The seismic changes of the 2022 NFL offseason have not resolved each team’s quarterback situation.
Tom Brady retired and non-retired; Deshaun Watson was traded to Cleveland in a blockbuster deal.
But there are 32 teams and at least three QB1s who may or may not be deserving and ready to continue or take on the role of their current squads.
These three teams and quarterbacks are:
3. Detroit Lions
Jared Goff was the unfortunate piece of the Los Angeles Rams who was traded to Detroit a year before their Super Bowl championship.
This Rams title had a lot to do with the former Lions QB1 Matthew Stafford who was also involved in this trade.
Is Goff the answer for a Lions team whose second-year coach Dan Campbell returns to helm?
Lions general manager Brad Holmes said of the quarterback job that “We have a starter who can be productive for us. Jared [Goff] is our quarterback and we’re going to make sure he’s put in the best position to succeed.”
— Alex M. (@Ace77ofnocal) March 29, 2022
Lions general manager Brad Holmes seems to think so when declaring Goff QB1 of the team.
Talk cheap as evidenced by the Cleveland Browns pledging their loyalty to Mayfield Baker only to mortgage the future to ship Deshaun Watson from Houston.
Could the Lions trade or sign a quarterback?
Everything is possible.
2. Carolina Panthers
Sam Darnold didn’t have a chance to land on any good teams during his NFL career.
Starting with the New York Jets and then last season with the Carolina Panthers, it’s been a tough road.
It was even replaced by Cam Newton for part of 2021.
According to The Athletic’s Joseph Person, few Panthers players appear to be sold on QB Sam Darnold going forward. https://t.co/KXmvHujttk
— ThePanthersWire (@ThePanthersWire) April 1, 2022
He’s been far from great, but coach Matt Rhule seems to like him.
It goes back to when Rhule was interviewing for the New York Jets vacancy, and Darnold was the Jets’ QB1.
It’s unclear if the entire Panthers organization is behind Darnold as there have been rumblings of players not believing in him.
The Panthers might need a quarterback to shake things up as they compete with Darnold for the QB1 job.
1. Seattle Seahawks
Probably the most confusing move of the 2022 offseason was the Seattle Seahawks franchise quarterback. Russell Wilson.
The team’s plan B is Drew Lock.
So far, Lock’s NFL career hasn’t been on the same caliber as Wilson’s.
I can’t wait to see all the Seattle Seahawks fans suffer in agony with Drew Lock as the starting quarterback.
— Collin (@ItsYaBoyCT) March 25, 2022
However, coach Pete Carroll and the Seahawks organization seem to have faith in Lock.
It is not his statistics that inspire faith.
Lock started in 21 games and is 8-13.
He threw for 25 touchdowns and 21 interceptions.
Lock has a 59.3% completion rate and has been sacked 33 times.
He’s not Wilson, which will be hard for Seahawks fans to deal with, and wide receiver DK Metcalf will also have a difficult adjustment.
Metcalf and Wilson had great chemistry.
Conclusion
If the NFL offseason has taught us anything, it’s to expect the unexpected.
There have been whispers since last season that Jimmy Garoppolo wasn’t going to be with the 49ers in 2022, and Baker Mayfield has nowhere to go but out of Cleveland.
Could either of these quarterbacks end up with the above teams?
We will have to wait and see.
