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Welcome to the weekly version of QB Room. Let’s get this season began with the NFC’s urgent quarterback questions.
NFC East
Is that this the Dak Prescott finale in Dallas?
With the CeeDee Lamb extension within the books, Prescott’s extension would be the cloud hanging over the franchise till there’s some form of decision. Cowboys possession has stated publicly there isn’t any ticking deadline on the deal nevertheless it’s extremely unlikely that Prescott will attain an settlement as soon as the season begins.
With the extension decks now away from the Lamb talks, Dallas can now focus solely on Prescott till Week 1 kickoff on Sept. 8. Whereas I don’t assume it’s a fantastic signal {that a} Prescott deal didn’t get executed whereas the staff was in Oxnard for coaching camp, I do assume the order of affairs had been designed to get Lamb’s extension executed first. So technically, a Prescott deal continues to be on the anticipated schedule.
For these in search of optimism past the Lamb deal getting executed, followers may also take coronary heart in Trey Lance having showcased within the preseason that he’s nowhere close to being a beginning NFL quarterback. That five-interception exhibition finale ought to be a not-so-gentle reminder to possession of what it may very well be like going again right into a quarterback-needy abyss.
One different thought that ought to be suggestive that an extension is coming within the subsequent 10 days: There is no such thing as a clear Plan B on the place for Dallas within the occasion Prescott leaves in free company. Any promising situation goes to value property and cash, and nonetheless have a big factor of danger (see Denver’s commerce for Russell Wilson in 2022). The apparent transfer with the least quantity of danger continues to be signing Prescott to an extension. Identical to it has been for the previous 12 months.
Is Daniel Jones beginning the season in peril of getting benched?
Jones actually did nothing in his restricted preseason motion to recommend that he has a stranglehold on the beginning job. The Giants’ first-team offense bought overwhelmed up in joint follow with the New York Jets, and Jones’ lone preseason recreation in opposition to the Houston Texans featured a pair of interceptions. Frankly, it was honest to ponder if New York ought to have began Jones within the preseason finale simply to present him an opportunity to place one thing good on the market heading into the common season. Then once more, Jones regarded very good in his lone preseason recreation final 12 months, and we noticed how little that meant as soon as the video games started counting.
The one factor Jones has going for him is that backup quarterback Drew Lock has an equally poor total report as a starter and at present doesn’t current a lot hope as a long-term reply, both. However there’s extra weighing on the Jones scenario than simply his on-field efficiency. He has $23 million in harm ensures for the 2025 season, which presents some danger for the Giants if Jones is mediocre and the staff plans to maneuver off him after the season, particularly coming off neck issues and a torn ACL. Because it stands, the Giants may save practically $20 million off subsequent 12 months’s wage cap if Jones is reduce unfastened earlier than subsequent season. That’s one thing they’ll need to mull in the event that they get off to a poor begin or Jones can’t rapidly flip a nook.
Can including Kellen Moore and Saquon Barkley get Jalen Hurts again on monitor?
For the third straight season, Hurts has a special play-caller holding the reins of the offense. That’s not nice, particularly as proof continues to mount that his 2022 offensive coordinator, Shane Steichen, may need been the key sauce behind Hurts’ improvement into probably the greatest younger quarterbacks within the league. Brian Johnson did not get it executed, and one thing concerning the chemistry between Hurts and head coach Nick Sirianni appeared to go awry. That is what Moore was employed to resolve and Saquon Barkley was signed to cushion. One constant play-caller and one dynamic weapon to stability the scheme and take some stress off Hurts’ shoulders.
Among the priorities within the offseason have been evident, with a extra decisive Hurts showing to get the ball out of his fingers quicker on throws, whereas additionally nonetheless showcasing his explosive operating potential. And sure, he’s supposedly seeing the center of the sphere extra. In fact, his well being will issue into what Moore can in the end do with him, too. Hurts was clearly not 100% wholesome down the stretch final season, which altered a few of the explosive playmaking traits that had been so evident in 2022. Now? He seems contemporary once more.
It stays to be seen what the lack of middle Jason Kelce will do to the offensive line’s stability, and if the Eagles will use Barkley as a lot as they supposedly intend to do.
Will the Commanders be capable to shield Jayden Daniels?
