The seismic shifts of the 2022 NFL offseason have not solved every team’s quarterback situation.
Tom Brady retired and unretired; 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 prepared to continue in or take on the role for their current teams.
These three teams and quarterbacks are as follows:
3. Detroit Lions
Jared Goff was the unfortunate piece of the Los Angeles Rams that was traded away to Detroit one year before their Super Bowl Championship.
That Rams title had a lot to do with former Lions QB1 Matthew Stafford who was also involved in that trade.
Is Goff the answer for a Lions team that has second-year coach Dan Campbell returning to the helm?
Lions GM Brad Holmes said of the quarterback position that "We have a starter that 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 GM Brad Holmes seems to think so as he declared Goff the team’s QB1.
Talk it cheap as evidenced by the Cleveland Browns pledging their loyalty to Baker Mayfield only to mortgage the future to get Deshaun Watson onboard from Houston.
Could the Lions trade for or draft a quarterback?
Anything is possible.
2. Carolina Panthers
Sam Darnold has not been fortunate enough to land on good teams in his NFL career.
Starting with the New York Jets and then last season with the Carolina Panthers, it has been a rough road.
He was even replaced by Cam Newton for part of 2021.
According to Joseph Person of The Athletic, not many Panthers players seem to be sold on QB Sam Darnold moving forward. https://t.co/KXmvHujttk
— ThePanthersWire (@ThePanthersWire) April 1, 2022
He has been far from great, but Coach Matt Rhule seems to like him.
This dates back to the days when Rhule was interviewing for the vacant New York Jets job, and Darnold was the Jets QB1.
It is not clear if the entire Panthers organization is behind Darnold as there have been rumblings of players not believing in him.
The Panthers could find themselves in need of a quarterback to shake things up by competing with Darnold for the QB1 job.
1. Seattle Seahawks
Likely the most head-scratching move of the 2022 offseason was the Seattle Seahawks trading away franchise quarterback Russell Wilson.
The team’s Plan B is Drew Lock.
Thus far, Lock’s NFL career is not of the same caliber as Wilson’s.
Can’t wait to see all Seattle Seahawks fan suffer in agony with Drew Lock as their starting quarterback
— collin (@ItsYaBoyCT) March 25, 2022
However, Coach Pete Carroll and the Seahawks organization appear to have faith in Lock.
It is not his stats that are eliciting the faith.
Lock has started in 21 games and has a 8-13 record.
He has thrown 25 touchdowns and 21 interceptions.
Lock has a 59.3% completion rate and was sacked 33 times.
He is not Wilson which is going to be hard for Seahawks fans to deal with, and wide receiver D.K. Metcalf will have a tough adjustment also.
Metcalf and Wilson had great chemistry.
Conclusion
If the NFL offseason has taught us anything, it is to expect the unexpected.
There have been whispers since last season that Jimmy Garoppolo was not going to be with the 49ers in 2022, and Baker Mayfield has no where to go but out of Cleveland.
Could either of these quarterbacks end up with the above teams?
We will have to wait and see.
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