National Football League

[movingtarget]

I doubt you'll ever see a 1st round drafted QB sit the bench for 3 straight yrs before before given the reins of the team. Love not only sat the bench his rookie year but was inactive for every single game as the 3rd stringer. He sat the bench the next 2 years as the backup starting only 1 game for the injured Rodgers.

I think the Steelers were planning on sitting Pickett for year but he unexpectedly won the backup job going into the start of the season (beat out Rudolph). With Trubisky starting off so badly, Tomlin had no choice but to make a change. Pickett threw ball the poorly with a disastrous 76 passer rating throwing more picks than TDs but surprisingly went 7-5 in his 12 starts.

I think that's the problem a team faces with a 1st round drafted QB that they intend to sit a year but wins the backup spot. If the starter performs badly & is losing games, inevitably a change is made with the rookie QB thrown into the starting role. We clearly saw this in the meltdown with Cousins where they had no choice but to get him out of there & prematurely play Penix Jr.

I think Howard has to hope that the scouts got it all wrong with him like they did with Purdy. Purdy's prospect rating at 5.57 ("Priority Undrafted FA") was even lower than Howard's. Lol. And Purdy started his rookie season off as the 3rd stringer only working his way up to the starting spot due to injuries to Lance & Jimmy G. Then he shocked the NFL world going 5-0 in his regular season starts leading the team to the NFCCG & becoming the lowest drafted QB to start & win a playoff game. Man, did the scouts completely blow it with Purdy -- a "Mr. Irrelevant" now the franchise guy with the 9ers!

Purdy was actually the 4th stringer until they traded Sudfeld. The practice form of Purdy made them move Sudfeld on. Fred Warner was one of the first to take note of Purdy in practice and it snowballed from there. Purdy is the only QB from his draft currently playing in the NFL. Safe to say, the draft guru's got it badly wrong that year.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

The other issue is if you draft a QB in the first round and insist you are going to sit him, then the vet starter plays poorly, you're going to have a chorus of fans making a lot of noise to start the prized rookie. It's also quite possible about half the team owners in the NFL would also step in and insist a rookie play.

In fact, I think that could happen this coming season. I can see the Browns cutting Pickett, carrying 3 QBs, then when Flacco is too immobile, gets banged up, the offense sputters (both very possible), owner Jimmy Haslem who has a reputation of making key decisions from the owner's suite, tells Stefanski it's time to start Shedeur Sanders, "see what the kid has". Stefanski may be able to hold Haslem off for a week or two, maybe. But if he wants to keep his job, he'll do what the boss says, and Shedeur will be thrown to the wolves. Doesn't matter that Shedeur was taken in the 5th round and Gabriel the 3rd, some 50 picks later. The fact the Browns drafted Shedeur at all after drafting Gabriel seems quite likely it was a Haslem decision to take the pick.

 

[movingtarget]

I was wrong. Pickett, Howell and Ridder have also survived from the 2022 draft along with Purdy. Not sure if Zappe is on a roster at the moment but Purdy is the only regular starter from that draft.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

My gut tells me Pickett will be cut in the pre-season and the Browns will take Flacco, Gabriel and Sanders into the season. No QB on the practice squad, but these three guys on the roster. There's a chance they could cut Gabriel instead of Pickett, but I don't see hardly any way Sanders gets cut, unless he plays downright awful. He's too much of a "prize" for the owner.

 

[Nomad]

I was wrong. Pickett, Howell and Ridder have also survived from the 2022 draft along with Purdy. Not sure if Zappe is on a roster at the moment but Purdy is the only regular starter from that draft.

Zappe is listed on KC's depth chart as the #3 QB behind Minshew.

There are a few others from that draft still in the NFL: Skylar Thompson (7th) - listed as the backup at Pittsburgh behind Rudolph. Chris Oladokum (7th) - listed on KC's depth chart as QB4 (remember he saw some action last year in KC's final game vs Denver where Wentz started), and Malik Willis (3rd) - backup at GB the last 2 years.

And Willis is a serious dual-threat QB: Elite arm strength, elite rushing ability (4.4 speed), good size. He started 2 games last season for the injured Love & didn't disappoint: 2-0 & threw for 550 yds, 3 TDs/0 picks & a 124 passer rating plus 138 rushing & a score.

This is a guy some team needs to acquire & develop into their starter!

 

[Nomad]

My gut tells me Pickett will be cut in the pre-season and the Browns will take Flacco, Gabriel and Sanders into the season. No QB on the practice squad, but these three guys on the roster. There's a chance they could cut Gabriel instead of Pickett, but I don't see hardly any way Sanders gets cut, unless he plays downright awful. He's too much of a "prize" for the owner.