Daniels didn’t play a lot within the preseason, however the little bit that he did regarded particular. In some ways, what he showcased at LSU in 2023 as a passer, runner and playmaker seems to have translated properly to the NFL. That’s the excellent news. However at the least part of it’s also the dangerous information. Daniels took bodily dangers to make performs occur in faculty, and he seems like he’s not going to alter that model anytime quickly. That places loads of stress on the Commanders to drag him again at instances and in addition determine how he can greatest be protected.
There’s no getting across the actuality that the Commanders’ offensive line continues to be within the means of each a expertise and chemistry construct. And it’s already getting difficult by accidents, because the Commanders’ seemingly beginning left sort out, rookie third-round draft decide Brandon Coleman, has been slowed by a pectoral difficulty since mid-August. It’s already dicey relying on Coleman for such an enormous safety task out of the gate in his first NFL season — and now it’s pushing off into the season with missed preseason reps. Add Coleman to the signing of left guard Nick Allegretti and middle Tyler Biadasz and also you’ve bought a heck of loads of chemistry fluidity to work out. New offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury is probably going going to need to scheme some motion for Daniels to assist him at instances … to not point out depend upon the operating recreation so much.
NFC North
Can Caleb Williams remodel the Bears into this season’s Houston Texans?
I ought to preface this query with slightly actuality: C.J. Stroud wasn’t solely liable for the Houston Texans’ turnaround throughout his rookie season in 2023. However his playmaking and effectivity was actually the staff’s driving power on offense, and having a budding star at quarterback seemingly lifted each nook of the franchise. Given Williams’ titanic stage of expertise, it’s honest to marvel if he may be capable to provoke your entire group with a model of QB pleasure it has by no means skilled.
Regardless of so most of the offseason headlines being dedicated to the Bears’ offense, I’m not fairly certain folks exterior of Chicago totally recognize how loaded the ability positions are surrounding Williams. The highest three wideouts — DJ Moore, Keenan Allen and Rome Odunze — may find yourself within the operating for the very best trio within the league. The tight finish room has depth, and the operating backs have the flexibility to pound and finesse opponents. As long as the offensive line can come collectively (and I’d be slightly anxious about proper guard Nate Davis), Williams may very well be positioned for probably the greatest rookie quarterback seasons in NFL historical past. Possibly even higher than the numbers Stroud put up one season in the past.
Will Jared Goff thrive below Tremendous Bowl expectations?
I really like what Goff has develop into in Detroit. He has been every part the staff may need from a management centerpiece, and his output is as soon as once more reaching his greatest ranges as a Los Angeles Ram. That stated, he’s now stewarding a Detroit Lions staff that arrives in 2024 in a vastly completely different place. One 12 months in the past, they had been an upstart franchise with enjoyable Tremendous Bowl potential. Now that potential has been changed with the goal of being anticipated to be among the many NFC’s elite, proper alongside the San Francisco 49ers. Make no mistake, they’re getting circled on each opposing calendar. Beating Detroit now means one thing, so the Lions can anticipate each staff’s “A” recreation from week to week.
That form of situation places management at a premium, particularly on the quarterback spot, the place elite gamers usually have a capability to deliver a way of calm and confidence to a corporation. How Goff leads the Lions out of the gate will matter, particularly after dropping underrated “glue” man Josh Reynolds from the vast receiver room, and needing 2022 first-round decide Jameson Williams to step up and constantly produce in a No. 2 receiver position. If Williams can do this, and second-year tight finish Sam LaPorta can construct on an All-Professional rookie season — and Amon-Ra St. Brown can merely replicate his All-Professional season from 2023 — the soon-to-be 30-year-old Goff should still have some ceiling left in his recreation.
Not often does every part go proper within the NFL. Particularly below intense expectations. How Goff responds to unavoidable adversity will deeply impression Detroit’s season.
Can Jordan Love proceed final season’s red-hot end?
Most are asking if Love can dwell as much as that staggering four-year, $220 million extension he signed in July. That’s a query that may take a number of years to reply. For now, a superb begin could be choosing up the place he left off in 2023, which noticed him put collectively a flawless end from mid-November to a second-round highway playoff recreation that had the San Francisco 49ers on the ropes. Within the 9 video games previous to that playoff loss, Love was dealing warmth from the floor of the solar, posting an absurd 21-to-1 landing pass-to-interception ratio. If you wish to know the place his eye-popping extension got here from, it was that expanse of the season.
