It's week 4 of the NFL season. We're at the quarter post and things are looking good for some teams out there. They do not look good, however, for my Washington DC Sqaud (0-3) or my fantasy team (1-2).
So! Like any wise Average Bro would do...I'm calling this glass half empty and looking toward next season!
Last year's QB class swept into the NFL and fell right into their respective slots, flowing seamlessly into their systems. This year's class seems to have accidentally slipped into their spots with no one really able to get them out. With all this new tumultuous upheaval, it leaves many (very) somewhat talented quarterbacks to wonder what could be next? And fans too. What could this force out of old regimes mean for the future of the league?
I've picked out all the Quarterbacks who may be available to teams next season, whether through trade or free agency. Who do you think will be the top talent off the board?
Mark Sanchez - 61 NFL Games played- 71.7 Rating - 32-29 Record - playoffs 4-2
If you ask Mark Sanchez, he's still going to play for the Jets again this season. He did win the job after all. And once he rehabs his shoulder back to full health...Look out NFL! "Thanks for keeping the field warm for me Geno! I got it from here."
But that's probably not going to happen. Sanchez's days in New York are over. You know it, I know it. And if he digs real deep within himself...I bet he knows it too. He will most likely be cut at the end of the year and set free to win another job.
He's certainly a quarterback in decline. But that doesn't mean his days in the league are over. There are many teams who would benefit from an upgrade to Sanchez. Geno is definitely making him look bad but he still is a guy with playoff experience. His overall winning record and a year out of the NY spot light could do him some good and could make him an asset to an ailing team next year.
Josh Freeman - 60 NFL games - 78.8 Rating - 24-36
Freeman came into the league in the same round of the same draft as Sanchez. His career had an absolute high point in 2010 where he posted 25 touchdowns and only 6 interceptions. Other than that he's been a turnover machine. In 2011 he had the second most interceptions in the league with 22. 2012 saw an increase in TDs with a decrease in INTs but apparently it wasn't enough of an upswing to convince Greg Schiano that he could have a come back year.
He's been sat for this Sunday's game and, unless he gets the trade he's requesting, he will be leaving at the end of the season as a free agent.
He's a typical gunslinger type with much less accuracy. The addition of star receiver Vincent Jackson didn't seem to do much for him and even with defenses respecting the new running game (added by rookie Doug Martin) he still slung 17 interceptions and completed only 54% of his passes. If a team can give him a lock down O-Line to give him lots of time and a time machine to bring his 2010 self back, he could be a solid player. If only Mark Cuban owned an NFL team.
Kirk Cousins - 3 NFL Games - 101.6 Rating - 2-1 - playoffs 0-1
The young guy! He nosed his way into 3 games and did pretty darn good each outing. I am a fan of Washington so there is that bias. He looks amazing! And his quarterbacking skills aren't half bad either! ;) He came into that clutch situation in the Baltimore game and handled it great.
He would need to be a trade since his contract does not end until after the 2014 season. He will be traded because you can't just let him walk. Whoever opts to be the new home of Cousins will be taking a gamble but is it really less of a gamble than going with Bridgewater or Boyd? I think he will be a great pocket quarterback very soon. Maybe the new Patriots QB in waiting???
Michael Vick-124 NFL Games - 81.8 Rating - 67-56-1 - playoffs 2-4
Boy does this guy look good this year! Chip Kelly has revolutionized this guys career! He's awesome! But...wait. Why is he on this list Average Bro?
Because the Eagles will finish the season with under 6 wins. It wont be terrible for Chip Kelly's first swing at the NFL, but I don't think Michael Vick will survive the massive overhaul Kelly wants to perform. He will need to seek out the draft to find a QB to fit his system which will leave Vick either on the bench or on the market. I'm leaning toward the second.
Christian Ponder - 30 NFL Games - 75.8 Rating - 12-18
It's true that Cassel is only getting the start over Ponder this week because he has some rib issues. It's also true that the Vikings are very happy to give Cassel a chance. The starting job still belongs to Ponder but this will not be a long term fix. Even if Minnesota can squeak out a few wins to put them back in contention (a difficult feat in their division), Ponder does not have the passing ability to unlock the Vikings dangerous run game. And that's basically what it comes down to. Adrian Peterson is the most dynamic back in the league but he isn't getting any younger. They need to bring in a QB who can give them a chance to win while Peterson is still in his prime. Christian Ponder is just not that guy and this will be his last year with the team.
Brandon Weeden - 17 NFL Games- 71.1 Rating - 5-12
This list is not ranked in any way, but if it were, this guy would be in the same spot he's in now. Not only does he have the least amount of experience (as far as season starters go), he's also old. 29 years old. Sure other quarterbacks have been added at older ages, but you have to look back to experience. He is by no means the journeyman that Kurt Warner, Brett Favre or even Carson Palmer turned out to be. Weeden has already lost his starting job to back-up journeyman Brian Hoyer and the Browns have gone into full rebuild mode. The Browns are wiping their whole (not all that bad) 2012 draft off the board to prep for a new regime. If there's a QB on this list that would remain a back up it would be him. If there's a QB on this list who will be looking for work in another field, it would also be him.
So where do these guys end up? Are there better options in the draft? How long until the first of these QB's make their moves? I will answer all these questions and more in a future article! Stay tuned!
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