There are a couple teams in the NFL that need to draft a quarterback within the next two or three years. A few teams are in the unfortunate position where their starters just aren’t getting the job done and they need to bring in a new talent. But most of the teams on this list simply have aging quarterbacks with only a few years left in their careers. Getting young, high ranked prospects to be mentored is a must for these teams. If any one of them wait for the current starters to retire to draft a replacement, then that team is run by fools.
Absolutely must in 2019
Denver Broncos
The Broncos have been nothing short of mediocre this season and it’s been extremely disappointing. Case Keenum has had a few successful years in the league but he really came into his own last year with the Minnesota Vikings. The Broncos have a dynamic offense with two good receivers and two good rookie running backs but Keenum is holding them back. He’s actually throwing for more yards per game than he did last season but his touchdown to interception ratios is horrible. He’s not the savior the Broncos were hoping for.
New York Giants
The Giants have a young star running back, tight end, and wide receiver but Eli Manning isn’t cutting it at quarterback. He may be the greatest quarterback in the team’s history, but the Giants have an offense they can win with NOW. The only piece missing is a consistent, prolific quarterback. If the Giants draft a quarterback in this coming draft Manning should still see get a large number of starts in 2019 while the rookie has a chance to get his feet wet in the pros. 2018 fourth round pick Kyle Lauletta is intriguing, but so was Davis Webb supposedly.
Teams that should
Jacksonville Jaguars
I’ve been saying it since last year, I still don’t trust Blake Bortles. Last year the defense was so dominant that the offense could afford to be mediocre. But this year, with the defense not playing on the same level and without Leonard Fournette (injury), Allen Hurns (in Dallas), and Marqise Lee (injury), Bortles has struggled. He was even benched during Week 7 for Cody Kessler, a former Cleveland Browns quarterback.
Miami Dolphins
I like Ryan Tannehill more than Bortles, but I’ve reached the same point with him as well. Granted the recent struggles can’t be pinned on him since he’s injured, but then again he’s starting to seem more and more injury prone and that’s a whole separate issue. It’s likely Adam Gase won’t survive the offseason anyways, why not bring in a new head coach and let him draft his quarterback of the future?
Planning for the future
Green Bay Packers
Am I allowed to point out there’s a chink in Aaron Rodgers’ armor without getting massacred? In case you didn’t realize it, his durability seems to be failing him as he’s entered his mid-30s. I know he’s played every game this season but the dude is banged up and it shows. He’s still playing at an All-Pro level but he doesn’t look as comfortable as usual. It’s about time the Packers find an insurance policy, preferably one that isn’t DeShone Kizer.
Los Angeles Chargers
Philip Rivers is playing fantastic on a reinvigorated Chargers team that has one of its best offensive units in years. He will also be 37 years old before the season ends. Quarterbacks can play into their early 40s if they’re lucky, but those are outliers not the norm. It’s more likely Rivers will hang up his cleats sometimes in the next two seasons, which means the Chargers had better get looking for draftable quarterbacks.
New England Patriots
As much as Patriots fans don’t want to admit it, Tom Brady can’t play forever. The team already said goodbye to both Jacoby Brissett and Jimmy Garoppolo a few years ago, which means they have no set replacement for Brady. Even if he did win the MVP last season, Brady isn’t anywhere close to matching last year’s performance. He’s already nearing his interception total for all of last season and we’re only at about the halfway point in 2018. Don’t get me wrong, he’s still better than a lot of other starting quarterbacks in the league, but it’s time to choose a successor.
New Orleans Saints
Just like Brady, Drew Brees’ durability has been incredible, but father time comes for even the greatest. The league’s all-time passing yards leader has been on a tear this season and looks just as good as he did a decade ago. But that shouldn’t deter the team from using a high draft pick on a quarterback in the near future. Interestingly enough the team does have Teddy Bridgewater on hand but only for the rest of the season. I wonder what will become of the former Pro Bowler.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Ben Roethlisberger is from the same draft class as Manning and Rivers. He is nearing the end of his career and the Steelers need to make sure they have a player they full trust to take over for him. There will be players on the current roster who continue to play even when Roethlisberger has retired and the team will still have enough talent to make the playoffs, if the new quarterback is good enough. The Steelers did draft Mason Rudolph in the third round of this year’s draft but that’s a little low to be choosing the future of your franchise. For reference, the Steelers picked Landry Jones in the fourth round back in 2013. While Jones is no longer with the team, 2017 fourth round pick Joshua Dobbs is still on the roster as well.
Washington Redskins
Hey it worked out pretty well for the Kansas City Chiefs, the Redskins might as well give it a shot too. Alex Smith ended up being a great mentor and transitional quarterback for the Chiefs who now have Patrick Mahomes as their starter. The Redskins might be having a good year with Smith right now, but he is 34 years old. And while I do think Smith is criminally underrated, he’s not the kind of quarterback that can get your team to the Super Bowl. The Redskins have Smith through the 2022 season so that leaves them a good amount of time to decide what direction they want the franchise to go in.
