And the great QB shuffle of 2022 is winding down. We're now at two teams (more or less) who need a QB (Seattle, and Carolina) with two QBs still in play (Jimmy G and Baker Mayfield.) Mariota has signed on with Atlanta. Winston with the Saints. So, who gets Mayfield, and who gets Jimmy G? Or will yet another team surprise us and move a veteran QB instead?
Who won the QB derby? That's hard to say. The Browns got the most talented of the group in Watson, but he's got more than a little baggage and they paid a lot to get him. Is he vastly better than Baker Mayfield? Probably not. And he's facing a likely six-game suspension. I think the Broncos have the most improved situation. Going from Teddy Bridgewater to Russell Wilson is kind of a big jump. Next up might be the Commanders getting Wentz. When the Panthers finally get a QB (Jimmy G or Mayfield) they could take over that spot. The Saints came out about even since they had Winston and now have him back.
Who lost ground? The Seahawks came out losers simply because no one is as good as Russell Wilson. When you lose a guy like that, you take a step back. I think the Colts and Falcons both lost on their deal. Matt Ryan hasn't looked right for a bit, and the Falcons ate $40+ million in dead cap and only took a third-round pick to move him. I think they know he's toast. Indy had to do something though. You can't play without a QB and Ryan came cheap to them at just the third-round pick and he has a pedigree. They'll be looking to draft a kid though either this year or next. The Falcons get to dust off Marcus Mariota for two years to see if he's still able to play.
Where will the last two guys land? I don't think the Niners would want to trade Jimmy G to a division rival in the Seahawks. They are likely putting the "For Sale, Cheap!" sign on Jimmy G for the Panthers. This puts the Panthers in a good negotiating spot as they can seriously lowball the Niners to get Jimmy G. "Well, we've been thinking, and we've got a spare sixth-round pick we'd be willing to part with." The Niners were reportedly asking for a first-round pick for Jimmy G. With just one team to trade with, they won't get a first-round pick for him.
When there's only one team you're dealing with, you lose leverage. For better or worse, most teams now have a QB in place and Seattle and Carolina are pretty much all that's left. When you don't want to trade your guy to a division rival, then things get complicated for the Niners. They may just end up keeping Jimmy G as an insurance policy.
Life's a bit easier for the Browns trying to move Baker Mayfield. Two NFC teams are all that remain in the QB shuffle so they can send him to either place. I think he's a good fit in Seattle as a Russell Wilson Jr. type.
The Steelers went from Roethlisberger to some combination of Haskins/Trubisky/Rudolph. That's a downgrade for them. It'll be interesting to see which of the three emerges as the starter. Rudolph knows the system the best but is probably the least talented of the trio. Haskins may have the most untapped talent, but tapping it hasn't proven easy. Trubisky is talented but erratic.
I think the Eagles won by not doing anything. Largely helped by the fact that neither Wilson nor Watson would waive their no-trade clause to come to Philly. They'd have taken on either one had they been willing, but no. I think making no move was the smarter move there.
And speaking of the Eagles, the Zach Pascal signing was highly predictable. He's a Nick Sirianni guy. Nick loves him from their time together in Indy. He mentioned him way back when he was hired as the kind of player Nick wanted for the Eagles. He's used Pascal's film as a teaching tool for the Eagles' WRs. It'll be interesting to see how he does this year.
Fly!!! Eagles!!! Fly!!!
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