Brady move would be ‘complete disaster’; QB’s ultimate $350m ‘test’: NFL State of Play

ARIZONA CARDINALS: Can Kyler Murray and Kliff Kingsbury co-exist?

At this point it’s not even a question of whether they can work together. It’s simply a question of whether the Cardinals can run it back and expect things to look different next season.

Murray may not even be ready to suit up for the first game after suffering a torn ACL in their loss to the Patriots.

He won’t be moving on though, having earlier this season signed a five-year, $230.5 million ($A344m) extension, which will begin in 2024.

Complicating matters though is the fact both Kingsbury and general manager Steve Keim also were extended earlier this year through to the 2027 season. But it is clear that something has to change.

And at the moment, Kingsbury looks the most likely to be moved on. Although if Kingsbury has known Murray for so long, going back to his high school days in Texas, how confident would a new head coach feel in striking up a solid rapport with the 25-year-old?

“It feels like Kyler Murray has played his last game for Kliff Kingsbury,” NFL writer Sheil Kapadia said on The Ringer’s ‘Extra Point Taken’ podcast.

“You look at the last year for this Cardinals team. You had the disastrous end to the last season, the bad wildcard game, you had Kyler’s agent lobbying in the media for an extension, you have Kliff Kingsbury and Steve Keim inexplicably getting extensions, then Murray gets the extension with the homework clause, then they remove the homework clause.

“Then you have two members of Kingsbury’s coaching staff fired for off-field transgressions. They finally get on the field and they’re sloppy, disorganised and Kyler is yelling at Kliff, Kliff is yelling at Kyler. They’re calling terrible timeouts, the clock management is terrible, the on-field product is terrible.

“They’re 20-33-1 in Kliff Kingsbury’s four years as an NFL head coach and zero playoff wins.”

At this stage the Cardinals could have a top-five pick in next year’s draft, which adds an extra element of intrigue, although it’s highly unlikely they select a quarterback given they are clearly committed to Murray.

They will need a back-up quarterback regardless though given Murray may not be fit for round one.

ATLANTA FALCONS: Is Desmond Ridder the long-term option at QB?

Well, we are about to find out.

Veteran quarterback Marcus Mariota will officially be replaced by Ridder for this week’s game against the Saints in what coach Arthur Smith described as a “performance-based decision”.

“Obviously where our circumstances are, we talked last time about trying to get over the hump in some of these close games and where we try to push the offence,” he added.

“We feel like that this is the best decision where he’s at [and] where the team’s at.”

More than anything though, this is the perfect opportunity for the Falcons to see what the rookie quarterback can offer because Mariota certainly was not the long-term solution.

Admittedly Atlanta can still make the playoffs, such is the quality of teams in the NFC South, but it will still take a lot for that to happen and it’s not like the Falcons will go much further anyway.

With the 15th pick in next year’s draft Atlanta could take a quarterback in the first round but the best ones will be off the board by then and they have other bigger needs, including a lack of depth at cornerback.

The Falcons drafted Ridder for a reason and now they get a chance to see what they have in the third-round pick.

The rookie could also help lift the ceiling of talented receiver Drake London, who is capable of making big plays but has been under-utilised with Mariota under centre.

The veteran quarterback has been off-target on 20.5 per cent of his throws this season, which is level with Zach Wilson for third-worst in the NFL.

BUFFALO BILLS: Can an injured Josh Allen still take the Bills to the Super Bowl?

The short answer is yes. Even an injured Josh Allen is better than plenty of the other quarterbacks in the league right now.

The key for the 26-year-old will be being realistic with just how much he can test his arm and the early signs are Allen understands exactly that.

While the Allen of old was more than comfortable taking deep shots for Gabe Davis like he did earlier in the season against the Steelers, this one is still effective.

It just means the Bills quarterback is more likely to check it down to running back James Cook, although he is still capable of slinging it down the field should a big play be on offer.

Speaking on ‘The Pat McAfee Show’ last week, Allen admitted the elbow injury will affect him “for the foreseeable future.”

“I think every day gets a little better,” Allen said.

“It’s something that, you know, I’m going to have to deal with for probably the foreseeable future.”

Allen added that he is “trying to limit what I’m throwing throughout the week and being smart about what I am throwing”, which he admitted is “hard for me to do”.

If there is anything that is going to hold Buffalo back from contending for the Super Bowl this season it is the loss of future Hall of Fame pass rusher Von Miller to a torn ACL.

The Bills took a big swing in signing the 33-year-old to a six-year, $120 million ($A179m) extension this off-season and the results (eight sacks, 12 tackles for a loss) spoke for themselves.

“It’s a team that we knew was a Super Bowl team without him,” former NFL quarterback Chris Simms said on Pro Football Talk.

“This was move that was supposed to put them over the top. It’s unfortunate. When you’re playing in a conference against Mahomes, and let’s not forget Von Miller was a big reason they beat Kansas City, he was around Mahomes a lot late in the game and made him move and throw that interception.

“That’s where it’s unfortunate. You’re in a conference with Mahomes and Joe Burrow and company. That’s where Von Miller is ultra-important.”

BALTIMORE RAVENS: What does Lamar’s struggles mean for his contract situation?

Like Aaron Judge, Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson also bet on himself. However, unlike the MLB superstar, not everything is going to plan for Jackson.

The 25-year-old rejected a six-year contract offer with $133 million ($A198m) fully guaranteed back in September, according to ESPN. It looked to be the right call early.

Jackson, already one of the league’s most dynamic rushing quarterbacks, also had 10 passing touchdowns in his first three games to once again put himself in the MVP discussion.

But things have gone downhill ever since. Since Week 4, Jackson has just seven touchdowns and five interceptions and now he is injured and unlikely to return before Christmas.

It is not all bad for Jackson though. Sure, he may not be paid as much as he would have if he was still playing at the same level he was early in the season. But it is not as if he won’t still get plenty of money at the end of this season, whether it is from the Ravens or a rival team.

The most likely scenario is that Baltimore ends up placing the franchise tag on him for next season, which would see Jackson take home around $45 million ($A67m) in 2023.

Plus, Jackson’s time off the field could only further prove just how important he is to the Ravens should back-up quarterback Tyler Huntley seriously struggle to keep the team afloat.

