NFL QB Carousel 2022- Which Teams Need a New QB
NEW STARTER FOR 2022
CAROLINA PANTHERS
No team has had less consistency at QB this year than the Carolina Panthers, less than a year after trading for former Jet Sam Darnold and re-signing former MVP Cam Newton. The Panthers fired their offensive coordinator and sit at 5-11 leading to a top 10 draft pick this off-season. It remains to be seen which direction the Panthers go at QB, but one thing is for certain, their future is not on the roster, and it needs to be addressed in 2022.
POSSIBLE FITS- RUSSELL WILSON, DESHAUN WATSON, MATT CORRAL, KENNY PICKETT, MALIK WILLIS
PITTSBURGH STEELERS
For almost two decades, the Pittsburgh Steelers have been fortunate to have only one QB starting for them, Ben Roethlisberger, and with this being his final season the team must find their replacement for the future hall of famer. Pittsburgh’s best option would be to bring in a veteran since their roster is built to win now but no one will know until we see the best QB move happen this off-season. Keep an eye out for Pittsburgh in the hunt for a big name QB or at the very least a veteran who can groom a rookie for the next couple seasons.
POSSIBLE FITS- RUSSELL WILSON, AARON RODGERS, DESHAUN WATSON, TEDDY BRIDGEWATER
WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM
Washington tried to catch lightning in a bottle this season when they signed journeyman QB Ryan Fitzpatrick but after a season ending injury, backup Taylor Heinicke has assumed the role and played decent football. That being said, Washington is about to re-brand their entire franchise which means they must go in a new direction at QB. No better time to go all in on a young up and coming QB like now and it wouldn’t be shocking to see them go into next year with Heinicke as the starter and a high draft pick as the back-up like Trey Lance in San Francisco.
POSSIBLE FITS- MATT CORRAL, MALIK WILLIS, KENNY PICKETT
WAIT & SEE
HOUSTON TEXANS
The Texans invested a 2021 draft pick in rookie QB Davis Mills and so far, he hasn’t looked lost and even flashes signs of potentially being a starting caliber QB. Since there is no obvious top QB in the 2022 draft like last year with Trevor Lawrence, Houston would be wise to build with Mills in mind as the starter and see what he can do with a better built roster. The other part of this equation is what Houston does with star QB Deshaun Watson. If they choose to trade him and re-acquire a QB in return, that could change how they feel about Mills but until that happens, Houston has no better option right now than Davis Mills.
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
New Orleans is one of the toughest teams to figure out when it comes to their QB room. Jameis Winston didn’t look bad in his few starts this year but is dealing with injuries and Taysom Hill flashes his brilliant playmaking ability yet has showed no signs that he can be a starting QB in the NFL for a full season. There is a scenario where they run it back with the same crop of QBs and hope that Winston stays healthy, or they could choose to blow it up and go for a big name like Deshaun Watson. Either way, the Saints must figure out their plan at QB soon before its too late so they can plan to go with the same guys and plan around an entirely new signal caller.
IN LIMBO
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
Will Russell Wilson be a Seattle Seahawk in 6 months? Will Pete Carroll still be the head coach? Seattle will be a team to watch this off-season as they could look to re-tool their and possible move on from their franchise QB and head coach which would cause a huge question to surround their QB room. Until then, it is basically a wait to see period for Seattle.
DENVER BRONCOS
The Broncos are a team built to win now; a dynamic duo at RB, great WRs and a great defense who is top 10 in both yards & points allowed per game. All the team is missing is a QB. TO be specific a great QB who can turn them into a great team fighting in the playoffs for the next few years. The top rumor last off-season was Denver pushing to get Aaron Rodgers but that fell short of happening, so they went with Teddy Bridgewater and they team failed to make the playoffs. If the Broncos can land themselves a big fish at QB, watch out because they could be primed to make a run not only at the playoffs but at the Superbowl.
WILD CARDS
MINNESOTA VIKINGS & ATLANTA FALCONS
Kirk Cousins & Matt Ryan are both signed through next year with a dead cap of over $40 million so it would be hard to see either team move their QB, but it wouldn’t be shocking to see them invest in a rookie QB this year and hope he can replace the veteran down the road.
DETROIT LIONS & NEW YORK GIANTS
The Giants announced they plan on bringing back Daniel Jones for 2022 and the Lions seem to be stuck with Jared Goff for another season. Neither QB is particularly bad but they are clearly neither team’s answer at QB for the future so only time will tell if they decide to cut the cord now, to everyone’s surprise, and go all-in on a QB in the top 10 of the upcoming draft.