The offseason has seen a significant amount of quarterback movement, with 21 QBs changing teams in the past month, including seven former starters who will now serve as backups. In the NFC West, four new quarterbacks have joined teams: Jimmy Garoppolo with the Rams, Sam Howell in Seattle, Desmond Ridder with the Cardinals, and Joshua Dobbs in San Francisco. These quarterbacks had a combined record of 16-32 as starters last season, highlighting the challenges that teams face in evaluating and developing quarterbacks, especially those who are not first-round picks. This ongoing struggle has led to a revolving door at the quarterback position in the NFL.
Some quarterbacks, like Joshua Dobbs, have experienced highs and lows in their career due to injuries, trades, and changes in team dynamics. Other quarterbacks, such as Ridder and Howell, were given opportunities to start last season but struggled with consistency, leading to their departure from their original teams. The ongoing issue of quarterback evaluation and development in the NFL has been a point of concern for many analysts, who believe that until this issue is addressed, the quarterback carousel will continue in the league.
Coaches like Sean McVay and Kyle Shanahan have shown a knack for developing quarterbacks with NFL traits, leading to success for their respective teams. McVay’s coaching of Jared Goff and Matthew Stafford, as well as Shanahan’s work with Brock Purdy and Sam Darnold, have proven to be successful in grooming quarterbacks for greater success. Their ability to recognize talent and develop players has contributed to the ongoing success of their teams and the quarterbacks they work with.
The quarterback carousel has offered opportunities for quarterbacks like Jimmy Garoppolo to revive their careers with new teams. Garoppolo, who struggled with injuries and changes in coaching, believes that working with a quarterback expert like McVay could help him become an NFL starter again. The quarterback market in the NFL is unpredictable, with players like Joe Flacco going from being on the couch to leading a team to the playoffs. Garoppolo, along with other quarterbacks like Howell, Ridder, and Dobbs, will have a chance to prove themselves and potentially earn starting roles in the league.
The constant movement of quarterbacks in the NFL raises questions about the long-term stability of teams and the impact on player development. With so many changes happening at the quarterback position, teams and coaches must adapt quickly to new quarterbacks and coaching styles. The ability to evaluate and develop quarterbacks effectively will be crucial for teams looking to build successful rosters and compete for championships in the NFL.
Overall, the quarterback carousel in the NFL reflects the ongoing challenges of evaluating and developing quarterbacks in the league. Coaches like McVay and Shanahan have shown success in grooming players, while other teams continue to struggle with finding consistency at the quarterback position. As quarterbacks continue to move between teams, the league must address the issues surrounding player evaluation and development to ensure the success of both individual players and teams in the long run.