It may not be the dream ending Jackson was after but it was certainly worth taking the punt.

CAROLINA PANTHERS: What is the next step in the rebuild?

Trading Christian McCaffrey made it clear Carolina is building towards the future and while the franchise still has no clear answer at quarterback, next year’s draft could change that.

P.J. Walker, Sam Darnold and the recently-waived Baker Mayfield have all had a shot under centre this season but none have done enough to command the role long-term.

It leaves the Panthers looking towards the draft, where they own a first-round pick, as a potential shot at finding their next franchise quarterback.

That pick is expected to be inside the top-10, even if Carolina continue to pull off any upset wins down the stretch, like it did on the weekend against Seattle.

There are three clear standout quarterback options in next year’s draft that the Panthers would target — Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud and Will Levis.

In his most recent mock draft for ESPN, Matt Miller wrote that he liked Stroud’s fit for Carolina.

“He fits with the personnel already on the team,” Miller wrote.

“We’ve seen a little more running from Stroud lately, which could unlock in his game as a pro, similar to how Herbert started using his legs more once getting drafted by the Chargers.

“As a passer, Stroud displays full-field accuracy and enough arm strength to reach every level of the passing tree.”

Should they want to guarantee getting a quarterback in the draft, Carolina could trade up with Chicago likely to have a top-three pick but well-placed with Justin Fields.

CINCINNATI BENGALS: Can they right the wrongs of last year’s failed Super Bowl bid?

It was a fairytale run that fell just short and quarterback Joe Burrow was a big reason why the Bengals were in the Super Bowl in the first place.

He was sacked a total of 70 times last season. To put that in perspective, the most times any quarterback has been brought down in a season where they won the Super Bowl is 54 (Ben Roethlisberger, 2008).

It was clear the Bengals needed to make upgrades at the offensive line if they were any hope of replicating their success from last season.

So, they did just that as veterans La’el Collins, Ted Karras, Alex Cappa joined rookie Cordell Volso and 2019 first-round pick Jonah Williams to form a new-look starting offensive line.

The results did not come right away but now instead of being a weakness, the offensive line has been one of the biggest reasons for Cincinnati’s recent success.

Burrow has been sacked a total of 33 times this season but 13 of those came in the first two games of the season, speaking to just how much the line has improved.

That has not just given Burrow more time in the pocket to find open receivers but has also got the running game going, which was incredibly inefficient to open the season.

The Bengals looked anything but a Super Bowl contender earlier this year but with the offensive line humming and Ja’Marr Chase healthy, anything is possible.

CLEVELAND BROWNS: Was the Deshaun Watson trade really worth it?

When the Browns traded for Deshaun Watson earlier this year in March, everyone was already asking the same question: Sure, it may mean more success but success at what cost?

Some of the women who accused Watson of sexual misconduct reportedly attended his Browns debut while Watson was booed by fans before he had even thrown his first pass.

The franchise was widely-condemned when it cast its morals aside to sign Watson in March on a five-year deal worth a record-breaking fully guaranteed $235 million ($A350m).

But as NFL writer Robert Mays went to point out on ‘The Athletic Football Show’, the initial reaction to the signing did not factor in what Watson would actually look like on the field.

And fair enough too. Former US District Judge Sue Robinson described Watson’s behaviour as “predatory” when ruling that he should be suspended for six games over the allegations.

Now though Watson is back on the field though, attention has turned to just how bad a deal this could be considering what he is doing on it as well.

After all, given he had spent so much time away from the game, there was no guarantee he would be an immediate success story in Cleveland.

His opening game against the Texans was very rusty, although Cleveland’s next game against Cincinnati was an improvement for Watson, even if it ended in defeat.

Watson completed 26 of 42 attempts for 276 yards and a touchdown along with one interception. He will continue to grow more comfortable with more time, although given his issues off the field, there certainly won’t be as much patience as would be afforded to other quarterbacks.

“The Browns gave up a tonne to go get Deshaun Watson,” Mays said on ‘The Athletic Football Show’ podcast.

“They gave up an unprecedented contract. We didn’t really talk about this at all when the suspension came down because it wasn’t the top of mind.

“The way the suspension was structured ultimately is a hindrance to the way the Browns can build a football team because if he had been suspended for the entire season, his contract would toll and in 2023 he would have been making $1 million ($A1.5m) again as a base salary with around $8 million ($A12m) in signing bonus and carried a $9 million ($A13m) cap hit, the same way he did this year, which is the Browns have $32 million ($A47m) in cap space.

“Next season, Deshaun Watson has a $55 million ($A82m) cap hit and that is because the contract didn’t toll. That $55 million cap hit carries for the rest of his contract. If you’re going to get paid like that, you need to play like one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL.

“When you watch him play like that yesterday and think about what he needs to do to get value out of a terrible move they made, the gears start turning a little bit.”

CHICAGO BEARS: How do they maximise Justin Fields’ undeniable talent?

We’ve already seen it happen with Jalen Hurts.

He was among the league’s most explosive rushers last season but to become a true franchise quarterback, he needed to take a big leap in his passing game.

Hurts has done just that and catapulted himself into the MVP discussion while taking the Eagles to a 12-1 record.

Could Justin Fields be following a similar trajectory? The 23-year-old is already starting to elevate his passing game, even without the same quality of weapons around him.

As for the rushing, well Fields has been humiliating opposition defences for the past few weeks now, taking full advantage of the designed runs that had been missing for so long.

“Justin Fields is legit, man… he’s a monster,” Dolphins linebacker Jaelan Phillips said earlier this season.. “He’s going to be incredible in this league.”

For Fields to realise his true potential though, Chicago will need to put the right players around him like Philadelphia has done.

Fortunately for the Bears, they now have a haul of draft picks next year, nine to be exact, after the Robert Quinn and Roquan Smith trades.

They are also projected to have the most salary cap space of any team in the 2023 offseason, with $120,980,503 ($A179m) according to OverTheCap.com, with the Falcons ($63 million) the next closest.

The priority for the Bears will be upgrading their options at wide receiver and there are plenty of solid free agents on the market, including JuJu Smith-Schuster and Jakobi Meyers.

