It’s common knowledge that the biggest indicator of a team’s success is the quality of play from its quarterback. Yes, defense is important, but a great quarterback can lift a team beyond what should be possible. A bad quarterback can do the opposite.
Nevermore will quarterback play be more important than this upcoming NFL season. Faced with the prospect of empty stadiums, there will be no home-field advantage. All of those intangible benefits of playing in your home stadium will be wiped away. Talent alone will be the deciding factor in most games.
With that in mind, we took a look at all 32 teams and ranked them based on the strength of their quarterback situations. We’ve considered everything; starters and backups, the draft and free agency.
Take a look and see what you think. Some of these teams may surprise you.
32. Jacksonville Jaguars: Minshew III, Dobbs, Glennon
Gardner Minshew III burst onto the scene last season with his massive mustache and gunslinger swagger. As the season drug on, Minshew proved that he was just a rookie. The Jags went all-in on Minshew in the offseason though when they traded Nick Foles.
Year 2 of the Minshew Experience will commence with the $45 million-man, Mike Glennon, and Josh Dobbs, who has thrown 12 passes in his NFL career. Needless to say, Minshew needs to continue to improve. A “sophomore slump” could find the Jags picking at the very top of the draft next spring.
Projected Record: 4-12
31. Washington Redskins: Haskins, Smith, Allen
Dwayne Haskins would have preferred to have more time on the sidelines before he was pressed into action in Week 4 of last season. But, when you are a first-round pick and a local boy, the fans start chanting your name when the starters struggle.
The problem for Haskins was the entire team was a dumpster fire. No one really knows how good or bad Haskins is yet, but it’s clear he wasn’t an instant impact player like Lamar Jackson. A new coaching staff should be able to get Haskins on the right track.
Projected Record: 6-10
30. Miami Dolphins: Fitzpatrick, Tagovailoa, Rosen
The ageless Ryan Fitzpatrick will start the season as the starter ahead of rookie Tua Tagovailoa and broken toy, Josh Rosen. In Fitzpatrick, you know what you have, a solid professional quarterback. The problem is he’s 37 years old. Father Time always wins in the end. Is this the year he does?
It’s not great for the Dolphins if Fitzpatrick can’t get it done. Josh Rosen is proving to be one of the biggest draft busts of the past decade and no one knows what shape Tua Tagovailoa will be in when the season begins after his college career-ending injuries at Alabama.
Projected Record: 7-9
