There’s no more important position in the NFL than quarterback.
This was true when the game was a loosely-governed string of collisions followed by a bunch of college kids limping to the hospital. It is especially true now that every single offense in the league throws the ball more than they run it.
While some teams have survived caretaker quarterbacks en route to a Super Bowl, the easiest way to build a contender is around a high impact passer. The Los Angeles Rams broke through to a title by replacing Jared Goff with Matthew Stafford. The Kansas City Chiefs rose to the top of the AFC by ushering out Alex Smith and making Patrick Mahomes their king. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers hadn’t won a playoff game in nearly two decades, then signed Tom Brady and won a Super Bowl at their home stadium.
Those teams will remain on their pedestals in 2022, elevated by high-impact quarterbacks capable of being flamethrowers amidst a sea of matches. Other teams are not as fortunate. The defining line between NFL contenders and the franchises from whom we expect little more than a high-profile draft pick often relates directly to the guy running the offense and launching rainbows 50 yards downfield.
Who is secure in their contender status thanks to franchise quarterbacks? Which teams have high hopes for young prospects? And who is hoping for another established star to land on the trade market?
Let’s dig in.