The offensive line could also do with some work so that Fields is not pressured as heavily on his pass attempts.

Chicago currently looks set to also have a top-three pick in next year’s draft and with several enticing quarterback prospects, that is yet another asset the franchise has up its sleeve.

DALLAS COWBOYS: What difference would OBJ make to their Super Bowl hopes?

There are plenty of reasons to believe the Cowboys are legitimate this season. Don’t believe me? Just ask Jeff Saturday and the Colts.

Dallas piled on 33 points in the fourth quarter against Indianapolis a fortnight ago to improve its record and make it 6-1 since going down to Philadelphia back in Week 6.

It was far less convincing against Houston, but the Cowboys’ offence has now scored at least 40 points in three of their past six games and the defence is obviously not a concern either, with Micah Parsons consistently making plays.

It seems like we are always having this debate over the Cowboys most years when they are in contention. Is this actually the time when they make it count or just another false dawn?

There is a wildcard this season though in free agent wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr.

Beckham is still recovering from a torn ACL that he suffered in last year’s Super Bowl win over the Bengals and is close to being available for any contender down the stretch.

Parsons claimed that Beckham told him he needs just five weeks, which would now be four, to be in a position to return to the field. That’s just in time for the playoffs.

Adding Beckham could add yet another element to a Cowboys’ offence that already has plenty of options, headlined by star receiver CeeDee Lamb and running back duo Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard.

However, a report from ESPN claimed that the Cowboys have “concerns” after Beckham’s physical that he may not be available to play before mid-January.

The 30-year-old could certainly be a difference-maker for Dallas but what version of OBJ they get is one question, let alone whether he will truly be healthy enough in the first place.

When asked by The Fort Worth Star-Telegram if the franchise had moved on from signing Beckham, Jones said, “Not at all. Put a big exclamation on that.”

Then, with hope seemingly lost of Beckham signing on, Jones again told reporters this week to “stand by” for a final decision, hinting again the wide receiver could be a difference-maker.

“Great players make great plays. Great ones make exceptional plays,” Jones said, per ESPN. “And so I hope we advance here where a handful of great plays, if I may be arm waving about it, could be the difference in a world championship.”

DENVER BRONCOS: Is there any easy way out of the Russell Wilson mess?

The simple answer is no.

Having signed Wilson onto a five-year, $245 million ($A365m) contract, the Broncos will be stuck with Wilson for next season — at the very least.

Otherwise, according to Sam Monson of PFF, if Denver was to cut Wilson at the start of next season, the dead cap hit would come in at $107 million ($A160m) over the next two years.

“Russell’s going to be back,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter said on ‘104.3 The Fan’ last week.

“You have no choice there, you’re locked in with the contract. That’s a no-brainer. You have to bring him back and you have to try everything possible to figure out a way to make it work with him.”

That means the offseason needs to be spent finding ways to get Wilson more comfortable in Denver’s offence, hoping his first year was just a one-off and that better times are ahead.

There is every chance Nathaniel Hackett will no longer be the head coach in Denver though, with the rookie coach most likely to be the main casualty from the Broncos’ nightmare season.

DETROIT LIONS: Will they move on from Jared Goff?

Recent reporting suggests the answer is no.

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Lions don’t see Goff as simply a fill-in option before they settle on a long-term answer in this year’s draft.

“As sources have explained, Goff is believed to be their starting QB. Period. Not just until someone else comes along,” Rapoport reported.

Goff has certainly impressed at stages in Detroit’s high-powered offence, most recently completing 27 of 39 passes for 330 yards and three touchdowns in a win over Minnesota.

He has struggled for consistency but in fairness, he has also rarely had his full complement of offensive weapons healthy. First-round wide receiver Jameson Williams is only just adjusting to playing in the NFL, Amon-Ra St Brown has been banged up and the same goes for D’Andre Swift.

At this stage it looks like the Lions will be persisting with Goff for next season, although if that changes they will certainly have options to replace him in the 2023 draft.

Detroit currently holds the Rams’ first-rounder as part of the Matthew Stafford, which at this stage would be a top-five pick, along with its own pick (15th overall).

Goff may not be doing much wrong at the moment but it is also hard to pass up the opportunity to add a potential game-changer at quarterback that could set the franchise up long-term.

Sure, if the Lions don’t like any of the quarterbacks available by the time they are picking, it makes sense not to reach for someone they don’t truly believe is a franchise-altering prospect.

But at the same time, they have built a team that is successful enough that it will be hard to get themselves back into this position where they can pick this high again.

“You’ve built all around that quarterback, you’ve been patient — at some point you have to pull the trigger and find your guy,” NFL writer Sheil Kapadia said on The Ringer’s ‘Extra Point Taken’ podcast.

“You want the guy who can elevate the offence, not be a function of it.”

Trading Goff could also give the Lions another draft pick to work with, even if it is a second-rounder, given teams like Washington and Indianapolis could be after a veteran quarterback.

GREEN BAY PACKERS: Where does Rodgers fit — both in the short and long-term?

Well, for the time being he is the Packers’ quarterback for another two seasons.

Rodgers signed a three-year, $150.8 million ($A225m) deal back in March after an offseason dominated by the franchise’s quarterback dilemma, with Jordan Love lurking in the background.

Love was drafted by the Packers in 2020 with their first-round pick but it is hard to know whether he is the long-term solution once Rodgers moves on.

That is because the 24-year-old hasn’t had many chances to even prove himself, only filling when Rodgers has been injured or unavailable.

Love has shown flashes, like his 63-yard touchdown pass for Christian Watson when he replaced Rodgers last month in the fourth quarter against Philadelphia.

But with Green Bay’s playoff hopes quickly fading and Rodgers dealing with multiple injuries, surely it makes sense to give Love a chance for the rest of the season.

Not because the Packers are going to move on from Rodgers but just so at least they have an idea of what they’re working with in Love, regardless of what the veteran quarterback’s future holds.

The Packers also have until May to make a call on whether to exercise the fifth-year option for the 2024 season on Love’s rookie contract.

Whatever decision Rodgers makes, there is little doubting he will be the one that calls the shots. But it appears that he is open to the idea of stepping aside for the remainder of this season.

