The quarterback position is the most important in sports. The weight of the franchise and the expectation of its fanbase is placed on the shoulders of the man under center. Having a great quarterback means a better offense which usually equates to more wins, playoff appearances, and even championships. In the past 23 years, there have been four quarterbacks namely Trent Dilfer, Brad Johnson, Joe Flacco, and Nick Foles who won Superbowl without being seen as elite talent at the position. So if you aspire to be great in the NFL, you need a franchise quarterback. If you don’t have one then end up suffering years or even decades of misery like the Jets. Each off-season, 60% of the league ask themselves, will my current starting quarterback get me to the Superbowl? The answer for most is NO, and that leads to what is considered the quarterback carousel. In the article, we discuss the quarterback situation in New Orleans, Seattle, and Baltimore based on the latest news from around the league.
1. New Orleans Saints-on Monday, March 6, it was reported that the Saints agreed on a deal with ex-Raider, Derek Carr for a 4-year deal worth up to 150 million dollars. Last season, Carr played 15 games for Las Vegas completing 60.8% of his passes, throwing 24 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. The Saints were desperate for a quality veteran quarterback to replace Drew Brees, who retired after the 2020 season. Last season, Jameis Winston got the nod to start for the franchise but lasted only three games and completed 63.5% of his passes, four touchdowns, and five interceptions. The tandem of Andy Dalton and Taysom Hill did not improve matters, and the Saints finished with a 7-10 record. The team holds the 29th pick in the upcoming draft, and signing Carr means that they did feel they could get a good young prospect at the end of the first round. By signing Carr, he is reunited with Saints’ second-year coach Dennis Allen who drafted and coached him with the Raiders before getting fired in 2014. The Saints still have shed some salary since they entered the off-season $50 million over the cap and are likely to release Winston. Also, they are likely to backload Carr’s contract and restructure a few deals. However, at this point in the off-season, Carr makes the Saints the best team in the NFC South because he is the best quarterback following the retirement of Tom Brady from the NFL. We wait to see what the Panthers, Falcons, and Buccaneers will do to trump this move.
2. Seattle Seahawks news also emerged that Geno Smith had agreed to a three-year, $105 million contract that would allow for his return to the Pacific North West. It was a fitting reward for Geno’s impressive year at the helm in Seattle, which led to a playoff appearance and winning the Comeback Player of the Year Award. By agreeing on an extension, both parties move forward without the uneasy situation of being franchise tagged. This past season, Geno completed 69.8%, threw for 4,282 yards, 30 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. Geno was one of the big surprises this past season because he was in the MVP conversation at one point due to his stellar play. The extension gives the Seahawks stability at the position and cements them as the second-best team in the division behind the 49ers. However, Smith will need to clean up the turnovers because he threw seven interceptions in his last seven games and admitted he was pressing. The Seahawks have a bright future with an inexpensive quality quarterback, young talent, and high picks based on the Russell Wilson trade. Despite the cloudy weather in Seattle, things are looking bright for the football team.
3. Baltimore Ravens- one of the murkiest quarterback situations in the NFL goes to the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens have until 3:30 pm today to agree on an extension, or they will have to use the franchise tag to retain the services of Lamar Jackson. Last season, Jackson played 12 games, threw for 2,242 yards, 17 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. Jackson is a former league MVP and his absence from the team due to injury last season led to a collapse and missing the playoffs. It is widely reported that Lamar is seeking a nearly fully guaranteed deal which the Ravens may consider risky given the dynamic playmaking of the Louisville product. The Ravens face a conundrum in deciding whether to place an exclusive or nonexclusive tag on Jackson. The exclusive tag will cost the team about $45 million, but give Baltimore control of Jackson’s contract rights in 2023 and subsequent trade talks. However, the nonexclusive tag will cost them only $32.416 million, but Lamar could speak to other teams and give the Ravens the right to match his offer sheet or take two first-round picks as compensation for losing him. I think the Ravens should give Lamar what he wants, but the damage could be irreparable based on how the negotiations have unfolded. If Lamar Jackson is traded, the Ravens will move from a contender to a rebuild very quickly.