Wow, if Pickett is cut that would probably seal his fate as a bust? Pittsburgh giving up on him after just 2 seasons & 24 starts was the first blow. And last year he didn't see any action backing up Hurts - nor was he ever a threat to beat out Hurts anyway.

If Pickett can't make it as starter in this league, this would be another 1st rounder (20th OA) laid to waste!

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

Keep in mind it's the Browns I'm talking about. A team with 5 QBs (if you count Watson, who will never play another down in the NFL). Pickett would then be picked up by another team, but would quite likely end up on their practice squad. But right now he's definitely headed for the same category of so many other QBs taken in the first round who didn't pan out: Wentz, Trubisky, Lance, Rosen, Gabbert, Zach Wilson (likely), etc. Owner Jimmy Haslem calls the shots in Cleveland, not GM Andrew Barry, not HC Stefanski. I suppose they could cut Gabriel and keep Pickett, that's possible. But unless Shedeur completely tanks, he'll make the team along with Flacco: Owner's call.

From what I've seen of Willis is he's struggled with NFL defenses similar to Fields. Both showed flashes of being a starting QB, both looked better last year than before, just that Fields has way more starts. I can see a team trading for Willis in 2026, toss him into a pool like the one we are seeing in Cleveland.

 

[Nomad]

I'm not counting Watson because of the Achilles injury. Even if wanted to play, he wouldn't be ready since he tore the Achilles in January & it's usually a good solid one year recovery time frame.

So, with this current group of 4 QBs, I fail to understand drafting Sanders when they took Gabriel in the 3rd. As I mentioned before, QBs taken either in the 3rd or 4th rd can go either way as a future franchise QB or career path as a backup. Russell Wilson was drafted in the 3rd, but scouts said if he was 4 inches taller he would have been a top 5 pick. QBs taken in the 5th rd & beyond are always considered career backups with the occasional outlier that makes it as a starter. Since Gabriel is identical in height & weight (5-11/205) with Wilson, I wonder if he was underdrafted like Wilson was?

So, who's going to emerge as the starter? I read an article where Flacco says he's not there to "mentor" to the young guys, but is competing for the starting job. He actually sounded annoyed at the notion that he's signed by a team as more of a bridge QB & mentor for a young quarterback(s). Lol. Pickett believes he's a starter in this league & got a bad deal at Pittsburgh. Of course, Gabriel wants to start & believes he brings a lot to the table. I don't know what Sanders expects - nor do I even know why they drafted him in the first place wasting a 5th rd pick. WTH...who takes a QB in the 3rd and 5th rd of the same draft? You'll occasionally see a team draft a franchise QB in the 1st rd & another QB in the late rds to add depth & compete for a backup spot (e.g. Lance in the 1st rd & Purdy in the 7th...though that had the reverse effect & wasn't planned that way. Lol).

If I had to pick & choose, I'd go with Gabriel (assuming he shows a good preseason). Out of these QBs, he's the most mobile & athletic providing that ever valuable dual-threat capability. Though severely undersized, he had some great runs for big yardage last year at Oregon. They also rolled the pocket out a lot for him (because of his height) where he made some nice throws rolling out both to his strong & weak side (I'm not saying he'll be the next Russ Wilson, but given the trend of mobile/dual-threat QBs vs traditional pocket passers we've talked about, he fits the bill).

Cleveland Browns' Dillon Gabriel Scouting Report: Kevin Stefanski Prototype?

The Cleveland Browns surprised some by selecting quarterback Dillon Gabriel in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft, but the former Oregon Ducks signal caller

www.si.com

 

[Nomad]

Too funny:

Titans QB Will Levis: My situation 'sucks' after Cam Ward draft pick | FOX Sports

Now Tennessee Titans backup QB Will Levis expressed that his situation "sucks" in the wake of the team drafting Cam Ward first overall.

www.foxsports.com

 

[movingtarget]

QB Joe Milton surprised but thankful to be traded to Cowboys: 'Coming here was a blessing'

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

I agree for Milton. With Dak's injury history, Milton could see significant playing time, and maybe, just maybe be their QB of the future? It never hurts someone's stock to play for the Cowboys.

While the Browns say no, I'm almost certain they took Shedeur because owner Jimmy Haslem called down and told them to at that point. There is no other reason they did what they did. Despite Shedeur being a very accurate passer, I think Gabriel's chances of staying around are solid. He is highly mobile, has a decent arm, and he's good at pulling the trigger, getting rid of the ball.

Back years ago Washington took RGIII at #2 overall, and Kirk Cousins in the 4th round. But at the time the team had basically no quarterback. A washed Rex Grossman was who they replaced.