“Hopefully we don’t have to have that conversation, but if that conversation comes up, I’ll approach it with an open mind without any bitterness or resentment,” he said on ‘The Pat McAfee Show’.

As for Rodgers’ future beyond this season, he said there would have to be a “mutual desire on both sides” if he left Green Bay early but it seems the franchise is committed to the 39-year-old.

“Absolutely, of course,” coach Matt LaFleur said when asked last week if he wanted Rodgers back next season.

It would be hard for the Packers to trade or release Rodgers anyway because of all the dead money involved in either scenario.

HOUSTON TEXANS: Who is the ideal quarterback to target in next year’s draft?

There are only two answers here. Bryce Young or C.J. Stroud.

ESPN’s two draft experts — Jordan Reid and Matt Miller — had this exact debate recently in their mock draft and found reasons both could work in Houston.

Starting with Stroud, Reid argued the Ohio State product to be the better fit given his similarity to other quarterbacks Texans offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton has worked with, including Andrew Luck and Justin Herbert.

Stroud threw 35 touchdown passes and just four interceptions in his most recent season at Ohio State, with Reid adding his “ability to see, react and attack coverages is the best in this class”.

Miller though said that while some may argue Young is undersized, he is the better option given he would be coming from an Alabama team without the same depth of talent around him.

“The 2021 Heisman Trophy winner hasn’t been surrounded by the talent we’re used to seeing in Tuscaloosa this season, carrying a team that lacks first-round prospects at wide receiver, tight end and every offensive line position,” he said.

“That’s something Stroud can’t say.”

Running back Dameon Pierce has been a shining light for the Texans this season while wide receivers Nico Collins and Brandin Cooks are obviously talented too.

But outside of those three there is not a whole lot going for this Houston offence at the moment, so it may make sense to opt for a quarterback who has played in a similar situation.

That would be Young. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler agreed that the 2021 Heisman Trophy winner is the better option, even if opinions will be “split” due to his undersized frame.

“Young has special instincts along with the accuracy, poise and processing that should translate very well to the NFL,” Brugler wrote in a recent mock draft.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS: Matt Ryan didn’t work out… so what is the answer at QB?

Another team and another murky quarterback situation.

Ryan may be under centre to finish the season but that’s only because Sam Elhinger was that bad that the Colts had to go back to the 37-year-old.

But there is no way the immobile Ryan will still be the first-choice quarterback next season, so what options do the Colts have?

Starting with the draft, Indianapolis has the 14th pick, which would not be nearly high enough to contend for either of the two top options — Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud.

Should the Colts continue to drop games at the end of the season though they could get themselves in a stronger position to potentially trade up.

The Chicago Bears, who currently own a top-three pick, would be the best trade partner given they already have Justin Fields under centre, who has shown significant improvement this season.

Will Levis is another option, with the possibility the Kentucky quarterback slides down outside of the top-10, although again he may be off the board by the time the Colts make their pick.

Then there is a potential trade for a better veteran quarterback like Derek Carr or even Aaron Rodgers, although the Colts may be cautious after the Ryan experience.

When it comes to potential free agents, Tom Brady obviously headlines that list, although there may be more appealing options for him if he wants to go to a Super Bowl contender.

Daniel Jones could be another option should the Giants let him go, with the same going for Geno Smith and Jimmy Garoppolo.

In case it isn’t obvious, there is no clear answer at quarterback but Ryan is definitely not it.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS: How do they avoid games like the one against Denver?

Sure, the Chiefs can score at will like they did to charge out to a 27-0 lead over the Broncos on the weekend.

But you know what they also did? They made Denver look like an offensive juggernaut. The same Broncos team that, heading into Monday’s game, ranked last in the league for scoring.

Denver was averaging 13.8 points per game but put up 28 to make a game of it at Arrowhead.

The Broncos targeted Kansas City’s rookie cornerbacks, with wide receiver Jerry Jeudy scoring three touchdowns.

For Chiefs coach Andy Reid, the key to addressing that issue is simply a case of giving Trent McDuffie, Joshua Williams and Jaylen Watson more practice.

“Defending those (deep passes) is tough, even for the best of the best,” Reid said, per The Athletic.

“Let’s work on those after practice where we can get some extra throws with the quarterbacks, and during practice let’s have those scripted in so they have an opportunity to track them (better). You can’t get enough of them.”

But it was not all on Kansas City’s defence, which sacked Russell Wilson six times and came up with plenty of other big plays. They also weren’t helped by Patrick Mahomes throwing three interceptions.

“Luckily for me, the rest of the team stepped up,” Mahomes said post-game.

“The defence made a lot of stops in critical moments when we were putting them in some bad situations.”

Mahomes rarely has multi-intercept games so it shouldn’t be a major concern for Kansas City, although further establishing the run will help ease the pressure on their star quarterback.

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS: Should the Raiders move on from Derek Carr?

Another week and another loss for the Raiders, this one even more crushing than most as Baker Mayfield somehow spearheaded a game-winning drive in his first game for the Rams.

There will need to be some change in Las Vegas and by the time preseason rolls around, it seems unlikely both quarterback Carr and coach Josh McDaniels will still be around.

If it is Carr who leaves, the Raiders need to settle on that decision rather quickly. Las Vegas committed to him with a three-year contract extension this offseason, worth $120.5 million ($A180m) with $24.9 million ($A37m) guaranteed.

However, as Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio explained, the details of Carr’s contract made him an easy scapegoat should things go off the rails.

“Remember when Carr got a new contract earlier this year?” he wrote.

“It was a much-hyped $40.5 million ($A60m) per year deal that, in reality, pays him $24.9 million ($A37m) for one season with a quick and easy out for the team after 2022.

“The Raiders would have to cut Carr (if he’s healthy) by the third day of the 2023 waiver period — the week after the Super Bowl. It prevents the Raiders from trading him before another $40.4 million ($A60m) becomes fully guaranteed.”

Cutting Carr though would still be a risky move given it would leave the Raiders with no clear solution at quarterback, having to instead target a replacement in free agency.

The Raiders also would have a top-10 pick in the upcoming draft, although they just traded for Davante Adams and signed Chandler Jones in clear win-now moves.

Taking a rookie quarterback in the draft would just set them back, although maybe that is what is needed with the state of the rest of the team at the moment.

