As soon as the clock hit 00:00 on Sunday (well.. even before that), the questions surrounding the "Jalen Hurts QB1" topic for 2022. A case can be made strongly for both yes and no on the topic, but one thing needs to be kept in mind:
The new QB should be a clear and immediate upgrade. If the Eagles want to move on from 19 starts of developing, it shouldn't be for a rookie or another project QB
The new QB should not come at the expense of all three firsts. Maybe not even two of them. This is a team with holes, a lot of them. Trading all of their firsts for a QB will keep them from upgrading their entire roster.
Although both Howie and Nick confirmed that Jalen will be QB1 in 2022, there will be plenty of QB chatter around the league about trades. Are any QBs worth it and meet the above criteria?
Let's take a looksee around the league at the current starters and back ups.
AFC East
Bills -
Starter: Josh Allen Backup: Mitchell Trubisky
Allen isn't going anywhere. Trubisky is a free agent and NOT an upgrade over Hurts.
Patriots -
Starter: Mac Jones Backup: Brian Hoyer
Jones isn't going anywhere. Hoyer... no.
Dolphins -
Starter: Tua Tagovailoa Backup: Jacoby Brissett
Tua may be moved in a Deshaun Watson trade, but he shouldn't be considered for the Eagles in a potential trade. Brissett is a free agent and is familiar with Sirianni, but he doesn't offer the big play ability that Hurts has shown this year.
Jets -
Starter: Zach Wilson Backup: Joe Flacco/Mike White
Wilson, while he struggled, is set to be Jets QB1 for at least 2022. Flacco and White are both free agents, and are also a big no.
AFC South
Colts -
Starter: Carson Wentz Backup: Sam Ehlinger
Lol
Jaguars -
Starter: Trevor Lawrence Backup: CJ Beathard
Lawrence is obviously unavailable. Beathard: no.
Texans -
Starter: Deshaun Watson* Backup: Tyrod Taylor/Davis Mills
Watson is the starter, obviously, and he's available for a trade. But he has 22 unsettled civil suits against him over sexual misconduct/harrassment. I want zero part of him, plus the price tag is astronomical and would probably be the most a team has ever paid for another player in NFL history. No thank you.
Also no thank you to free agent Tyrod Taylor and Davis Mills.
Titans -
Starter: Ryan Tannehill Back up: Logan Woodside
While I believe Tannehill is a viable starter and would provide an upgrade over Hurts in an also run-first offense, he still has two years left on his deal and the Titans have no viable option to replace him. As the number one seed in the AFC, they shouldn't be looking to anyway. Woodside, a free agent, has yet to attempt a pass in the NFL. But he does have 13 career rushes for 4 yards!
AFC North
Baltimore -
Starter: Lamar Jackson Backup: Tyler Huntley
Ya think Jackson is available? No? Ok, moving on. Huntley played admirably in Jackson's absence this season, but he's not a better option than Hurts.
Cleveland -
Starter: Baker Mayfield Backup: Case Keenum/Nick Mullens
Mayfield STINKS. I'm not interested, neither should you. Keenum also stinks, and Mullens... we've seen that play out in Philly.
Cincinnati -
Starter: Joe Burrow Backup: Brandon Allen
Send all of the picks in every draft from now until 2100 for Burrow. Oh.. can't do that? Alright, never mind. Brandon Allen isn't great!
Pittsburgh -
Starter: Ben Roethlisberger* Backup: Mason Rudolph
The Steelers will be going into the offseason with their own QB questions as Big Ben is most likely retiring. Mason Rudolph stinks.
AFC West
Chargers -
Starter: Justin Herbert Backup: Chase Daniel
Herbert is a stud and he's only going to get better. He's also not available. Chase Daniel is a free agent and I hope to every God out there that the Eagles do not give him another contract to hold the clip board.
Chiefs -
Starter: Patrick Mahomes Backup: Chad Henne
Yeah.. moving on.
Broncos -
Starter: Teddy Bridgewater/Drew Lock
Bridgewater was the starter until he suffered a concussion and missed the rest of the season. He's a free agent. He's also not good. Lock isn't worth a 7th rounder.
Raiders -
Starter: Derek Carr Backup: Marcus Mariota
Finally! An interesting one! Rumors are swirling that Carr's fate on the team is tied to which head coach the Raiders hire. If Carr is made available, should the Eagles be interested? Carr is coming off his fourth straight 4,000 yard season, while averaging a career best 282 yards per game. He also threw the most interceptions of his career with 14.
Vegas has one of the worst run blocking lines and a below average pass blocking line, so if Carr could put up those numbers behind that line, what's to say he wouldn't be better behind a markedly better line? However, since he was drafted, he leads all players in fumbles lost with 36 (Wentz was drafted two years later and is in third with 28, btw). Is that a product of him being irresponsible with the ball or is it a product of his horrible offensive line over the years? Probably both but leaning towards the line. Is a player of his skillset worth sending a high pick for knowing he has continuously given the other team the ball? I would consider a deal similar to the Wentz deal: 3rd in 2022 + conditional 2nd in 2023. Condition for first: making NFC championship game. This is farfetched and I'm not entirely sold on Carr as the answer, but it is worth exploring.
Mariota was such a promising prospect, now look at him. No thank you.