Flacco is NOT there to mentor those guys. His job is to play QB. Those guys will learn from the QB coach, OC, passing game coordinator, and HC. Joe might set an example (which is what he said), but his job is not to mentor them. I must have posted this 100x. That is a fairy tale notion: The old, wise vet, taking the kid under his wing, whispering magic secrets into his year, then the vet rides off into the sunset, and the kid is the new hero. Total BS.

 

[Nomad]

Flacco's job is to play QB? At his age & immobility? Lol. Did you see him play at all last year in those 6 starts filling in for AR? It was a sad sight for sore eyes: He was sacked 18 times for 123 yds, had 4 fumbles to go along with his 7 picks for 11 total turnovers & lost 4 out of those 6 games!

Rodgers is mocked for his age, immobility, injury risk, and criticized for not retiring. Flacco is in the same boat: Way past his prime at 40, immobile & slow, neck & back problems - and just one hard hit away from being carried off on a stretcher. What is Cleveland thinking? If he wasn't primarily brought in to mentor to the two rookies -- do they actually believe he can start & finish a whole season leading them to the promised land? Lol.

Cleveland is the poster child of a dysfunctional organization. Signing an aging, immobile, high-injury risk QB as your starter. Drafting QBs in the 3rd & 5th rd of the same draft, signing a former 1st rounder with just 3 seasons & 25 starts in the league who the coaches only see as a backup, etc. What a joke - they deserve what they get.

OTOH, look at how Seattle handled things. They drafted Milroe in the 3rd rd (just two picks higher than Gabriel), traded Howell to the Vikings, signed Lock as QB3 with Milroe already listed as QB2 behind Darnold. Now whether or not Milroe sees any action this season is yet to be determined & depends on Darnold's performance & any injuries he might sustain, but at least they've got a plan in place with their 3rd rounder.

 

[Nomad]

View: https://youtube.com/shorts/eS7f9QyT880?si=AdIRFA1r3RfQ9iEy

The Achilles & Knee looks good on his stutter-step & rapid cutting movement. Hopefully 2025 will be a much better year for him.

 

[BullsFan22]

Some are seeing the Seahawks going 12-5 this season? I know they won 10 last year (no playoffs, though) but with the changes they’ve had the last couple of seasons, I am not sure I see them winning more games this season.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

Flacco's job is to play QB? At his age & immobility? Lol.

Maybe he should be their QB coach?! Though apparently he doesn't want the job of a mentor. Current job has to pay better too. Last year he did say one reason he wanted to keep playing is so his kids could see him play, as he has I think 5 of them of various ages.

Cleveland is the poster child of a dysfunctional organization. Signing an aging, immobile, high-injury risk QB as your starter. Drafting QBs in the 3rd & 5th rd of the same draft, signing a former 1st rounder with just 3 seasons & 25 starts in the league who the coaches only see as a backup, etc. What a joke - they deserve what they get.

And you didn't even bring up the total debacle with Watson. The worst trade in sports history, and worst contract in sports history.

OTOH, look at how Seattle handled things.

I agree with that. I was critical of Milroe's passing and some decision making in college, but he was drafted to the right team at the right time, which means he will be given time to develop. It was a very smart pick for Seattle, during a time of a soft rebuild of sorts. But I'm not so sure Darnold is much of an answer to them, but he could operate as a bridge to Milroe (or someone else), so like the Jets and Fields, it makes some sense.

I do not see Seattle winning 12 games though. Not with that OL, not with the only partly mobile Sam Darnold at QB, key receivers gone, and Milroe (presumably) not ready.

 

[movingtarget]

Some are seeing the Seahawks going 12-5 this season? I know they won 10 last year (no playoffs, though) but with the changes they’ve had the last couple of seasons, I am not sure I see them winning more games this season.

Really depends on Darnold and the WR's. NFC West has become competitive again, even the Cardinals should be better and the 49ers expect to bounce back after last season.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

Right now in the NFC west I could see any team finish in any order in that division. None of those teams look great, but none look terrible. 10-7 could win the division, and 7-10 could finish in last place. I assume a healthy SF would be favored, but I'm not calling them a lock, at all.

This isn't like looking at the AFC North and believing Baltimore should win the division, but being certain who will finish last: Cleveland.

 

[movingtarget]

Four-time Lions Pro Bowl C Frank Ragnow to retire after seven seasons in NFL

 

[Nomad]

But I'm not so sure Darnold is much of an answer to them, but he could operate as a bridge to Milroe (or someone else), so like the Jets and Fields, it makes some sense.