The other option of course is trading Carr, although the Raiders would have to do that before the Super Bowl otherwise his 2023 salary ($32.9 million) would be guaranteed.

Then a potential move for Tom Brady looms as another sneaky option, one which may begin to gain momentum over the offseason with the appeal of working under former longtime offensive coordinator McDaniels.

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS: Is it time up for Brandon Staley?

Not yet and if the Chargers continue to play like they did against the Dolphins, Staley won’t be leaving anytime soon.

But with Sean Payton considering a return to coaching and his preference being to join either the Rams or Chargers, there is plenty of pressure on Staley to produce now.

After all, given what Payton achieved working with a quarterback like Drew Brees, you can only imagine the potential he could help unlock in the more athletically-gifted Justin Herbert.

The Chargers have underachieved this season. There are many reasons for that, starting off with a series of injuries on both sides of the ball, things that are out of Staley’s control.

That though does not change the fact that the team has fallen well below expectations.

Staley had already made a lot of noise in NFL circles with his aggressive play-calling on fourth downs, earning a reputation as the league’s most analytics-driven head coach.

It was exciting, fresh, different — except for when it doesn’t work. When it does, Staley is a genius. But given the state of the Chargers’ defence this season, Staley also needed to factor in whether he trusted his team not to give up easy points if the fourth-down calls weren’t successful.

Against Miami though, both Staley and the L.A. defence made a statement. Even without six defensive starters, the Chargers executed a perfect game plan to limit Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa to just 10 completed passes, four coming on his final drive.

“Tonight, we saw a defensive game plan from Brandon Staley and company where life was legitimately hard,” former NFL quarterback Chris Simms said on NBC.

“Tua was off but there were not a lot of open receivers. That defensive game plan certainly stood out and squashed Tua and the hottest offence we’ve seen in football.”

The Chargers continually made life hard for Tagovailoa, pressing the Dolphins in man coverage to take away the middle of the field. Miami’s dynamic receivers also struggled to get separation, with Jaylen Waddle in particular made invisible.

Injuries have made it hard for the Chargers to find consistency on both sides of the ball this season but the true sign of a great coach is one who lifts a team, even if undermanned.

Staley did that against the Dolphins and that is the best way for him to stave enough any further discussion surrounding his future as Chargers coach.

LOS ANGELES RAMS: How do they move forward after a Super Bowl hangover from hell?

This season has been a disaster for the Rams. Of course, winning a Super Bowl makes it a whole lot easier to accept. But it doesn’t mean questions won’t be asked.

Questions as to whether Sean McVay will leave the organisation, having already considered retirement after last season’s Super Bowl triumph, with a broadcasting gig waiting for him.

Questions as to how McVay, the offensive genius, turns things around next season should he decide to stick around. You’d think he will at his rate. He doesn’t leave on this note.

There are reasons to believe it will be better next season. To start off, the offensive line will hopefully not be as banged up as it has been for the majority of this year.

It has been a rare achievement for the defending champions to start the same offensive-line combination two games in a row, something which has both made it harder to run the ball and protect quarterback Matthew Stafford.

Stafford (spinal cord contusion), along with wide receiver Cooper Kupp (high ankle sprain), will not return this season.

More than likely Stafford will be back again next season, although on the off chance he retired the Rams could have something in Baker Mayfield if his game against the Raiders is anything to go by.

Of course, that was just once game and we’ll need to see a lot more but he wouldn’t cost much to at least keep in the squad as a back-up option.

As much as there may be calls for a full-scale rebuild, the Rams are probably in need of a retooling more than anything.

In Stafford, Kupp, Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey there is a core group of players to continue to build this franchise around and funnily enough, NFL insider Albert Breet reported in November that the quarter’s future is tied to coach McVay’s. If those four players leave, McVay will follow according to Breer.

For the time being though that is not happening. Should the Rams choose to re-jig the roster next season they only have $6.85 million ($A10m) in cap space to work with, so they would need to trade away a few starters to clear up room.

Fixing the offensive line, be that simply getting healthier or making moves in the offseason, will be a priority along with addressing deficiencies at edge rusher, safety and running back.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS: How do they help Trevor Lawrence take the next step?

Lawrence has shown flashes this season but it is in the past fortnight in particular that he has really started to show why he was such a highly-regarded prospect entering the NFL.

The Clemson product made a statement against the Titans last week, completing 30 of 42 passes for 368 yards and four touchdowns — both career-high numbers.

With it, Lawrence became the first player in Jaguars history to finish a game with 300-plus passing yards, three or more passing touchdowns and a rushing touchdown.

Put simply, he looks comfortable and confident. His feel and awareness in the pocket has improved as has his anticipation and accuracy.

It is crazy to think that only a fortnight ago everyone was seemingly writing Lawrence’s obituary when he was twisted awkwardly in the final play of the first half against the Lions.

That would have significantly altered Jacksonville’s timeline for him but now as Lawrence continues to make strides in his development, the focus has to be on surrounding him with multiple weapons.

Calvin Ridley is a start and will only make the Jaguars an even more dangerous team next season. Lawrence could do with another alpha receiver, although admittedly he has struck up a strong connection with both Christian Kirk and Zay Jones.

Improving the offensive line would also be another step forward for investing in Lawrence but even now, the Jaguars have all the ingredients to continue their upwards trajectory next season.

MIAMI DOLPHINS: Can the Dolphins be genuine contenders with Tua Tagovailoa at QB?

Earlier in the season, when Tagovailoa was playing as an MVP candidate this would have been a relatively simple answer. Sure, the playoffs are a different beast entirely but the Dolphins quarterback had showed few signs of letting the pressure or any external expectations get to him.

In the past few weeks though that has changed. There was no real cause for concern after Miami’s offence fell flat against San Francisco. This was the best defence in the NFL we’re talking about, it’s understandable that Tagovailoa may struggle.

But after another uninspiring performance against the Chargers, there are suddenly alarm bells in Miami. L.A.’s defence is not the best in the league, in fact it was depleted.

And yet the Chargers coaching staff drew up a perfect game plan to get Tagovailoa uncomfortable, with the Dolphins only managing 219 yards of offence.

