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Tuesday was General Manager interview day at the NFL Combines in Indianapolis.
Half the teams are in crisis, and there are very few QBs in the draft that clubs believe are going to be established stars.
Here’s a cross section of QB-storylines from the combine:
RAIDERS…GM-John Spytek says he is not in favor of giving the 1st pick in this year’s draft the starting QB job out of the gate. It means development and patience with Fernando Mendoza, it may also mean another year with the high priced QB-Geno Smith, coming off a turnover prone campaign.
BROWNS..Who knows what the real truth in Cleveland is. The facts-vs-fiction. They are stuck for one more year with Deshaun Watson’s (230M) contract and injury history. They will still have Shedeur Sanders, who did not really dominate when given the entire second half of the season, with lots of turnovers, a few big plays, and loss after loss. We wait to see if they sign a veteran free agent to come in and compete or bail them out.
ATLANTA…They will take a (37M) cap hit and move on from Kirk Cousins and won’t try to re-sign him. Some end result, figure out what they decided, they gave Cousins a massive contract extension and then six weeks later they drafted Michael Penix from Washington. He got hurt again but appears will be the starter in 2026. Cousins-who knows where he winds up?
VIKINGS..JJ McCarthy has injuries and interceptions around his neck, and though a vibrant athlete, cannot stay on the field. And now all rumors point to Minnesota trying to find a veteran QB to either win the job or be a reliable insurance policy. The price they paid to get McCarthy looks worse and worse each month he is there.
JETS..Waiting to see when they hit the eject button on Justin Fields-it would be the third team to axe this quarterback. Replacement? Who knows? Kyler Murray?
MIAMI…The cap hit (99M) is staggering if they were to release Tua Tagovailoa. Can they buy out some of the deal and get something in a trade? Doubtful. Finding a veteran to come in and compete for the job becomes the blueprint, but Tua is still going to be there on the roster and that becomes a distraction.
ARIZONA..Pay down Kyler Murray’s contract and say goodbye in a likely trade-maybe to the Jets, but Murray has to be able to stay on the field and that is part of his issue-lots of injuries.
STEELERS…Waiting game for Aaron Rodgers’ decision or does Mike McCarthy just cast his lot with 2nd year young QB-Will Howard? Or does Derek Carr, a trustworthy veteran, come out of retirement and become a bridge QB till a future star is drafted-developed?
HOUSTON…Despite really shoddy post season play, CJ Stroud is not in play for a trade.
COLTS..Daniel Jones is a must-sign free agent to stay in Indianapolis, and his injury history probably works against him on the open market.
So if you think there is alot of uncertainty with veteran QBs, now add in the uncertainty in the QB meeting rooms at the combine.
Yes Mendoza-Indiana goes one. Now where does Chambliss-Ole Miss fit? How about Aguilar-Tennessee? Neither of whom are at the combine because of their late NCAA-litigation. What do you make of the up and down performances of Alabama’s QB? Or a Penn State QB coming off injury? Or of the streaky LSU-thrower.
So many needs-so few marquee QBs on the board.
Ever seen a year like this in the NFL or in the college ranks?
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