Sometimes quarterback competitions aren’t even competitions at all.
Fast forward to 2021 and the Urban Meyer era for the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Jaguars selected Trevor Lawrence, one of the best quarterback prospects in history, with the first overall pick in the NFL Draft. Everyone knew he would be the starter in Week 1. But in his infinite wisdom, Meyer pretended there was a competition. He had Lawrence play part-time until August 25, when he was finally named the team’s starter. All that did was cost Lawrence valuable reps, when everyone knew the outcome. Meyer was fired after 13 games.
This season it looks like there will be some real competitions, although not many. Let’s take a look at the competition situation, now that preseason has fully started this week:
This situation is more like Urban Meyer/Trevor Lawrence than a true competition. The Commanders are refusing to name Jayden Daniels their starter, even though everyone assumes the second overall pick in the draft will be. Marcus Mariota is their backup. It seems like the traditional “make the rookie earn it” strategy, because if Daniels isn’t the Opening Day starter, that’s a big problem in Washington.
“As we go through this whole process, let’s make sure that if we focus on the competition and how things are going to go, we’re not going to miss a step of their development and that’s what this time of year is for,” Commanders coach Dan Quinn said. via the team’s site.
Don’t fall off your high horse when Daniels is named the starter this month.
This doesn’t seem like a competition, because Mike Tomlin hasn’t given many signs that Russell Wilson is really competing with Justin Fields. But Wilson dealt with a calf injury early in training camp, giving Fields valuable time with the starters. Tomlin values Wilson’s experience and accomplishments, and that means it’s going to be very difficult for Fields to win the job before Week 1.
“We’re trying to win right now,” Steelers general manager Omar Khan told Yahoo Sports’ Jori Epstein. “We understand there’s a future and we’re always thinking about the impact that every decision we make has on the future.
“But this year we want to win.”
Wilson doesn’t offer Pittsburgh much long-term potential, and Fields had some nice moments with the Chicago Bears. The Steelers will be keeping an eye on both in the preseason, even if it appears Wilson has a clear and perhaps insurmountable advantage.
The outcome also seems predetermined. The Vikings seem committed to starting Sam Darnold in Week 1 and not rushing into signing first-round pick JJ McCarthy. Yahoo Sports’ Charles Robinson reported that “it’s clear there’s a seriousness to carefully managing (McCarthy’s) development” and that’s shown in training camp. Darnold has been working as a starter in training camp, taking nearly all of the first-team reps (though coach Kevin O’Connell said “it’s pretty evenly matched between Sam and JJ”). via the team’s site).
There have been reports out of Vikings training camp about how well McCarthy has looked. Darnold has never been an effective starting quarterback in the NFL, though he did start his career in some tough situations as well. The assignment of reps as a starter in training camp is a good indication that the Vikings will move forward with their plan to have Darnold begin the season as the starter, though perhaps McCarthy could force the issue with a big preseason.
The only thing that seems settled in Broncos camp is that the quarterback race will be a two-man affair. Zach Wilson is clearly the QB3 when Denver begins its preseason.
But the competition between first-round pick Bo Nix and Jarrett Stidham isn’t settled. There are signs that Nix is ahead, with Yahoo Sports’ Charles Robinson writing after a training camp visit that Nix is ”doing what he needs to do to be the starter on opening day, steadily improving as he goes along.” Nix has plenty of experience after an NCAA-record 61 career starts and a first-round pedigree; if he has a good preseason, then there’s no good reason for him not to be a starter in Week 1.
There were six quarterbacks selected in the first 12 picks of the NFL Draft, and three of them appear to have very little chance of being starters in Week 1.
Michael Penix Jr. won’t be a starter for the Atlanta Falcons, that much is obvious. The Vikings seem intent on keeping JJ McCarthy waiting. And there hasn’t been much indication that Drake Maye, the third overall pick, has a realistic chance of starting in the opener.
Jacoby Brissett was brought in as an option to start while Maye learns. There should be some trepidation about starting Maye with such a poor supporting cast. Many New England media reports have used the term “ups and downs” to describe Maye’s team. The Boston Herald said Brissett came into Saturday’s practice with “a considerable lead” over Maye and then the gap widened during practice as Brissett had some good plays and Maye struggled. It seems like Maye would need a monster preseason to even make a real decision before Week 1.
Many reports coming out of Raiders camp have praised the defense, specifically the secondary, and that’s probably code for saying the quarterbacks aren’t impressing anyone. It’s veteran Gardner Minshew II against sophomore Aidan O’Connell, and it looks like the competition is very close. Various reporters saying Minshew outplayed O’Connell in extended 11-on-11 reps at camp Saturday. That might give him the edge for the moment, but Raiders coach Antonio Pierce said it’s still a competition.
“I don’t think we can sit there and say anyone has won yet,” Pierce told reporters Monday. via KSNV in Las Vegas.
Pierce said Minshew has had some good moments, but also some turnover issues. He also praised O’Connell for his accuracy in training camp. Minshew might have a slight edge, but preseason results could determine who will be the starter in Week 1.