Tagovailoa only completed 10 of 28 passes for 145 yards and one touchdown and has now been off-target on around 25 per cent of his throws over the past fortnight.

The defensive match-ups are only going to get tougher in the playoffs and unless Tagovailoa and the Dolphins work out how to play against man coverage, there is a genuine reason to worry.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS: Why is nobody still buying them as genuine contenders?

Well, Monday’s loss to the Lions may have helped answer that.

Sure, Minnesota may have plenty of weapons on the offensive side of the ball, headlined by dynamic wide receiver Justin Jefferson.

But the Vikings are lucky the offence is humming because otherwise they would be struggling to stay in games, such is the state of their defence.

Minnesota leaked over 400 yards for the fifth game in a row on Monday in a 34-23 loss to Detroit and coach Kevin O’Connell seemed to suggest defensive changes could be needed.

“It’s a combination of some things but I think we’ve got to take a look at what we can do to potentially help our guys be in position to make more plays,” he said.

“Be a little bit more aggressive possibly, but ultimately I think we’ve got to generate some more rush and then just try to limit explosives.”

They certainly were not able to do that on Monday, with Lions quarterback Jared Goff completing 27 of 39 passes for 330 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions.

Rookie Jameson Williams and fellow wide receiver DJ Chark both had big touchdown receptions, with the Vikings giving up five 23-plus yard plays in total on Monday.

Finding a way to stop those big plays will determine just how far Minnesota can go in the post-season.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS: Are they wasting Mac Jones’ talent?

A year ago it looked like Mac Jones would be the quarterback of the future at New England, billed as one of the most NFL-ready, intelligent and accurate passers to come into the league.

Now though, there are doubts over if he should even be the team’s quarterback next season, going from the league’s best rookie QB to being benched for Bailey Zappe at one point.

But any discussion of Jones’ regression needs to first start with the decision to replace former offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels with Matt Patricia and Joe Judge.

The result has been a stale and predictable offence that stifles Jones’ creativity. You only have to look at the early stages of Tuesday’s win over the Cardinals, where his average depth of target after 16 pass attempts was a measly 1.94 yards.

You have weapons like speedster Tyquan Thorton who are genuine vertical threats for Jones to work with yet currently he too is being underutilised.

Jones has done well to hide his frustrations most of this season, although it has started bubbling to the surface in recent weeks, resulting in a sideline outburst against the Bills.

It had former NFL quarterback Chris Simms calling for Bill Belichick and the Patriots to make changes over the offseason to ensure the offence better plays to Jones’ strengths.

“You can tell it’s a different guy than last year,” Simms said on ProFootballTalk.

“He’s annoyed with the process. He’s annoyed with the offence in general. Nothing is easy. That’s the problem.

“This isn’t doing justice to Mac Jones and why you drafted him… you know he can take high-level coaching and high-level points of a Josh McDaniel offence and like Brady he can do all the stuff at the line of scrimmage and process it as soon as it’s snapped. He’s the ultimate robot that way.

“He’s not, ‘Let’s just dumb it down and play it simple and this guy will put us on his back and carry us with great physical ability’. No, that’s not what he is. He’s a guy that when you give him a great offence with tons of answers, he can get to all those answers and get them right and do more with less that way.”

The most likely change would be the return of Bill O’Brien, who has diverse coaching experience under his belt, including a stint as Patriots offensive coordinator in 2012.

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS: Should they take a punt at a second-round QB in the draft?

Replacing Drew Brees, understandably, has proven a tricky task in New Orleans. Jameis Winston, Andy Dalton, Taysom Hill, Trevor Siemian and Ian Book have all got their shot.

Unfortunately, the quarterback position is still unsettled heading into next season, where the combination of an ageing roster and salary cap issues has the potential to trigger a rebuild.

Obviously, working out just what position the franchise believes it is in will be key to then identifying which quarterback best fits that timeline, be it via draft, free agency or trades.

Drafting a rookie quarterback though is hardly guaranteed to be a slam dunk, with the Eagles holding the Saints’ first-round pick, meaning all the elite prospects will be unavailable.

Instead, New Orleans will draft high in the second round, with Tennessee’s Hendon Hooker and Kentucky’s Will Levis a chance of still being on the board.

It is more likely the former will be available, although at 25 years old and coming off a season-ending ACL injury, Hooker comes with plenty of risk.

A bloated salary cap also makes it hard for Saints to sign or trade for a clear upgrade on what they have in Winston and Dalton, with Baker Mayfield the kind of low-cost alternative they could target.

Put simply, there is not a whole lot of room to move and the quarterback picture doesn’t seem any clearer than it did at the start of this season.

NEW YORK GIANTS: What do they do with Daniel Jones?

Jones has done what the Giants have asked of him in what is a run-heavy offence.

“Daniel’s done a good job operating our offence,” coach Brian Daboll said recently.

And from everything Daboll has said this season, it doesn’t sound like he is thinking of moving on from Jones, who can become a free agent after this season.

There are plenty of reasons to support giving Jones another year to prove himself, starting with the quality of receiving corps he has been working with for the majority of this season.

Injuries have decimated the Giants’ wide receiver room, with Wan’Dale Robinson and Sterling Shepard both out for the season. Meanwhile, Kadarius Toney was dealt to Kansas City, Daniel Bellinger has spent time on the sidelines as has Kenny Golladay.

Put simply, even if the Giants put the ball in Jones’ hands, he has rarely had the same receivers to target on a weekly basis.

Also the run game, which is supposed to be the feature of New York’s offence, has struggled to get going in the team’s recent skid with the offensive line also not what it used to be.

Jones hasn’t necessarily made the kind of emphatic statement that makes it clear he is the answer at quarterback next season but he hasn’t exactly had the best chance to do so either.

NEW YORK JETS: Is there any way back for Zach Wilson?

At this point, Zach Wilson is pretty much the GIF of Jamal Adams walking to the New York Jets team facility only to find he has been locked out. Except this time, Wilson is actually locked out.

Like really, could Wilson’s teammates had been any less subtle in making it clear they were very happy to see Mike White under centre in place of the second-year quarterback.

Even before stepping on the field, the players made a statement by rocking up to Minnesota wearing custom Mike White shirts. Then there is what they said after White guided the Jets to a 31-10 win over the Bears the week prior.

