Multiple teams have an obvious need at quarterback with the 2019 NFL Draft set to take place next month. Some might have addressed the issue over the short term. Others figured they found long-term options.
Even then, there’s a number of franchises out there who are currently in quarterback purgatory. There are also some other squads with aging veterans who are in need of at least a developmental guy behind their established starter.
The old saying goes that drafting a quarterback every year will set you up well to get lucky just once. Ask the New England Patriots about that.
While we don’t subscribe to this thought process, it makes sense for NFL teams to be very proactive at the game’s most-important position.
It’s in this that we give you a quick rundown of teams that should look quarterback at some point during the 2019 NFL Draft.
New England Patriots: The next Jimmy Garoppolo.
- We’re not expecting New England to exhaust its first-round pick on a signal caller. Of course, that’s if Dwayne Haskins and Kyler Murray are both off the board.
- Even then, there’s certainly a scenario in play that suggests New England goes quarterback on Day 2.
- Because of their willingness to let free agents walk, the Pats have two second-round and three third-round picks in the 2019 NFL Draft.
- Ideal target: Ryan Finley, North Carolina State
Washington Redskins: Colt McCoy and Case Keenum. Really?
- The definition of quarterback hell, Washington could not have foreseen Alex Smith’s devasting leg injury last November. It hit the team hard.
- Even then, the inability to be proactive hurt this team big time. How else do you explain starting the likes of Josh Johnson and Mark Sanchez during a playoff race?
- Washington is now pretty much stuck with Colt McCoy or Case Keenum under center in 2019. Though, the team seems open to drafting a quarterback.
- Ideal target: Drew Lock, Missouri
Los Angeles Chargers: Finding an heir-apparent.
- We previously focused on Los Angeles’ need to find a replacement for the aging Philip Rivers under center. In fact, we mocked Boise State’s Brett Rypien to Southern California.
- Given that the Chargers just signed former Pro Bowler Tyrod Taylor, it’s unlikely the team will exhaust a higher-round pick on a quarterback.
- That’s just fine. Los Angeles is in win-now mode. It wants immediate production from top-round picks. Even then, there’s some options to fill out the quarterback room.
- Ideal target: Brett Rypien, Boise State
New York Giants: Eli Manning, who?
- This is becoming a bit ridiculous. Despite trading away star receiver Odell Beckham Jr., David Gettleman and Co. don’t believe they’re in full-scale rebuild mode.
- Instead, New York decided to hang on to a washed-up Eli Manning for yet another season. It’s mediocrity and irrelevance at its finest.
- Even then, we’re hopeful that this suddenly disastrous franchise actually makes the right move. After all, New York now boasts two first-round selections in April’s draft.
- Realistically, the Giants would be fine starting Manning for another season if they had a future franchise guy behind him on the depth chart. A trade up should be in the cards here.
- Ideal target: Kyler Murray, Oklahoma
Tennessee Titans: Marcus Mariota isn’t so super any more.
- Despite a narrative suggesting that he’s Tennessee’s franchise quarterback, we simply have not seen it from Mariota in recent seasons.
- The former No. 2 overall pick has accounted for 24 touchdown passes and 23 interceptions over the past two seasons. Huge ouch!
- Mariota’s injury-plagued ways forced the Titans to trade for another brittle quarterback in Ryan Tannehill — handing him a ridiculous one-year contract in the process. It’s time to find more security.
- Ideal target: Will Grier, West Virginia
Seattle Seahawks: The Russell Wilson dynamic.
- It’s nothing more than a rumor at this point. But some around the water cooler are indicating that Wilson might look to make the move to the big apple.
- Wilson is slated to become a free agent after the 2019 season. It doesn’t appear that the two sides are close to what would be a record-breaking long-term deal.
- While quarterbacks are a different animal, future Hall of Famers have not been immune to Seattle’s tough negotiations on long-term deals. A backup plan in the form of a mid-to-late round pick could be in the cards.
- Ideal target: Tyree Jackson, Buffalo
Cincinnati Bengals: Young coach, same old quarterback.
- Is first-year head coach Zac Taylor really sold on Andy Dalton as the short-term solution in Cincinnati? Reports suggest this might be the case, but we’re not too sure.
- Dalton has proven to be nothing more than a mediocre quarterback during his career. With the Bengals in a rebuild, why not look to find that long-term solution?
- We previously suggested the idea that Cincinnati look to trade up for Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins. Wouldn’t that expedite the rebuild?
- Ideal target: Dwayne Haskins, Ohio State
Jacksonville Jaguars: An option behind Nick Foles.
- By virtue of handing Foles a four-year deal that could be worth up to $102 million, Jacksonville has committed to the former Super Bowl MVP.
- Though, the devil is certainly in the details here. The Jaguars can save north of $14 million against the cap by releasing Foles following the 2020 season.
- This makes Foles a two-year guaranteed starter in Duval. Nothing more. Given his body of work outside the city of Philadelphia, there’s no telling whether Foles will succeed in Duval.
- Ideal target: Daniel Jones, Duke
Minnesota Vikings: An alternative to Kirk Cousins.
- Minnesota made its bed with Cousins by signing him to a fully-guaranteed three-year contract last offseason. There’s no out on this deal until after the 2020 season.
- Even then, it makes sense to think long-term. Cousins struggled last season. He’s not worth the money. No amount of changes to Minnesota’s coaching staff on offense will change this.
- Kyle Sloter currently sits behind Cousins on the depth chart. Minnesota has also shown interest in Sean Mannion. That’s just plain gross right there. Ideally, the team would look for a mid-to-late round option.
- Ideal target: Jarrett Stidham, Auburn