Now Love has to show the Packers proper, after they wagered an astronomical piece of capital on his brief résumé of excellence. In fact, he’s not alone, guiding alongside a deep and proficient group of ability place gamers. However that group can also be very younger — particularly on the wideout and tight finish spots — so it’s additionally going to be essential to see what number of teammates can ascend to the subsequent stage alongside Love. As a lot as Love may unfold the ball round, he’s going to wish to discover a constant go-to No. 1 and No. 2 wideout mixture from the quartet of Romeo Doubs, Christian Watson, Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks.
Does Sam Darnold have a Baker Mayfield resurrection in him?
One 12 months in the past, I assumed Mayfield’s profession was utterly cashed out regardless of his incomes the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ beginning job getting into the 2023 season. My rationale? NFL quarterbacks not often bounce round after which put their profession onto the precise rack with their fourth completely different staff. However Mayfield did precisely that with the Buccaneers, so I’d urge at the least a teaspoon of warning for individuals who expect nothing greater than mediocrity from Darnold’s tried resurrection with the Vikings.
Like Mayfield in 2023, that is Darnold’s fourth staff. And in addition like Mayfield with the Buccaneers final season, Darnold might be overseeing the very best trio of cross catchers he’s ever had as a beginning quarterback (Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and T.J Hockenson). He’s additionally in his second 12 months in a Kyle Shanahan-type scheme, which is often when quarterbacks begin to see some good traction in that offense. Sure, Darnold locked down this beginning job by default after the season-ending harm to rookie J.J. McCarthy. However he additionally turned 27 in June and nonetheless has time to make one thing of his profession. Did we point out he’s a free agent after this season? He’s the epitome of a quarterback who has each cause on Earth to play his butt off in 2024.
NFC South
Will Kirk Cousins be wholesome (and play properly sufficient) to stifle a QB controversy?
You may as properly affix this query to Cousins so long as he’s the starter for the Falcons and first-round draft decide Michael Penix Jr. is his backup. It’s merely a part of the deal now in Atlanta — and precisely what the franchise requested for when it added each quarterbacks in the identical offseason. Very like we noticed with Atlanta’s stunning determination to show Penix to just one preseason recreation, the “what does it imply?” dynamic might be debated following just about each determination made with the 2 gamers. All of that stated, there’s an underlying actuality with Cousins that needs to be acknowledged. A lot is predicted from him contained in the group.
Cousins’ story in Atlanta is just not about holding off Penix. As a substitute, it’s about making that $100 million in contract ensures justified. And he does that by getting essentially the most out of the appreciable offensive expertise round him, profitable video games, propelling the Falcons to the highest of the NFC South, and driving Atlanta into the playoffs this season and past. If Cousins does all that, the Penix chatter will cool down and everybody will deal with the outcomes. However at first, Cousins has to step onto the sphere and present that he has totally recovered from final season’s ruptured Achilles. He can’t play properly if he can’t play wholesome. And if he’s neither wholesome or enjoying properly, this whole scenario will get very messy very quick.
Can new head coach Dave Canales reboot Bryce Younger?
In 2022, when Doug Pederson took over the Jacksonville Jaguars, every part within the group was measured by way of one lens: Might he get Trevor Lawrence onto the precise monitor after a reasonably disastrous rookie season? Seven years in the past, in 2017, Sean McVay was requested an identical query throughout his hiring course of with the Los Angeles Rams when it got here to Jared Goff. And Kevin Stefanski in 2020 with the Cleveland Browns and Baker Mayfield? Identical situation. Once in a while, offensive-minded head coaches are employed to repair a failing quarterback who was drafted with the No. 1 total draft decide. That is how I’m absorbing Canales’ hiring in Carolina. Certainly he was employed to do many issues … however none of them are extra essential than what he accomplishes with the 2023 draft’s No. 1 total decide, Bryce Younger.
In case you don’t assume the Panthers’ complete 2024 season is summed up by that precedence, you have to have missed the preseason recreation in opposition to the Buffalo Payments, when a solidly sharp recreation by Younger was referred to as a “hell of a day” by Canales and punctuated by a measured sigh of aid from the Panthers fan base. Canales is tagged with being the “whisperer” behind the profession years of Geno Smith in Seattle and Mayfield in Tampa Bay. He was employed to perform an identical feat with Younger, who nonetheless has ample time to rise up and operating within the NFL.
