As the NFL gears up for the offseason, there are plenty of teams, including a few with a starter currently under contract, that have questions around who their week 1 starter should/will be in September.
DENVER BRONCOS
The Broncos are the Phil Connors of the NFL. Just like Bill Murray's character in the movie, they've been reliving Groundhog Day over and over again since the moment Peyton Manning retired after winning Super Bowl 50. Here they are once again looking for a signal caller to take a solid roster to the next level. The obvious choice for them is to hope that Aaron Rodgers tells the Green Bay Packers he doesn't want to come back and forces a trade to the Mile High City. Even in the absolutely stacked AFC, Rodgers would make the Broncos an overnight contender. Unfortunately for the Broncos, as you'll read in a bit, I think Broncos fans are going to be disappointed with Rodgers' decision whenever he makes it. My prediction is the Broncos start the season with Mitchell Trubisky under center and a rookie as his back-up as the Broncos go back to the drawing board yet again.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS
For the first time in nearly 2 decades the Pittsburgh Steelers' week 1 starter isn't currently on their roster. With the retirement of Big Ben, Mike Tomlin is tasked with finding his replacement and avoid a rebuild in the Steel City. With how porous their offensive line is, I don't think the Steelers can hold out the same hope that Denver can when it comes to Rodgers wanting to go there. So, assuming Number 12 is off the table, I predict that the Steelers will set their sights on the guy that has beaten Rodgers twice in the last 3 postseasons, Jimmy Garoppolo. I also predict that they end up signing Jameis Winston after being unsuccessful in trying to trade for Garoppolo.
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
The Saints find themselves in very unfamiliar territory with the retirement of Sean Payton. In addition, for the second straight offseason, they also find themselves looking for a long-term signal caller. Taysom Hill has shown that he is a nice gadget player but not a quality starter in the NFL. As I mentioned earlier, I think Jameis Winston will be elsewhere next season. I'm not sure the Saints will make a run at Russell Wilson, but if they do, I don't think they will be successful in landing him. I predict the Saints' week 1 starter to be Hill with a rookie back up that they select on Day 2 of the draft.
WASHINGTON COMMANDERS
New name, same story for the artists formerly known as The Football Team. The Commanders have a very solid defense and some nice skill position players on offense. The problem is they've had what seems like a hundred different starting quarterbacks in the last decade. Riverboat Ron needs to have a winning season to avoid the hot seat. Like the Saints, if Washington makes a run at Russell Wilson, I believe they will be unsuccessful. I think they will definitely inquire about Jimmy G and could possibly end up landing him. With that being said, I think Marcus Mariota will be the answer to this trivia question 10 years from now: Who took the first regular season snap at quarterback for the Washington Commanders?
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
As a 49ers fan, there are very few things that make me smile more than turmoil within the Seattle Seahawks organization. Last year we saw Russell Wilson publicly ask for a trade without actually publicly asking for a trade. Then during the season, we saw a Seahawks team that was too reliant upon their signal caller to make something happen when nothing was available. That strategy didn't work, got Wilson injured, and ended in the Seahawks finishing with their first losing record since he became the starter. There hasn't been any noise so far this year regarding Wilson asking for a trade and any damage seems to be repaired, for now. I think Russell Wilson is the starter in week 1 for Seattle in what will be his and Pete Carroll's last season together.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
Talk about crash and burn. That trainwreck you couldn't look away from in week 18 was the Indianapolis Colts self-destructing in just every way possible against the Jaguars. The number one culprit? You guessed it, Carson Wentz. He once again showed that he is a poor decision maker in crunch time and has lost any ability he did have in the past to lead a team to victory when the stakes are the highest. He is still under contract, but my guess is that Colts fans have already seen enough of the Wentz Show to make them wince at the thought of seeing a sequel. I think Jimmy Garoppolo would be a perfect fit for the Colts. My prediction is that they end up feeling the same way and Jimmy G is the week 1 starter for the Colts after they are rebuffed by Tom Brady.
GREEN BAY PACKERS
After all the drama of last offseason that carried over into the regular season and ultimately ended with another home playoff loss for Rodgers and the Packers, it's becoming more and more likely that they have somehow mutually decided to put it all behind them and stay together. The reality is that the Packers are still the best team for Rodgers to be on right now and he knows that. The Packers also know they made a mistake drafting Jordan Love and cannot start the season with him under center with any type of championship aspirations whatsoever. I could be wrong but, I think Aaron Rodgers stays put in Green Bay and barring an injury he will be the week 1 starter for the Packers at least one more time.
Comentarios