Predicting Every Week 1 NFL Starting QB

It’s a free-agent frenzy out there right now and Yinzer Crazy is all over it! We are going through what may be this generations largest off-season quarterback reshuffle, as things are playing out to look very differently next year. Here’s my prediction on who will line up under center for every NFL team when we finally kickoff in September!

 

Arizona Cardinals – Kyler Murray

 

The reigning NFL offensive ROY will be adding arguably the best skill player in football in Deandre Hopkins to an already talented WR group. Lookout for the Cards in 2020.

 

Atlanta Falcons – Matt Ryan

Far removed from his MVP season three years ago, Ryan will try and bounce back in 2020 with new pieces likely at RB and TE after the subtractions of Devonta Freeman and Austin Hooper yesterday.

 

Baltimore Ravens – Lamar Jackson

The league MVP will be out to prove that 2019 was no fluke.

 

Buffalo Bills – Josh Allen

Stefon Diggs is coming to town, and after Tom Brady likely leaves the AFC East the Bills will be the prohibitive favorite to win the division.

 

Carolina Panthers – Teddy Bridgewater

Matt Rhule will likely trade an aging Cam Newton on the last year of his contract and look at the free-agent market. After not being able to reach a deal the Panthers will draft a QB at number 7 overall. Bridgewater may start week 1, but I think you may also see a Justin Herbert or Jordan Love enter the scene.

 

Chicago Bears – Derek Carr

Ultimately Matt Nagy must move on from Mitch Trubisky, who was an eye sore for the Bears in 2019. Carr is capable, but I don’t think he will ever turn into a top-15 NFL QB. Certainly a game manager who will be far more risk-averse than the former Bear QB Trubisky.

 

Cincinnati Bengals – Joe Burrow

Lock it in, dial it up. The 2020 NFL Draft starts at pick 2.

 

Cleveland Browns – Baker Mayfield

This will be a huge year for the 2018 number one overall pick, as he looks to rebound from a really poor 2019 season in which the Browns failed to come close to reaching expectations. He’s got Odell, Jarvis, Nick Chubb and now Austin Hooper – there won’t be any excuses if he fails to produce.

 

Dallas Cowboys – Dak Prescott

Dak wants a long-term deal and some contract security – we all know this. The cowboys seem reluctant to match what he wants, which is Russell Wilson type money. I see him falling more in the Jared Goff/Carson Wentz categorical realm of QB money. Either way, with the Cowboys tagging him he will be under center for “America’s Team”.

 

Detroit Lions – Matthew Stafford

The Lions are in a prime position to take a QB of the future if they want with the number 3 pick, but Stafford is only 32 (which is young in quarterback years), and recorded a rating of 106 just last season.

 

Green Bay Packers – Aaron Rodgers

Not much needs to be said. Can the Packers find a way to get him some more weapons through the draft and FA?

 

Houston Texans – Deshaun Watson

Not much needs to be said part two. But I can’t imagine Watson is a very happy man these days considering the Hopkins trade.

 

Indianapolis Colts – Philip Rivers

I think Jacoby Brissett is a fine option to once again resume the starting role, but Rivers provides a different look from game-manager to a bit more of a gun-slinger, which could give the Colts offense a spark. I envision him signing a short-term deal and making the Colts once again a contender in the AFC.

 

Jacksonville Jaguars – Gardner Minshew

Minshew mania is back for one more season! Maybe a bit of a surprise here but the man with the glorious mustache gets another shot after a 21-6 TD to INT ratio.

Kansas City Chiefs – Patrick Mahomes

“Enters sarcastic punchline”.

 

Los Angeles Chargers – Tom Brady

So there you have it. I’ve been saying for weeks that I think Brady is on his “Lebron life-path”, where he sees LA as the biggest and best opportunity for his brand and his family. The Chargers aren’t exactly a prime Super Bowl contender but they have a solid offensive core with the likes of Austin Ekeler and Keenan Allen. Brady gets his California dream, and returns as close to home as he can.

 

Los Angeles Rams – Jared Goff

He’s firmly entrenched although he took a bit of a step back last year in the Rams down season.

 

Miami Dolphins – Andy Dalton

The Dolphins will keep Ryan Fitzpatrick, find a way to draft Tua, and yet still somehow have Andy Dalton as their week 1 starter. He will get a chance for a handful of games to recoup some of his career value with a re-loaded Phins team that has already made some major FA acquisitions including Byron Jones.

 

Minnesota Vikings – Kirk Cousins

Captain Kirk has had an eventful few days, re-upping on a 2 year extension with the Vikings while also losing one of his favorite weapons in Stefon Diggs.

 

New England Patriots – Cam Newton

Woah baby. This would provide a shakeup to the league. I think the Patriots, Bears and maybe Buccaneers ultimately battle it out for the battered former league MVP. Ultimately I think New England parts with more draft capital than the Bucs and Bears have and are willing to give up. They are also clearly in a win-now mode after the loss of Tom Brady due to owning one of the best defensive units in the game.

 

New Orleans Saints – Drew Brees

Brees is back for two more seasons potentially as the Saints move on from Teddy Bridgewater and restore their faith in their super bowl champ coming off of a slew of injuries.

 

New York Giants – Daniel Jones

Danny Dimes was Jekyll and hyde last year and certainly had some growing pains, but I think the Giants front office and fans are more optimistic than pessimistic moving forward when it comes to Jones and his future.

 

New York Jets – Sam Darnold

Sam looks to put in a full season post-mono, and hopefully has learned his lesson about kissing strangers in New York (we’ve all been there).

 

Las Vegas Raiders – Marcus Mariota

Raiders GM Mike Mayock had Mariota pegged as his number 1 quarterback in the draft a few years back and apparently still sees a glimmer of hope in salvaging his career. I think they move on from Derek Carr completely and hand the keys to the former Heisman winner.

 

Philadelphia Eagles – Carson Wentz

If Wentz can put in a full season healthy the Eagles will once again be Super Bowl contenders.

 

Pittsburgh Steelers – Ben Roethlisberger

The Steelers welcome back their 38 year old gun-slinger who immediately makes this team a player in the AFC with a burgeoning defense ready to become of the games elite’s.

 

San Francisco 49ers – Jimmy Garroppolo

I think there was some debate in the front-office between Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch on ditching Jimmy G. for Tom Brady which I fully would have come to fruition if that’s the direction the 49ers wanted to go. Ultimately I think they made the wise move in keeping their 28 year old QB instead of a 43 year old one.

 

Seattle Seahawks – Russell Wilson

Won’t be a change here anytime soon.

 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Jacoby Brissett

This one may raise some eyebrows. With the Colts moving on from Brissett in this projection that makes Jacoby available via trade. Bruce Arians misses out on his top target (Tom Brady who elects the Chargers) and his hand is forced. Does he stick with Jameis, a turnover machine – or move on someone like Brissett who is the exact opposite with his conservative approach? The Bucs ship the Colts a 3^rd rounder and move on.

Tennessee Titans –  Ryan Tannehill

Tannethrill has broken the bank and the Titans will stick with their man who posted one of the best QB ratings we’ve ever seen last year in leading Tennessee all the way to the AFC title game. Life hits you quick!

 

Washington Redskins – Dwyane Haskins

I really think the Skins’ are in a tough spot. I don’t believe the coaching staff thinks they have their QB of the future in Haskins, but they sacrificed so much last year to get him that Dan Snyder will ensure he gets a full-shot this season. I’m interested to see if some in the room who are opposed will convince the Skins to consider a QB at number 2.

 

Honorable mentions: Jameis Winston & Mitch Trubisky - both end up taking backup roles.