NFL Offseason QB Changes and What they Could Mean

Posted on February 26, 2021 by Shalen Ruff Leave a comment

In the NFL, the 2021 off-season is shaping up to be one of the biggest ever for quarterbacks across the league. Countless starting caliber as well as solid backup QBs have hit free agency or shown discontent with their respected teams.

Deshaun Watson- This is set to be the biggest trade of the off-season. Watson is widely considered one of the best quarterbacks in the league, and he’s likely played his last snap with the Houston Texans. His dissatisfaction with the Texans first began when they made the awful trade of Deandre Hopkins (at the time, the team’s best receiver and arguably the best wide receiver in the league) in exchange for a running back on his last leg, and a few meaningless draft picks. Watson got past this when that coach/general manager was fired, but soon after the Texans went ahead with the hiring of a new general manager against his wishes. They should try to get a quarterback in exchange for him so they have someone to rely on, but knowing the Texans, I wouldn’t be surprised if they didn’t. No matter what, they’re almost guaranteed to get worse. The Texans have quickly given themselves a name as the worst franchise in the NFL, and hopefully Deshaun Watson can be freed from the restraints that he is so unfortunately bound in.
Carson Wentz- Carson Wentz was recently traded from the Eagles to the Colts for a second and third round pick. The Colts were lacking a franchise QB, and Wentz can fill that void if he returns to his former glory. For the Eagles, this was an easy choice. They clearly feel comfortable with Jalen Hurts as their starting quarterback, so they did the right thing by sticking with the younger, arguably just as talented Hurts over Wentz who had a bad season. They may be able to use these picks to acquire some more weapons in their receiving corp, which has clearly struggled in recent years. As for the Colts, this trade was a great move. A second and third round pick is a low price for someone who will likely become their starting quarterback this upcoming season. At one point a few years ago, Wentz was on pace to win MVP before he tore his ACL. Last season he ended 28th in QBR. His fall off was extreme, but one should remember that his receivers were constantly getting injured so he never really got the chance to hit any sort of stride. Hopefully the Colts can get another solid receiver behind T.Y. Hilton, and Wentz can fulfill his potential. The Colts would immediately be a contender since their run game is already top notch, and they have one of the best defenses in the league.
Russell Wilson- Tension between Russell Wilson and the Seahawks seems to be ever growing. According to Pro Football talk, an NBC run sports website, Russell Wilson and the Seahawks had a meeting before their game against the Cardinals. Russell Wilson “outlined his own ideas for how to fix the offense. His suggestions were dismissed, multiple sources told The Athletic — another reminder to Wilson that the Seahawks did not see him the same way he saw himself, as a player who had earned greater control over his situation, his future, his legacy. He stormed out of the room.” For years the Seahawks have chosen to ignore their offensive line issues, leaving Wilson at risk for getting injured. Franchise QBs, especially one like Russell Wilson who makes an MVP case (for the first five games of) almost every season, and has won a superbowl, typically hold weight in making some front office decisions/suggestions. Word from Wilson’s party is that he’s been annoyed with them for a while now, but this could be the offseason we finally see him get moved. His camp has even given his ideal trade locations to the Seahawks, citing the Dolphins, Raiders, Jets, and Saints. He says he would still prefer to be in Seattle, but should he get traded, wherever he goes is bound to immediately become a playoff team, if not a contender.
Jacoby Brissett- Solid backup QB. Nothing special but it’s pretty clear that he won’t be starting for the Colts should they choose to resign him.
Andy Dalton- Will most likely become a backup. In his hay day (that one season), he could compete as a starting QB. Now, he’s had a multitude of seasons where he’s underperformed, and I can’t see him signing anywhere for much more than the veteran’s minimum. He could be out of the league entirely within the next few seasons.
Cam Newton- He’s come a long way on his downward slope since his 2015 MVP season. Last year the Patriots had him on for a veteran’s minimum, and surely the same thing will happen this offseason. The question at hand is whether Newton knows his place in the league or not. Last season he played like one of the worst QBs in the league. Throwing for eight TDs and ten interceptions won’t cut it for almost any QB in the league, even backups. There’s something to be said for his lack of receivers, but his performance was far too weak for anyone to think he’s even a shell of what he once was. It’s a shame to see someone as exciting as Cam lose himself in the way he has, but at the very least he’s made a solid name for himself across the NFL’s entire fanbase and can retire with his one MVP season under his belt.
Dak Prescott- This poor man has done so much for the Cowboys franchise but received nothing in return. They have franchise tagged him year after year instead of giving him the contract that he deserves as one of the best quarterbacks in the league. Last season before his season-ending ankle injury, he was on track to win MVP by a landslide. This season, the Cowboys actually didn’t save enough money to franchise tag him, so they’ll most likely need to find a way to clear cap space in order to hopefully keep him for the future.

This offseason is looking to be crazy for QBs, and by the time next season starts, the NFL’s passing offenses could be vastly different.