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“NFL-QB-MUSICAL CHAIRS”
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The game of Quarterback Carousel has just begun across the NFL. All these teams shopping for a bridge QB, to get them to next year’s draft, or to prevent the franchise from falling into the abyss.
A scorecard as the music has started on the QB-merry-go-round.
ATLANTA..First one to make a deal, a 1-year, prove yourself rental to get Tua Tagovailoa of Miami. Kevin Stefanski has a reputation as a QB-friendly-fix it head coach. So he gets a close up look now at Tua and Michael Penix. Next to move will be Kirk Cousins and his money-bag buyout.
MIAMI..Tua exited, here comes unproven Malik Willis of the Packers on a 3-year deal.
NY JETS..The trade for Geno Smith brings a veteran QB to a bad team, but he has a chance to buy himself a couple of years of starts. Exit right will be Justin Fields.
ARIZONA..This may be trade day-or-release day for Kyler Murray, who may have the most upside of any QB on this carousel. He may have to go to the right offense, or play under the right coach to grow. Might that be Kevin O’Connell in Minnesota?. Or the new leadership in Pittsburgh? The Cardinals are staying with journeyman Jacoby Brissett.
VIKINGS..No one is sure if JJ McCarthy is the right guy, so some veteran will come in the front door. A relink with Kirk Cousins? Kyler Murray on a rental deal-prove it deal? The lost soul that is Anthony Richardson of the Colts?
STEELERS..Hard to get a read as to whether they are willing to wait on Aaron Rodgers, playing the ‘love me-love me not game’. Or maybe. make a trade for ex Saints-QB-Derek Carr considering a comeback? Or is Will Howard a project Mike McCarthy would like to develop? They have upgraded the WR-TE-RB department, now they need someone to play QB.
BROWNS..1-more year of living in ‘Salary Cap Hell’ with Deshaun Watson, for it has been so long since he did anything…(9-10) in Cleveland…3-injuries…11-game suspension and the mess left behind in Houston. It’s been a really quiet off season around Shedeur Sanders-but he did not do much in his end of season starts. Might there be a draft pick QB coming in the door
COLTS…Nearly (39M) for Daniel Jones-that seems like alot of money for a top of the Tier Two list of QBs-but that’s the choice, but they have to keep him healthy.
49ers…Do you keep the insurance policy that is Mac Jones, who played well because Brock Purdy keeps getting hurt, or do you turn him into draft picks? And where does Jim Garoppolo fit into all this now?
RAIDERS…’With the 1st pick in the 2026-NFL Draft..the Raiders select Fernando Mendoza’
Alot of moving parts effective at this hour. Now we see who makes the first bold move (Kyler Murray) and what happens after that. Carousel spinning round and round.
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