As the NFL Draft is upon us, many teams will be looking to grab their future franchise quarterback. Not all of these quarterbacks will be given a chance to start immediately in the league. Let’s take a look at the best situations the rookie quarterbacks can end up in for their first year.
Instant Starter
Chicago Bears
Chicago has been dominated during the past 2 offseasons. Through recent trades, Ryan Poles has built a high-powered offense only missing someone under center. Whoever the Bears take with that first overall pick will instantly have elite weapons surrounding him. Bringing in D’Andre Swift and Keenan Allen this offseason to add to DJ Moore and Cole Kmet gives their rookie the best shot at bringing home that Offensive Rookie of the Year trophy.
Washington Commanders
Similar to Chicago, we know the Commanders will be drafting a quarterback with the 2nd overall pick. New head coach Dan Quinn and his OC Kliff Kingsbury will be looking for that premier quarterback to take the reins of the new offense. Whichever rookie the Commanders take will have a couple decent weapons around him like Terry McLaurin and a running back duo of Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler. This quarterback may have a small battle with Marcus Mariota for that Week 1 starting position. In the end, whichever rookie Washington picks should be their starter right from the first snap.
Training Camp Competition
New England Patriots
New England has undergone the biggest change of any team from last season. After another disappointing season, Bill Belichick was let go after 24 seasons as head coach. The Patriots will be looking to start a new dynasty with the youngest head coach in the league, Jerod Mayo. After trading former first-round pick Mac Jones to Jacksonville, the Pats are looking to restart at the quarterback position. With the 3rd overall pick, New England will likely be trying to find a new leader under center. This rookie quarterback will have to beat out journeyman Jacoby Brissett who’s making his return to New England.
Denver Broncos
After failing to find success with Russell Wilson, the Broncos are looking for that next quarterback to bring back the success they last had with Peyton Manning. Currently, with the 12th pick in the draft, the Broncos may try to take advantage if one of the top quarterback prospects falls into their lap. This rookie quarterback will be thrown into a 3 quarterback competition with Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson. Any of these three could be named the starter for the Week 1 matchup.
Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings will look to move on from Kirk Cousins after he left to go to Atlanta in free agency. Their current replacement for Cousins is Sam Darnold, who has struggled to find consistency since being drafted 3rd in 2018. Very likely Minnesota will be looking for a long term replacement for Cousins in this deeper quarterback class. Having weapons in Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and TJ Hockenson would be ideal for any quarterback trying to adjust to the NFL. If this rookie can beat out Darnold for the Week 1 starting role, he might be a dark horse for that Offensive Rookie of the Year trophy.
Could Take Over Mid Season
Vegas Raiders
The Raiders are currently in a very interesting situation. Last year’s starter Aiden O’Connell and newly acquired Gardner Minshew will already be competing for that Week 1 starter position, but there have been a lot of rumors of another young quarterback joining this quarterback room. If the Raiders opt for a quarterback with their 13th pick on Thursday, then this quarterback will instantly be thrown into this quarterback competition. Very likely, the Raiders will rely on one of the ones with NFL experience come Week 1, but it would not be a surprise seeing the Raiders bench both of them in favor of a new young gun.
Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks have revamped their coaching staff this offseason bringing in new head coach, Mike Macdonald, as well as new coordinators on both sides of the ball and new quarterbacks and wide receivers coaches. With this coaching change the Seahawks will likely be looking to reset their offense including their quarterback Geno Smith. He has been a very solid transition quarterback after the departure of Russell Wilson, but he is not the future of this team as he is 33 years old.
Seattle currently has the 16th pick and unless they trade up, it appears that the top quarterbacks in this class will be off the board by that point meaning they’ll end up looking for one one Day 2 or 3 of the draft. With Geno being the starter going into Week 1, their rookie quarterback will instantly be in competition for that QB2 spot with newly acquired Sam Howell. If this QB beats out Howell and the Smith-led Seahawks get off to a slow start, it would not be surprising if this young coaching staff gives a rookie quarterback a shot.
We can’t wait to see how you utilize the rookie quarterbacks next year on SmashUp!