Darnold is definitely not the answer & is on his way out. And sooner than later depending on the development of Milroe.

And that 14 win season last year was for nothing losing their opening playoff game when they were clear favorites. And Darnold's lack of mobility & athleticism was exposed as he was sacked 9 times for 82 yds & fumbled on one of those sacks where the Rams scooped it up for a score. Lol

Darnold was sacked 48 times last season while only rushing for 212 yds. By comparison, Nix was sacked half that amount (24) while rushing for 430 yds. And Allen was only sacked 14 times last year while rushing for an impressive 531 yds & 12 TDs!

The writing is on the wall. I'm sure when Seattle selected Milroe, Darnold must have thought: WTH?!?...didn't see this coming! Lol (I'm guessing they had their sights set on Milroe but needed a veteran starter to fill in the event they couldn't get him in the 3rd without trading up). Short of leading the team to the SB, I don't think it matters what Darnold does this season. Milroe is the guy Seattle envisions for the future. And the future may be now.

How new OC Klint Kubiak could integrate Jalen Milroe into the Seahawks offense

The new Seahawks OC has a rare talent in his QB room, how will he plan to use him?

www.fieldgulls.com

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

I don't disagree at all there. Milroe is definitely a player worth taking and seeing what he has, see if they can develop him for the future. I just don't think he's likely ready to start and will need work on his passing game. But he's a prototypical modern dual-threat, and has a very strong arm. It's not a matter of if, but when he takes over (unless he simply doesn't have it in camp, preseason, and the first year - Josh Rosen style. Or if Darnold somehow plays lights out).

 

[SHAD0W93]

Aaron Rodgers notifies Pittsburgh Steelers he will sign: Reports

Free agent quarterback Aaron Rodgers is joining the Pittsburgh Steelers ahead of mandatory minicamp, according to reports.

www.usatoday.com

Now it’d be great if the Steelers tell Rodgers they don’t want him anymore. Barring that, what’s the over under of Tomlin getting fired before week 9? I think Steelers losing to the Jets and Packers will do it.

 

[Nomad]

There must be great jubilation in Steel Town now that they have their franchise QB to lead them to the promised land. Lol

I still fail to understand why Tomlin thinks an aging 41 yr old, immobile QB, one hard hit away from being carried away off on a stretcher is his answer to the Steeler's QB problems? Am I missing something here? Rodgers is no Tom Brady & looks more like the late stages of Peyton Manning.

And how interesting: The Steelers open the season vs The Jets with a Fields vs Rodgers matchup.

 

[movingtarget]

Colts QB Anthony Richardson to miss minicamp after suffering shoulder injury

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

Rodgers is no Tom Brady & looks more like the late stages of Peyton Manning.

You must be forgetting that Manning won a SB in his last season.

I don't think Rodgers will do to the Steelers what he did to the Jets (as in win less games than Zach Wilson), but I won't be at all surprised if this is Tomlin's first losing season, and Rodgers injured at some point. What they see in him is desperation is my guess. They didn't plan worth a crap, botched keeping Fields. Probably botched Pickett's development. Haven't been able to draft a QB, and now there is nothing left but an

aging 41-year old immobile QB, one hard hit from being carried off on a stretcher.

And I think his personality borders on toxic at times, and I think it will come out even more this season as they lose games.

Some people at ESPN and NFL Network are buying into it though. Or so they claim. The only thing that will keep Pittsburgh in games is their defense. And the only thing keeping them likely out of last place in that division now is Cleveland.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

Every year 14 teams make the NFL playoffs. And on average 6 teams who made them one year, don’t make them the next. This gives an illusion of more parity than there actually is, but makes for at least a competitive league. Here are the teams who made it last season.

AFC Kansas City Buffalo Baltimore Houston LA Chargers Pittsburgh Denver

NFC Philadelphia Detroit Tampa Washington LA Rams Minnesota Green Bay

Here are the six teams I am calling out now for not making the 2025-2026 playoffs. I reserve the right to change my mind later.

Pittsburgh, Denver, LA Chargers
Philadelphia, LA Rams, Minnesota

The six teams that will make the playoffs:

Cincinnati, Jacksonville, Indianapolis
Atlanta, San Francisco, Arizona

The biggest name that stands out is the Eagles. While I’m somewhat confident Washington will win that division, saying the Eagles won’t make the playoffs seems crazy. But they did lose several players, and the hangover I believe may ding them. I just didn’t know who else to add, because I think both Detroit and Green Bay are going to be very good. It also seems to me Denver should still make the playoffs, but again, I had to remove a team. Call me crazy with this prediction, but try and make your own list and see how hard it is!