbacks on their roster, Baker Mayfield and Garrett Gilbert, but neither has proven to be the long-term answer at the position. The team also recently acquired veteran quarterback Andy Dalton, but it is unclear if he will be the starter or simply a placeholder until one of the young quarterbacks is ready to take over.
The team’s recent draft history
In the 2018 NFL Draft, the Browns had the fourth and 33rd overall selections. With their first selection, they took cornerback Denzel Ward. Then, with the fourth pick in the second round, they traded up to take quarterback Baker Mayfield. The Browns also selected Toledo running back Kareem Hunt in the third round; he was drafted by Kansas City but released following a string of off-the-field issues.
The team’s current salary cap situation
As of right now, the Browns have $102 million in salary cap space, which ranks them second in the NFL. They also have the most 2019 draft capital with 10 total picks, including six in the top 100.
The Browns used their first-round pick on quarterback Baker Mayfield last year, and they also have veteran Tyrod Taylor under contract. However, there has been speculation that the Browns could look to upgrade at the quarterback position this offseason.
The New York Jets
The New York Jets are in desperate need of a new quarterback. They have not had a consistent quarterback since the days of Joe Namath and they have not made the playoffs since 2010. The Jets have been through a lot of quarterbacks since then including Mark Sanchez, Geno Smith, Ryan Fitzpatrick, and Bryce Petty. They need someone who can come in and be the franchise quarterback.
The team’s current quarterback situation
The New York Jets are in a bit of a quarterback conundrum. They have two young quarterbacks on their roster in Sam Darnold and Bryce Petty, but neither has shown enough to be considered the long-term answer at the position. The Jets also have veteran Josh McCown, who is a good stopgap option but is not someone they can build their franchise around.
All of this has led to speculation that the Jets will target a quarterback in the 2018 NFL Draft. They are currently projected to have the No. 6 overall pick, which means they will have a good chance to select one of the top quarterbacks in the class. USC’s Sam Darnold, UCLA’s Josh Rosen and Wyoming’s Josh Allen are all projected to be first-round picks, and the Jets would likely be able to get one of them if they want to.
There are also a few other options for the Jets at quarterback. They could try to trade for Kirk Cousins or Alex Smith, though both of those players seem unlikely to be available. They could also sign a free agent like Teddy Bridgewater or Jay Cutler, though neither would be a long-term solution at the position.
No matter what they do, it is clear that the Jets need to find a new franchise quarterback. They have been searching for one for years, and it is time for them to pull the trigger on a move that will finally give them stability at the most important position on the field.
The team’s recent draft history
The New York Jets have not selected a quarterback in the first round of the NFL Draft since they took Mark Sanchez with the fifth overall pick in 2009. It’s safe to say that hasn’t worked out too well.
Since then, the Jets have used a second-round pick on Geno Smith in 2013 and a fifth-round pick on Bryce Petty in 2015. Neither has worked out, and it’s time for the Jets to move on from both of them.
The Jets need to find their franchise quarterback, and they need to do it now.
The team’s current salary cap situation
The New York Jets currently have the second-highest salary cap commitments for the 2021 NFL season, according to Over the Cap. They are projected to have just over $180 million in cap space, which is more than enough to sign a big-name free agent quarterback like Dak Prescott or Kirk Cousins. However, they will need to free up some additional space if they want to sign other top free agents, like offensive tackle Trent Williams.
The San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are in need of a new quarterback. They have been linked to several quarterbacks in the NFL Draft, but they have yet to make a move. The team has been struggling as of late, and they need a fresh start. With a new quarterback, the 49ers could be a force to be reckoned with in the NFL.
The team’s current quarterback situation
The San Francisco 49ers are in a bit of quarterback turmoil heading into the 2020 offseason. They traded for Jimmy Garoppolo midseason in 2017, and he became their franchise quarterback. However, injuries have limited him to 10 starts over the past two seasons.
The 49ers drafted C.J. Beathard in the 3rd round of the 2017 NFL Draft as a developmental quarterback. He started 10 games over the past two seasons as well, but he has not shown much progress. The team also signed Nick Mullens off of the street midseason in 2018, and he ended up starting 8 games. He played well at times, but he is not considered to be a long-term solution either.
The bottom line is that the 49ers need to find a new franchise quarterback this offseason, whether it is through the draft, free agency, or trade market.
The team’s recent draft history
Since selecting Alex Smith first overall in the 2005 NFL Draft, the San Francisco 49ers have drafted 10 quarterbacks. In that time, they’ve had five different head coaches and just one winning season. They’ve used a total of seven different starting quarterbacks in that span, including three ( Colin Kaepernick, Blaine Gabbert, and Christian Ponder) who are no longer with the team.
The team’s current salary cap situation
The San Francisco 49ers are in a tough spot. They are projected to be about $13 million over the salary cap for the 2021 season, and they don’t have a first- or second-round pick in the upcoming draft.
The team’s current salary cap situation is untenable. They need to make some tough decisions about which players to keep and which to let go.
One player who is almost certainly on his way out is quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. Garoppolo is scheduled to count $26 million against the salary cap next year, and the 49ers can save $24 million by cutting him.
The 49ers will likely look to the draft to find a replacement for Garoppolo. They don’t have a lot of options in free agency, so their best bet is to use their remaining picks to add young talent at quarterback.
The Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are in dire need of a new quarterback. Their current quarterback, Sam Bradford, is injured and their backup quarterback, Mike Glennon, is not good enough to lead the team to victory. The Cardinals need to find a new quarterback who can lead the team to the playoffs and beyond.
The team’s current quarterback situation
The Cardinals have been through a lot of quarterbacks over the past few years. They finally seem to have found a solid starter in Kyler Murray, but they still need a backup. They also need to find a quarterback of the future, asMurray is not signed long term.
The team’s recent draft history
The Cardinals have not drafted well in recent years. In the last five years, they have used four first-round picks and two second-round picks on quarterbacks. Josh Rosen was the most recent first-rounder, and he was traded after one season. Kyler Murray, the No. 1 overall pick in 2019, is the only one of those six who is still on the team. He is also the only one of those six who has shown any promise.
The team’s current salary cap situation
The Cardinals have a lot of work to do on their salary cap. They are currently $35 million over the cap, worst in the NFL. They need to release or trade multiple high-priced players, and they need to do so quickly. The Cardinals’ top two quarterbacks, Sam Bradford and Mike Glennon, are both free agents. Glennon is expected to sign elsewhere, leaving the Cardinals with a big hole to fill at the position.
The team may look to draft a quarterback in the first round of the NFL Draft, but they will also need to find a veteran quarterback to serve as a stop-gap until their rookie is ready to take over. The Cardinals’ options are limited, but they may look to sign a free agent like Ryan Fitzpatrick or Tyrod Taylor. The team could also trade for a quarterback like Teddy Bridgewater or Nick Foles.