It’s value noting, the Panthers have exponentially much less offensive line and ability place expertise than Seattle or Tampa Bay in Canales’ seasons guiding quarterbacks in these franchises. His work in Carolina is a far steeper climb.
Will Derek Carr fend off a lurking “bridge quarterback” label?
I’m undecided any quarterback (apart from Kirk Cousins) has been extra traditionally productive and in addition been simply dismissed as constantly as Carr, who posted extraordinarily respectable numbers in 2023 — 3,878 passing yards on a 68.4 p.c completion fee, 25 touchdowns vs. eight interceptions, and a 97.7 passer ranking. But right here we’re, going into 2024 and questioning if the Saints are sitting on the way forward for their staff in fifth-round draft decide Spencer Rattler, a rookie quarterback who had some good preseason flashes largely in opposition to guys who gained’t be on NFL rosters in two weeks. Greater than ever, that is feeling like Carr’s ending with the Las Vegas Raiders, when it appeared like he was holding the highest QB spot for a participant to be named later.
I don’t know what Carr will do in 2024 for the Saints, however I do know that his age (33) and his lifeless cash cost in 2025 ($50.1 million) are going to develop into essentially the most distinguished elements of the dialog round him from this season ahead. For all intents and functions, the lifeless cash format suggests Carr goes to be the starter in New Orleans by way of 2025. And for that very cause, I believe he’s going to be considered as a bridge QB, both to Rattler or one other younger addition subsequent offseason, till his time with the Saints concludes. In fact, Carr can nonetheless impression that scenario, however it is going to take a profession 12 months in 2024 — exceeding his career-high of 32 landing passes — to persuade the skin world that he’s something greater than a placeholder. Other than fading operating again Alvin Kamara and long-term constructing block wideout Chris Olave, I’m undecided Carr has the encompassing solid to make that occur.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Can Baker Mayfield obtain season-to-season consistency with out Dave Canales?
Since being taken with the No. 1 total decide within the 2018 NFL Draft, Mayfield’s most constant high quality has been his season-to-season inconsistency. It’s what motivated the Cleveland Browns to commerce Mayfield to the Carolina Panthers in 2022, after which for the Panthers to launch him later that season — solely to see a quick cease with the Los Angeles Rams finally flip right into a much-needed reboot with the Buccaneers in 2023. The underlined message on his profession was that he may by no means stack two straight seasons of constantly high-level play. You might blame that on accidents or surrounding expertise or workers adjustments, however the truth was Mayfield’s profession was in a quagmire that couldn’t appear to be escaped.
The Buccaneers had been hopeful that may very well be achieved in 2024 with Mayfield returning on a contract extension below offensive coordinator Dave Canales, who performed an enormous half in getting the quarterback’s profession again on monitor final season. Sadly for the franchise, Canales’ abilities drew the eye of division-rival Carolina, who employed him final January to assist repair its personal quarterback issues. Now the Bucs have turned to Liam Coen, who was the offensive coordinator for the Rams for one season in 2022, when he briefly labored with Mayfield. It’s not the deepest of histories, however Mayfield appears to have some stage of belief in Cohen from their earlier work.
NFC West
Can Kyler Murray settle in as a franchise quarterback?
It’s Yr 6 for Murray and we’re nonetheless ready for him to get his traction as one of many league’s cornerstone quarterbacks. The Cardinals’ teaching workers and entrance workplace certain appear to assume he’s on the doorstep of that second, though it’s arduous to inform in the event that they’re merely teaching Murray up or he’s actually turned a nook. He has Marvin Harrison Jr. and Trey Benson added to the ability positions round him, and Trey McBride seems like he’s prepared to hitch the league’s high tier of pass-catching tight ends. However that is as a lot about Murray as it’s the guys round him.
He has been a much more current a part of the staff within the offseason than in previous years, which is a change the brand new workers wished to see occur. The subsequent step? His availability in the course of the season.
Murray hasn’t had a decently wholesome season in a very long time. Since struggling an AC joint sprain in 2020 — his second season within the league — Murray has had an array of well being points which have both brought on him to overlook video games or considerably impacted his play. He has missed parts of the previous three seasons with an ankle sprain, a hamstring pressure and eventually, the ACL tear on the finish of the 2022 season that brought on him to additionally miss parts of 2023. That has to finish if Murray goes to get on monitor and switch the nook on consistency.