Cornerback Sauce Gardner said the defence was appreciating how it was the first time they were “able to chill a little bit longer” on the sideline after the first drive of the day.

“He [White] made the easy look easy,” added coach Robert Saleh.

Wide receiver Garrett Wilson went as far as to say he would “go to war” for White, adding: “He’s got something special about him”.

That is a far cry from what the rookie wideout had said after Wilson’s last game at quarterback, where the Jets put up just 103 total yards of offence in a 10-3 loss to the Patriots.

“This s*** is not OK. Straight up, it is not OK,” he said after the loss.

“How many total yards did we have? That s*** is not going to fly.”

Speaking of going to war, White did just that against the Bills in Week 14, taking an absolute beating but continually coming back to once again win over his teammates — and fanbase.

Saleh said the “intent” is to get Wilson back on the field and that his career at the Jets is “not over” but it is hard to see the franchise going back to the 23-year-old in the near future.

More than anything though, that message from Saleh was really for Wilson and no-one else. It is clear White is the guy for the time being but Saleh was simply making sure Wilson knows he is not forgotten and that there is still a chance for him to reclaim the job.

If one thing is for sure, it is that the vibes are far better with White under centre and while vibes does not always equal wins, it is certainly keeping the fanbase happy at the moment.

With the Jets firmly in the playoff picture too it makes sense to go with what is working and White is the more consistent option.

Realistically, White isn’t the answer at quarterback next season but unless he has a disastrous game or two down the stretch, Wilson won’t get the chance to prove he is the solution either.

White is questionable to play this week though, with Wilson elevated to the back-up role so that at least seems to suggest he may still get a chance in the future to prove himself once more.

That may leave the Jets looking to free agent Jimmy Garoppolo or trade for Derek Carr to run with until 2024, when it will be easier to move on Wilson from a salary perspective. Wilson will likely be in New York too, but not as the defined starter.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES: Can they go to the next level in the post-season?

The Eagles are one of the most complete teams in the league.

On the offensive side of the ball, quarterback Jalen Hurts has taken the leap he needed to in the passing game with star addition A.J. Brown.

Already a threat on the ground, Hurts has consistently shown an ability to make big plays when needed while also remaining patient and only taking what is on offer from the defence.

Hurts also proved himself a dual threat by running all over the Packers last month, with Miles Sanders doing plenty of damage as well.

The offensive line is giving Hurts plenty of time to work with too, while the defence is also making his job easier by shutting down some of the best teams in the league.

Pass rusher Haason Reddick, cornerback James Bradberry, defensive end Robert Quinn (on IR), safety Chauncey Gardner-Johnson and rookie Jordan Davis have all proven big additions.

The Bills and Chiefs are generally considered better Super Bowl chances at the moment and understandably so given they have been there and done it before.

Sure, the Eagles only won the championship six years ago but they haven’t really been in a position to truly contend since unlike Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen.

Hurts though has quickly risen from a back-up to franchise quarterback in a few years and this post-season is his chance to show just how far he has come and can go in Philadelphia.

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS: Is ‘Mr Irrelevant’ good enough to take the 49ers all the way?

Brock Purdy, aka ‘Mr Irrelevant’, ain’t so irrelevant anymore.

With Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo both injured, the 49ers have been forced to lean on the rookie quarterback as they look to push back towards the Super Bowl this season.

But Purdy hardly looked like a seventh-round quarterback against Tampa Bay on Monday, playing with poise and precision as he outplayed Tom Brady of all people.

There was already plenty going for San Francisco, even before the Christian McCaffrey trade, but that move made the Niners an even more daunting championship prospect.

Add in the franchise’s plethora of other playmakers, including Deebo Samuel (if healthy), George Kittle and Brandon Aiyuk, and coach Kyle Shanahan has plenty of ways to keep the defence guessing.

Speaking of defence, San Francisco is very strong on the side of the ball too and is finally getting healthy.

With Purdy under centre the 49ers may not be able to take as many deep shots and opposition defences will certainly test the 22-year-old’s composure under pressure.

While Garoppolo did not need surgery on his broken foot and could yet return in the playoffs, Shanahan described that as an “outside chance” earlier this week.

When Baker Mayfield was waived by the Panthers, all eyes were on San Francisco to see if the franchise claimed the former No.1 overall pick, even as insurance for Purdy.

But in a clear sign of its confidence in the Iowa State alum, no such claim was made and Purdy was already making an impression on his teammates even before that Bucs game.

Unlike some other rookies, Purdy is not afraid to speak up and set standards at training according to left tackle Trent Williams.

“You would think he’s been in the league 15 years,” he told NFL Media.

“If you’re talking, he’ll say, ‘Shut your a** up.’ He ain’t no timid rookie feeling his way around. He will get on your a**. You would think he’s like Peyton Manning or something. Wide receivers not running, you’ll hear him cussing a wide receiver out.”

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS: What do they do with Geno Smith?

Geno Smith has floated around the NFL for years but finally it looks like he has found his home, as unlikely as that may have seemed before this season.

Coming off a 7-10 season that saw them finish last in the NFC West, the Seahawks parted ways with Super Bowl-winning franchise quarterback Russell Wilson.

It looked a clear sign that this would be a rebuilding season in Seattle, that Smith would not have much of a future at the franchise beyond simply being a fill-in until it found a better option.

But who would have thought Smith could end up being that better option? Sure, it has been a disappointing past month for the Seahawks with three losses from their past four games.

Even still, there is little doubting just how good Smith has looked and just how much worse Seattle could have been without him.

The 32-year-old leads the NFL in passing completion percentage (71.5), sixth in yards per game (264.1) and is tied for fifth in interception percentage (1.5).

“There is no quarterback that has more perfect throws in every game than Geno Smith,” ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky said last month.

“There’s one quarterback in the NFL this season with less than 10 percent of his throws off-target, the only person is Geno Smith. That’s why he’s right in the MVP race. He has more perfect throws than any guy in the league right now.”

NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport reported last month that the Seahawks are interested in signing Smith, who is on a one-year, $3.5 million ($A5m) deal, after this season.

