Beginning the 2020 NFL free agency preview of available players, cut candidates, and landing spots, here is a look at the quarterback position around the NFL landscape:
2020 FREE AGENTS
TOP TIER
SECOND TIER
Winston and Mariota represent the top-2 of the 2015 NFL Draft. Winston survived as the starter in Tampa Bay longer than Mariota in Tennessee, but Ryan Tannehill is a far superior option than anything Tampa Bay could pivot to after losing Ryan Fitzpatrick of note from their 2018 depth chart. Both are sub-.500 options in 60+ starts. Winston is leading the NFL in interceptions and sacks through Week 10 and below 60% completion rate for the first time since his rookie season. Mariota's near-69% completion rate from 2018 eroded to a career-low 59% this year and he took more than four sacks per game and Mariota's Bad Throw Rate is in the same zone as Winston, who has been a long-discussed too big of a risk-taker with his decisions and accuracy over the years.
Bridgewater excelled with his first significant starting stint since his 2016 injury. Bridgewater went 5-0 with 68% completion rate and 9-2 TD-INT ratio, including two game-winning drives along the way. Bridgewater is earmarked to garner starting interest in the offseason and could be the top option if the three top tier quarterbacks all return to their present teams.
Tannehill has a better career profile than Winston and Mariota with a near-.500 record and 131-79 TD-INT ratio and posting one of his best career stretches in 2019. Tannehill has an 8-4 TD-INT ratio, 71% completion rate, 3-1 record, two fourth-down comebacks, and career-best 8.5 YPA and TD rate. Tannehill still offers rushing upside with more than three rushes per game and nearly 14 yards per contest.
BEST OF THE REST
- Ben Roethlisberger
- Rob Johnson
- Kurt Warner
- Tony Romo
- Dak Prescott
- Jimmy Garoppolo
- Marc Bulger
- Patrick Mahomes II
- Colin Kaepernick
- Nick Mullens
2020 QUARTERBACK LANDING SPOTS
Excluding the top tier teams, assuming they return their veterans with new contracts, here are the best landing spots to disperse the above free agents:
TOP TIER
- Buccaneers
- Titans
- Panthers
- Bengals
- Bears
- Dolphins
- Jaguars
BEST OF THE REST
- Saints
- Ravens
- Texans
- Vikings
- 49ers
- Rams
FINAL THOUGHTS
The 2020 season is poised to be the most interesting offseason for the quarterback position in recent memory. The projected established older veterans as free agents added to wild cards like Cam Newton offer an in-flux of available talent not seen in the market. The available talent will trigger analysis of the what-if young quarterbacks with pedigree currently holding starting jobs but yet to make significant progress towards being one of the better signal-callers in the NFL. This includes Washington, the Jets, and Dolphins. Considering the 2020 NFL Draft features a strong projected top tier of quarterbacks in addition to the above available veterans, the 2020 offseason is poised to be the most intriguing quarterback shuffle to shift the landscape.