For the NFC options/non-options, check the next page
NFC South
Falcons -
Starter: Matt Ryan Backup: Josh Rosen
Matt Ryan gets a ton of hate for being one of the more reliable QBs since he's been in the league. He hit a big time regression in 2021, but that was bound to happen with missing Calvin Ridley for 12 games. Now with Ridley set to join the Eagles, via my mock draft, could Ryan join him in Philly? The Falcons could seemingly release Ryan before the new league year starts on March 14th but that would mean a $40 million dead cap hit. If they designate him as a post-June 1 release, it's only ~$25 million in dead cap and ~23 million in cap savings. Hmm...
I wouldn't trade for Ryan, but if he were a free agent? It's worth considering.
Josh Rosen? Moving on.
Saints -
Starter: Jameis Winston/Taysom Hill Backup: Trevor Siemian
Winston went 5-2 as the starter in New Orleans before going down with an injury, but that came with a 162 YPG average. He's a free agent, but no thank you. Taysom Hill just signed a new contract and the Eagles already have a tight end. Siemian.. no.
Panthers -
Starter: Sam Darnold/Cam Newton Backup: P.J. Walker
I won't even waste words here.
Buccaneers -
Starter: Tom Brady Backup: Blaine Gabbert
Here either.
NFC West
Rams -
Starter: Matt Stafford Backup: John Wolford
Not available. No.
Cardinals -
Starter: Kyler Murray Backup: Colt McCoy
See above.
49ers -
Starter: Jimmy Garoppolo Backup: Trey Lance
Despite beating the Cowboys on Sunday (thank you), the 49ers seem to be set on moving on from Jimmy G this offseason. If he's released, the 49ers save $25.6 million. It's a no brainer. But is he that much of an upgrade over Hurts that the Eagles should explore signing him? In my opinion, no. He's started a full season just once in his eight years (albeit three of those were backing up Brady) and if you were watching the game Sunday (why weren't you?) there were plenty of "oh Jimmy what are you doing?" I'll pass, so should the Eagles.
Seahawks -
Starter: Russell Wilson Backup: Geno Smith
Before the obvious, Smith... lol.
Now for the big one. Wilson is likely to find a new home in the offseason, should the Eagles look into him? Yes and no.
Russell Wilson is one of the best quarterbacks in the league, there is zero question about that and no one should argue otherwise. Is he an upgrade over Hurts? 1000x yes.
But is he worth the "3 first round picks" Daniel Jeremiah proposed? No.
The Rams do have a point in trading away their firsts. There may be no rookie who can change the team immediately as the player being traded for could. But is Russell Wilson on his own a bigger impact than three first round rookies? Especially rookies who can start to improve a defense that only did well versus quarterbacks who had Madden simulated names. If the Seahawks come calling and I'm Howard, I'm saying #19, 2023 1st, Andre Dillard, and Jalen Hurts. I want to keep #s 15 & 16. Lock in two blue chip players out of the three possible and get the QB you covet. If they want more, use all three for Hurts' success.
NFC North
Bears -
Starter: Justin Fields/Andy Dalton Backup: Nick Foles
Fields isn't going anywhere and Dalton should retire. Bring back Foles to start the game versus Indy next year.
Lions -
Starter: Jared Goff Backup: David Blough
Lol.
Vikings -
Starter: Kirk Cousins Backup: Kellen Mond
Billy Barnwell, who blocked me on Twitter, says the Eagles should trade a first to the Vikings for Cousins and EXTEND him $100 million more.
Chris Simms has Mond rated higher than Hurts.
I would like to do drugs with Billy and Chris sometime.
Packers -
Starter: Aaron Rodgers Backup: Jordan Love
Here we are. The unvaccinated, all natural, immunized elephant in the room. Aaron Rodgers is finishing up a likely-MVP season and is set to leave (most likely) the Packers after this season barring a change of heart. With his unhappiness with the Packers made public, plenty of QB-needy/semi-needy teams will be lined up to see if AR12 will want to play for them. Rodgers will be 39 next season so he's close to the end of his career, but he obviously has a ton of talent left. I mentioned on Flippin' The Birds back in July or August (I forget) that the Eagles should look into Rodgers after the season and I'd send two of the three picks to get him. I'm a changed man.
If the Packers trade him, the receiving team will be on the hook for a $46 million cap hit. Of course, the receiving team will want to restructure, but that cap hit will most likely drop to only the $30-$35 million range. You can offset that with rookie contracts, as the WR1 on the Eagles currently has, but how many of those contracts on a team can keep you as a contender? The Packers are set to lose Davante Adams because of that, but could seemingly keep him to play with Love if Rodgers' contract is gone. But can (should) the Eagles risk losing out on top tier skill players because their cap won't allow them to sign them? I don't think so. Yes, the same can be said for the Russell Wilson trade above, but ultimately I think Rodgers will be a bigger cap hit on a team than Wilson.
Jordan Love is also a no for me.
Conclusion
Yes I am writing this like a high school essay.
With Howie and Nick committing to Hurts (or are they?) for 2022, we hopefully can enjoy a stress free offseason. However, if this is a smokescreen for their interest in others, that interest may be for naught as the options out there aren't a) better or b) cheap enough to obtain.
For better or for worse, Jalen Hurts is 2022 QB1.
Photo by Kyle Ross/Icon Sportswire