“In fact, the Seahawks want both QBs back — Smith and backup Drew Lock,” Rapoport said. “They have yet to make an offer to Smith, who’s set to be a free agent in 2023, to extend his contract, and those talks will happen after the season.”

After 10 seasons toiling away in the NFL, Smith’s resurgence is certainly one of the league’s best feel-good stories and looks set to continue for at least a few more years.

While one season of strong play is not a huge sample size for Seattle to go off, it is enough to give Smith the biggest payday of his career and make sure he does not hit free agency first.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS: Should they persist with Kenny Pickett?

It’s an emphatic yes to this question.

Sure, it has taken a bit of time for Pickett to start looking confident calling the shots, but that is to be expected with a rookie quarterback.

It isn’t even the flashy stuff that Pickett is doing. The opposite in fact. Pickett has just two touchdown passes in his past four games.

He also has thrown zero interceptions. It speaks to the poise and composure Pickett is starting to play with as he grows more comfortable playing in the NFL.

“He’s growing,” head coach Mike Tomlin said earlier this month after Pickett helped the Steelers to a 19-16 road win against the Falcons.

“And that’s a reasonable expectation. He’s a smart guy, he’s got talent. He works at it, he’s gaining experience with each and every play and each and every day.

“I think it’s a reasonable discussion to acknowledge that he’s going to get better at fundamental things, taking care of the ball. He’s just getting better in all areas.”

Unfortunately Pickett may not have more time to continue improving this season, entering the league’s concussion protocol for the second time after taking a hard sack on the weekend.

But the Steelers would have seen enough from their rookie quarterback to be confident in him moving forward.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS: Is this really going to be Brady’s last hurrah?

It might be. But even if it isn’t, Brady should move on from Tampa Bay anyway. After all, if it is another Super Bowl win he is after, he isn’t going to find it at the Buccaneers.

Instead of dominating the NFC South, Tampa Bay is barely staying afloat at the top of the league’s worst division and looks a far cry from being a genuine contender.

Leaving for a rival team could be a genuine possibility for Brady, with NFL insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero reporting earlier this week that “all options are on the table” for the 45-year-old.

“He feels good enough to keep playing,” the pair reported, adding that while re-signing with the Bucs is on the cards, Brady could also “look to move on for the right situation”.

That will only happen if Brady no longer believes Tampa Bay can contend for a Super Bowl and he may have got his answer given how the Bucs played against the 49ers on the weekend.

As for which rival teams Brady could end up at, The Athletic’s Jeff Howe suggested San Francisco, Las Vegas, New England and Tennessee as possible destinations.

Considering how stacked San Francisco’s roster is everywhere else, it would make sense to go after Brady as the final piece of the Super Bowl puzzle — and one Tampa Bay insider agrees.

“Even though they twice rejected him, it might make sense for the 49ers to swallow hard and see if the seven-time champion can get them to a Super Bowl and win it,” Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Timesrecently wrote.

“Their roster is loaded with the NFL’s top defence and tons of speed, a commitment to running the football, and a good offensive line.

“Also, don’t underestimate what playing near his home in San Mateo, California, would mean to Brady, as well as becoming part of the 49ers’ quarterback legacy with Joe Montana and Steve Young.”

Of course, there has also been the suggestions Brady could reunite with Bill Belichick in New England but that move would just make no sense for either team.

The Patriots’ problems go far beyond the quarterback position and if Brady is after a Super Bowl, playing in the a stacked AFC does not look like the way to do it.

NFL writer Sheil Kapadia said it would be a “complete disaster for everyone involved” while speaking on The Ringer’s ‘Extra Point Taken’ podcast.

“To just think quarterback is their issue is nuts to me,” he said.

“To think Tom Brady could go to this team, where the offensive line has been up and down, where they do not have weapons comparable to any really good team in the NFL… to me it’s a terrible idea.

“It would be a nostalgic move… but I think it would end poorly for everyone involved.”

TENNESSEE TITANS: How do they recover from the A.J. Brown trade?

A.J. Brown went off against his former team earlier this month, catching eight passes for 119 yards and scoring two touchdowns in a 35-10 Philadelphia win.

Speaking after the game, Brown admitted he had it circled on his calendar and wanted to send a message to the Titans for trading him. He wanted them to regret the move.

He certainly did just that, although it was already pretty clear that the Titans have missed their star wideout this year, who they traded to the Eagles for two picks in the 2022 draft.

After all, it may have ended up costing Titans general manager Joe Robinson his job, fired by the franchise last week.

While that decision was not solely as a result of the Brown trade, it is certainly the move that will come to define Robinson’s time at the helm in Tennessee.

The Titans used their first pick from that trade to draft Treylon Burks, who has shown flashes but struggled to stay on the field, sidelined with turf toe and then a concussion.

Burks had 111 and 70 yards in his two games before suffering a head knock against the Eagles, giving Titans fans a brief glimpse into his big-play potential.

Continuing to feed the dynamic rookie will help ease the pain from the Brown trade and should also benefit the dangerous run game by creating better spacing across the field.

WASHINGTON COMMANDERS: What to make of the complicated QB picture?

Taylor Heinicke had his shot in Washington. Starting 15 of 17 games last season, he went 7-8 while completing 65 per cent of his passes for 3,419 yards, 20 touchdowns and 15 intercepts.

Solid numbers but nothing special, not what the Commanders have been after in their quest for a long-term solution at quarterback.

So, they traded for Carson Wentz. But now he’s the back-up and once again it is Heinicke who is under centre. The result? Five wins, one draw and a loss.

Washington is suddenly right in the playoff picture, Wentz is seemingly frozen out and yet even still, it doesn’t seem like Heinicke is the ideal option for next season.

There could be a few free agent options, including Jimmy Garoppolo or Baker Mayfield should he show signs of life at L.A., while a trade for Derek Carr could also be on the cards.

But it is not as if any of those scenarios are a dramatic improvement in what they have with Heinicke.
They do have a fifth-round quarterback in Sam Howell, although that would be a step backward and a bitter pill to swallow after the Wentz trade.

Put simply, it is hard to know what to make of Washington’s quarterback picture and with Heinicke set to hit free agency, he is definitely going to be paid by someone.

Whether that is the Commanders though remains to be seen.