Decisions, decisions: Headlining quarterback competitions around the NFL

USA Today

9 hours ago

NFL teams' hopes live and die with the play of their quarterbacks. For every Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, and Josh Allen, there are franchises with signal-callers at the other end of the talent spectrum. The preseason is a time for some squads to try to decide who their quarterback will be (at least, for Week 1). That's not a great look when one doesn't know who the most important player on the team will be without watching "meaningless" preseason contests. Then, there are the Los Angeles Rams, who thought they had a franchise QB but ...
The Matthew Stafford quandary
There is all sorts of mystery and drama surround the Rams' Super Bowl-winning quarterback, Stafford. Los Angeles had a chance to part ways with him in the offseason but stuck with the veteran. Now, in the preseason he has a bad back and after saying he threw 60 practice passes and looked great, coach Sean McVay is supposed to address the Stafford situation on Monday. If Stafford is lost for any amount of time, that puts Jimmy Garoppolo or Stetson Bennett taking snaps. Not a good look for the defending NFC West champs.
Colts close in on decision
Shane Steichen says he is close to making a decision between Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones as Indianapolis' starting quarterback.
The fact that it is any sort of decision between the former New York Giants' No. 1 pick and a guy who was supposed to be a franchise QB when chosen fourth overall in 2023, is ominous. Richardson started all of 13 games at Florida. Beginning to feel like NFL teams should put more emphasis on quarterbacks who actually play a lot of college football then potential. Is Richardson simply the next Trey Lance?
Will Trey Lance be Justin Herbert's backup?
Lance flubbed in San Francisco and didn't get much run in Dallas. The former No. 3 overall pick, who had all of 17 college starts -- sounds like Richardson -- is looking like the backup for the Bolts. He has played well in the preseason, for what it is worth. Easton Stick somehow isn't a Chargers backup anymore. He seemed destined to live in that role, but is now a Falcon. Taylor Heinicke is also in the running. He's a nice body to have around, but that's about it. Jim Harbaugh best hope that Justin Herbert remains upright.
Giant decision for Brian Daboll
Will Jameis Winston stick with the Giants behind Russell Wilson as the New York Giants' backup QB? All the buzz is the second, first-round pick Jaxson Dart looks like he will be the second-stringer behind the veteran. Wilson has to know he is nothing but a stop-gap until the Giants play poorly enough for coach Brian Daboll to hand the team to Dart. But will they simply have the rookie from Ole Miss at the ready if the former Seahawk, Bronco, and Steeler isn't cutting it? For all of Winston's charm and humor, at this point, he is a career backup. And that's a guy who was a No. 1 overall pick years ago.
Kevin Stefanski's choice
The quarterback carousel never stops in Cleveland. Never. Kevin Stefanski will name his No. 1 quarterback this week. Let's take a stab and say it will be Joe Flacco. Kenny Pickett has not played in the preseason. Dillon Gabriel saw action in Week 2. Shedeur Sanders played well in Week 1 and then hurt his oblique. No matter who Stefanski chooses, the Browns' situation overall is bleak.