Los Angeles Rams
How a lot prime does Matthew Stafford have left?
With Stafford slated to show 37 in February, we’ve crossed into the territory of realistically questioning about two timelines: How a lot time does he have left within the league, and the way a lot of that point will nonetheless appear to be “prime” Stafford?
He has missed 10 video games over the previous two seasons with accidents, and hasn’t replicated his excessive stage of play in 2021. A part of that has been attributable to an offensive line rebuild and the operating recreation being retooled, nevertheless it’s additionally honest to query whether or not we’re ignoring the primary phases of slippage that (apart from Tom Brady) sometimes develop into extra noticeable in a quarterback’s late-30s. Stafford should still have a pair elite years left, however the Rams acknowledge that they’re now in a zone the place they’ve to maximise each single season.
It was attention-grabbing to see Stafford play hardball to primarily get his 2025 wage ensures ran into the 2024 season, successfully placing him onto a one-year, $40 million deal this season. You’ll be able to have a look at that transfer two methods. In case you assume Stafford goes to be round longer, then it seems he principally set himself up for an additional contract negotiation this offseason, the place he would seemingly search for a short-term (2-3 years) deal that will web him at the least two extra years of totally assured cash and take him to the tip of his profession. Conversely, when you assume Stafford is leaving the door open for retirement, then his adjusted deal crammed as a lot cash as attainable into this season for his final hurrah.
Each of those situations are in play, and Stafford’s well being and efficiency in 2024 will make the choice for him.
San Francisco 49ers
Is Brock Purdy’s uneven coaching camp with out Brandon Aiyuk trigger for concern?
I really feel like we discovered final 12 months to not get involved about Purdy’s preseason follow interceptions. He had a spate of them final 12 months and every part turned out simply high-quality. However there’s an added little bit of angst total with the lacking factor of Aiyuk and the final curiosity of what the 49ers’ offense goes to appear to be popping out of the gate if the staff’s main receiver isn’t on the sphere. Clearly, Purdy was taking loads of possibilities in follow this preseason — together with dangers that he’s far much less more likely to take as soon as the season kicks off. But it surely additionally appeared to result in some lower than stellar performances in his two transient preseason outings, together with the exhibition finale in opposition to the Las Vegas Raiders that noticed Purdy throw an interception.
It’s odd that the Aiyuk deal isn’t executed by now and seemingly everyone seems to be pissed off, together with the groups that inquired about buying and selling for him. And the Cowboys’ cope with CeeDee Lamb got here in at numbers that aren’t going to make Aiyuk’s negotiation any simpler. If it doesn’t get executed by the point the season begins, Aiyuk’s hold-in will seemingly develop into a holdout, with him leaving the staff as soon as the season begins. After that, the offensive efficiency and Purdy’s numbers will get a really intense microscope placed on them. And that has to have some within the group white-knuckling it proper now.
Seattle Seahawks
Is Geno Smith enjoying for his job in 2024?
The cash says Smith is principally on a pair of one-year offers beginning this season. Releasing him subsequent offseason would save the Seahawks practically $25 million in opposition to the wage cap, which is often a pure pivot level for a 34-year-old quarterback who isn’t enjoying distinctive soccer. Smith was good in 2023 however not nice. He fell off slightly from his breakout 2022 season. You need to marvel how a lot he was impacted by the departure of Dave Canales, who joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as their offensive coordinator and resurrected the profession of Baker Mayfield. Provided that actuality, this might be a little bit of a prove-it 12 months in 2024 to persuade Seattle that he’s well worth the $38.5 million cap dedication in 2025.
It’s that cause that I believe Sam Howell is a much bigger menace right here than some may assume. He was acquired within the offseason in a bundle deal that despatched a third-round draft decide to Washington, which ought to have been the primary sign to everybody that this wasn’t Seattle simply casting a line for an skilled backup. Howell has two years left on his rookie deal, which positions him to be taught the offense in 2024 and probably compete for the job, then stick round in 2025 in what would seemingly be a prove-it season if a swap is made.
Then once more, Howell may take the job from Smith in some unspecified time in the future in 2024 and head to the negotiation desk for extension talks if he has the requisite success. With the youthful, cheaper participant in-house and Smith needing to regain that prime stage 2022 traction, that is going to be one thing to look at.
