Ranking NFL’s top five QB hotspots as training camps begin: What to expect with Packers, Texans and more

Coaching camps are open, extra will open this week and nonetheless we’ve got lingering quarterback drama throughout the league.

It is not rampant, thoughts you. Not widespread. However the hotspots we’ve got been speaking about all winter, spring and summer time lengthy stay very a lot unresolved and pressure stays as excessive as ever in locations like Inexperienced Bay and Houston. It is uncommon to have quarterbacks who’ve achieved as a lot as Aaron Rodgers and Deshaun Watson remaining primarily in limbo this time of 12 months, albeit in a single case (Rodgers) by their very own selecting, and with Watson, a mix of his commerce calls for, anger on the group and his personal private points as he stays underneath investigation for sexual misconduct by the league and authorities along with his civil course of enjoying out.

I advised you guys again at the beginning of the July that none of those points could be wrapped up by this time, and that we might nonetheless be questioning exactly what Rodgers will do, and what Watson’s enjoying standing can be, on the eve of camps opening in all places. And, thus, right here we’re.

These aren’t the one quarterback conditions which can be percolating, nonetheless, as there are most undoubtedly different groups monitoring what’s going on with these two passers, with a watch to touchdown them, which might create apparent ripples ought to Rodgers or Watson change addresses within the coming days or perhaps weeks. Add within the annual intrigue about rookie quarterbacks and the way their growth performs out in August, and you’ve got a stable half dozen quarterback eventualities value watching very carefully.

As a preamble, I’m excluding some groups that you just would possibly consider ought to apply to this standards. No matter we could consider the Bears preferring Andy Dalton to Justin Fields, and who would truly win a quarterback competitors ought to one be staged, the bigger actuality is that Dalton has the job for Week 1 except he will get damage. Equally, I do not understand how Tua Tagovailoa goes to look because the season goes on, or how lengthy Huge Ben holds up or whether or not Jimmy G would be the man by Week 6 … however these are your Week 1 starters. Trey Lance may have a task and get some snaps within the opener, I’m certain, however because the sidekick (suppose Taysom Hill to Drew Brees). Might Kirk Cousins be trying over his shoulder by midseason? Maybe, however I do not see any fast menace this summer time.

I am taking a look at quarterback landscapes the place the fast future is way extra unsure and the place any variety of occasions or outcomes might swing issues pretty wildly. Here is the place I’m targeted most:

Aaron Rodgers might ship out a direct tweet (“I am again for yet one more 12 months”) and this saga could be over. However that is not his fashion. His foot stays squarely on de facto proprietor Mark Murphy’s neck as August approaches (as we advised you it might be) and he prefers the passive-aggressive strategy with feedback and social media posts that require evaluation, conjecture and stir thriller greater than finality. As is his proper and wish. The Packers nonetheless have a multitude on their fingers. I’ve been reporting all alongside that Rodgers has advised these he trusts most that he’s carried out with this group. Might that change as soon as actual soccer is being practiced, or performed? Definitely. However Vegas definitely appeared to consider a retirement assertion is perhaps coming – which ought to shock nobody if it does, given how this offseason performed out – and Packers brass remains to be at the hours of darkness. The most important story within the NFL in 2021 rages on.

Watson needs to guard his cash, so he reviews to the staff he vowed by no means to play for once more. However the “hold-in” has turn into a factor in recent times and brace for one right here. Watson is round, however not doing a lot. He believes he has no future in that group and the Texans are going to be horrible with or with out him. The NFL is in no hurry to weigh in with any self-discipline, and whereas some execs consider Watson will find yourself on the commissioner’s Exempt Listing till there’s extra closure about his civil and authorized standing, there’s definitely a minimum of a chance of a commerce if Watson is eligible to play soccer frequently this season. Regardless, the Texans should discover their Week 1 starter elsewhere; the bond between this participant and franchise is irreplaceably fractured.

Changing Drew Brees was all the time going to be a problem, whilst he slowed and suffered by means of harm late in his profession. They prolonged Taysom Hill as a result of Sean Payton believes he generally is a profitable beginning quarterback for them — however they did so at removed from huge QB cash. In addition they introduced Jameis Winston again as a result of Payton believes he can win loads of video games with the turnover-prone, former No. 1 total choose. My cash is on Winston, however this may play out over the approaching weeks and I am undecided we will get any proclamations straight away. Hill will see loads of the sector in his hybrid position, as all the time.

I’m a believer in Jalen Hurts, and the Eagles actually like him too, however that is as aggressive of a entrance workplace as you will discover, and a really concerned proprietor and the prospect of touchdown a star QB has been talked about inside that group since issues started falling aside with Carson Wentz. They’ve been watching this Watson factor for months and lots of execs consider they’d be front-runners to land him, ought to a commerce materialize. They’d love Rodgers, too, I’m certain, although I do not see him being somebody who’s sure for Philly (and he’ll have the ability to management the place he lands ought to commerce talks begin). Might Jimmy G turn into obtainable in some unspecified time in the future? All I do know is the Eagles aren’t afraid to ask about something and keen to suppose huge and make a blockbuster if want be.

Teddy Bridgewater is the starter, however ought to this Rodgers state of affairs go sideways to the purpose {that a} commerce heats up, the Broncos could be in prime place to pounce. Rodgers loves the protection and a few of the offensive personnel in place, the offensive line made some strides final 12 months and Denver may be very a lot his form of metropolis. John Elway is uniquely positioned to make one thing like this occur, regarding the participant (Elway is a Corridor of Famer who dug in earlier than his profession started to drive a commerce out of Baltimore to Denver) and having simply wooed Peyton Manning to Colorado not all that way back (the place Manning continues to reside and lift his household). Heck, Bridgewater would possibly even make sense in Inexperienced Bay, as he’s already accustomed to being a bridge QB (excuse the pun). That simply appears like a match.