As soon as the clock hit 00:00 on Sunday (well.. even before that), the questions surrounding the “Jalen Hurts QB1” topic for 2022. A case can be made strongly for both yes and no on the topic, but one thing needs to be kept in mind:
- The new QB should be a clear and immediate upgrade. If the Eagles want to move on from 19 starts of developing, it shouldn’t be for a rookie or another project QB
- The new QB should not come at the expense of all three firsts. Maybe not even two of them. This is a team with holes, a lot of them. Trading all of their firsts for a QB will keep them from upgrading their entire roster.
Although both Howie and Nick confirmed that Jalen will be QB1 in 2022, there will be plenty of QB chatter around the league about trades. Are any QBs worth it and meet the above criteria?
Let’s take a looksee around the league at the current starters and back ups.
AFC East
Bills –
Starter: Josh Allen Backup: Mitchell Trubisky
Allen isn’t going anywhere. Trubisky is a free agent and NOT an upgrade over Hurts.
Patriots –
Starter: Mac Jones Backup: Brian Hoyer
Jones isn’t going anywhere. Hoyer… no.
Dolphins –
Starter: Tua Tagovailoa Backup: Jacoby Brissett
Tua may be moved in a Deshaun Watson trade, but he shouldn’t be considered for the Eagles in a potential trade. Brissett is a free agent and is familiar with Sirianni, but he doesn’t offer the big play ability that Hurts has shown this year.
Jets –
Starter: Zach Wilson Backup: Joe Flacco/Mike White
Wilson, while he struggled, is set to be Jets QB1 for at least 2022. Flacco and White are both free agents, and are also a big no.
AFC South
Colts –
Starter: Carson Wentz Backup: Sam Ehlinger
Lol
Jaguars –
Starter: Trevor Lawrence Backup: CJ Beathard
Lawrence is obviously unavailable. Beathard: no.
Texans –
Starter: Deshaun Watson* Backup: Tyrod Taylor/Davis Mills
Watson is the starter, obviously, and he’s available for a trade. But he has 22 unsettled civil suits against him over sexual misconduct/harrassment. I want zero part of him, plus the price tag is astronomical and would probably be the most a team has ever paid for another player in NFL history. No thank you.
Also no thank you to free agent Tyrod Taylor and Davis Mills.
Titans –
Starter: Ryan Tannehill Back up: Logan Woodside
While I believe Tannehill is a viable starter and would provide an upgrade over Hurts in an also run-first offense, he still has two years left on his deal and the Titans have no viable option to replace him. As the number one seed in the AFC, they shouldn’t be looking to anyway. Woodside, a free agent, has yet to attempt a pass in the NFL. But he does have 13 career rushes for 4 yards!
AFC North
Baltimore –
Starter: Lamar Jackson Backup: Tyler Huntley
Ya think Jackson is available? No? Ok, moving on. Huntley played admirably in Jackson’s absence this season, but he’s not a better option than Hurts.
Cleveland –
Starter: Baker Mayfield Backup: Case Keenum/Nick Mullens
Mayfield STINKS. I’m not interested, neither should you. Keenum also stinks, and Mullens… we’ve seen that play out in Philly.
Cincinnati –
Starter: Joe Burrow Backup: Brandon Allen
Send all of the picks in every draft from now until 2100 for Burrow. Oh.. can’t do that? Alright, never mind. Brandon Allen isn’t great!
Pittsburgh –
Starter: Ben Roethlisberger* Backup: Mason Rudolph
The Steelers will be going into the offseason with their own QB questions as Big Ben is most likely retiring. Mason Rudolph stinks.
AFC West
Chargers –
Starter: Justin Herbert Backup: Chase Daniel
Herbert is a stud and he’s only going to get better. He’s also not available. Chase Daniel is a free agent and I hope to every God out there that the Eagles do not give him another contract to hold the clip board.
Chiefs –
Starter: Patrick Mahomes Backup: Chad Henne
Yeah.. moving on.
Broncos –
Starter: Teddy Bridgewater/Drew Lock
Bridgewater was the starter until he suffered a concussion and missed the rest of the season. He’s a free agent. He’s also not good. Lock isn’t worth a 7th rounder.
Raiders –
Starter: Derek Carr Backup: Marcus Mariota
Finally! An interesting one! Rumors are swirling that Carr’s fate on the team is tied to which head coach the Raiders hire. If Carr is made available, should the Eagles be interested? Carr is coming off his fourth straight 4,000 yard season, while averaging a career best 282 yards per game. He also threw the most interceptions of his career with 14.
Vegas has one of the worst run blocking lines and a below average pass blocking line, so if Carr could put up those numbers behind that line, what’s to say he wouldn’t be better behind a markedly better line? However, since he was drafted, he leads all players in fumbles lost with 36 (Wentz was drafted two years later and is in third with 28, btw). Is that a product of him being irresponsible with the ball or is it a product of his horrible offensive line over the years? Probably both but leaning towards the line. Is a player of his skillset worth sending a high pick for knowing he has continuously given the other team the ball? I would consider a deal similar to the Wentz deal: 3rd in 2022 + conditional 2nd in 2023. Condition for first: making NFC championship game. This is farfetched and I’m not entirely sold on Carr as the answer, but it is worth exploring.
Mariota was such a promising prospect, now look at him. No thank you.
For the NFC options/non-options, check the next page
