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A non-stat bracketing of QBs:
“The Franchise”
Rather than “franchise QB,” these players are basically “The franchise.” Their presence on the roster means that you’re settling in for a long haul of building around this player, cowtow to their needs, playing into their strengths, hiring coaches who can elevate their talents rather than asking the player to play to what the coach wants to do, and finding personnel who can fall in line behind them.
Even within this, there should be some division:
Patrick Mahomes, Russell Wilson, Aaron Rodgers, Matt Ryan, and Deshaun Watson are five players who fall into this category for me and are in the beginning or middle stages of their careers. Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Ben Roethlisberger and Philip Rivers are four quarterbacks who I’d also put into “The Franchise” category but if they were out of the league in 2021, it shouldn’t be surprising to any of us. They’ve spent their careers in this category but now they’re carefully toeing the line between leading their teams to a championship and getting retired.
“Franchise QB”
Here are the quarterbacks that teams have designated as the right ones for their team right now. This could lead to them being ones you “build around” or ones who you trust to lead around the teams you build. This can’t simply include both Josh Allen and Dak Prescott. That would be misleading.
Right?
Dak Prescott, Lamar Jackson, Ryan Tannehill, Carson Wentz, Matthew Stafford, Kirk Cousins, Jared Goff, Kyler Murray
“Franchise QB Hopeful”
It’s QB purgatory: Too early in your career to make a decision one way or the other but the franchise is willing to proceed as if you are the answer because that’s the only way to find out if you are. In other words, young players who we have reason to suspect will be elevated a tier.
Joe Burrow, Josh Allen, Tua Tagovailoa, Sam Darnold, Baker Mayfield, Gardner Minshew, Drew Lock, Justin Herbert, Daniel Jones, Jordan Love
There are two interesting things about the names I’ve chosen: Only two NFC QBs. One of them is a backup.
Burrow, Tagovailoa, Herbert, and Love belong here because historically speaking, NFL teams have given first round picks multiple opportunities to win franchise jobs. This sometimes happens to second round picks but rarely happens with picks later than that unless they absolutely force the issue or are forced into it, such as Wilson, Prescott, or Minshew.
“Starter”
These guys are starting. Maybe.
Tyrod Taylor, Derek Carr/Marcus Mariota, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Mitch Trubisky/Nick Foles, Teddy Bridgewater, Jimmy Garoppolo
Taylor and Fitzpatrick are just holding places for Herbert and Tagovailoa. The jobs in Las Vegas and Chicago are up for grabs between players who were high draft picks or who’ve had enough success to warrant consideration. There’s little thought that any of those guys could move up a tier, though Tannehill proved it is possible.
“Those Guys”
Jarrett Stidham. Dwayne Haskins.
Is this actually the Patriots starting QB? Even if it is, I have absolutely nothing to go off of that should lead me to believe that he’ll even retain that job for longer than a week. I’d like to see something first.
Haskins was also only a rookie in 2019, but man was he terrible. With Ron Rivera securing Kyle Allen, his starter for most of last season in Carolina, I can’t imagine that Haskins is secure in his seat.
Finally, some other names to throw in the discussion for whatever reason could be Jalen Hurts, Josh Rosen, Mason Rudolph, Jacoby Brissett, and Winston.
EDIT: I should note this was written prior to the start of the 2020 season.
“The Franchise”
Rather than “franchise QB,” these players are basically “The franchise.” Their presence on the roster means that you’re settling in for a long haul of building around this player, cowtow to their needs, playing into their strengths, hiring coaches who can elevate their talents rather than asking the player to play to what the coach wants to do, and finding personnel who can fall in line behind them.
Even within this, there should be some division:
Patrick Mahomes, Russell Wilson, Aaron Rodgers, Matt Ryan, and Deshaun Watson are five players who fall into this category for me and are in the beginning or middle stages of their careers. Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Ben Roethlisberger and Philip Rivers are four quarterbacks who I’d also put into “The Franchise” category but if they were out of the league in 2021, it shouldn’t be surprising to any of us. They’ve spent their careers in this category but now they’re carefully toeing the line between leading their teams to a championship and getting retired.
“Franchise QB”
Here are the quarterbacks that teams have designated as the right ones for their team right now. This could lead to them being ones you “build around” or ones who you trust to lead around the teams you build. This can’t simply include both Josh Allen and Dak Prescott. That would be misleading.
Right?
Dak Prescott, Lamar Jackson, Ryan Tannehill, Carson Wentz, Matthew Stafford, Kirk Cousins, Jared Goff, Kyler Murray
“Franchise QB Hopeful”
It’s QB purgatory: Too early in your career to make a decision one way or the other but the franchise is willing to proceed as if you are the answer because that’s the only way to find out if you are. In other words, young players who we have reason to suspect will be elevated a tier.
Joe Burrow, Josh Allen, Tua Tagovailoa, Sam Darnold, Baker Mayfield, Gardner Minshew, Drew Lock, Justin Herbert, Daniel Jones, Jordan Love
There are two interesting things about the names I’ve chosen: Only two NFC QBs. One of them is a backup.
Burrow, Tagovailoa, Herbert, and Love belong here because historically speaking, NFL teams have given first round picks multiple opportunities to win franchise jobs. This sometimes happens to second round picks but rarely happens with picks later than that unless they absolutely force the issue or are forced into it, such as Wilson, Prescott, or Minshew.
“Starter”
These guys are starting. Maybe.
Tyrod Taylor, Derek Carr/Marcus Mariota, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Mitch Trubisky/Nick Foles, Teddy Bridgewater, Jimmy Garoppolo
Taylor and Fitzpatrick are just holding places for Herbert and Tagovailoa. The jobs in Las Vegas and Chicago are up for grabs between players who were high draft picks or who’ve had enough success to warrant consideration. There’s little thought that any of those guys could move up a tier, though Tannehill proved it is possible.
“Those Guys”
Jarrett Stidham. Dwayne Haskins.
Is this actually the Patriots starting QB? Even if it is, I have absolutely nothing to go off of that should lead me to believe that he’ll even retain that job for longer than a week. I’d like to see something first.
Haskins was also only a rookie in 2019, but man was he terrible. With Ron Rivera securing Kyle Allen, his starter for most of last season in Carolina, I can’t imagine that Haskins is secure in his seat.
Finally, some other names to throw in the discussion for whatever reason could be Jalen Hurts, Josh Rosen, Mason Rudolph, Jacoby Brissett, and Winston.
EDIT: I should note this was written prior to the start of the 2020 season.
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