Post by MGB01 on Jun 19, 2019 17:01:42 GMT -5
Heading into FA, we look at QBs, which some teams will splurge for believing them to be the difference maker, especially a team that views themselves to be just one away from the promised land.
1. Taylor Heinicke: Missing the playoffs with a shoulder injury won't deter Heinicke from cashing in on free agency. Keenum kept the Monarch machine rolling in Case Keenum's absence, going 52 of 82 for 602 yards with five touchdowns and no interceptions on the season overall.
Prediction: New York Even though Ron Rivera inherits former starter A.J. McCarron, who had a very good season for him in Washington in 2017, he probably has seen his last days as Rivera has a ton to do on both sides of the ball, starting here. San Antonio, Las Vegas, and, despite making it to the playoffs, Carolina will also be in play here.
2. Brian Hoyer: When Kevin Sumlin promised an off-season housecleaning, he wasn't kidding. Benching Hoyer in the season finale after two interceptions (short-lived as it turned out, because......Nathan Peterman) was probably the tipoff. However Hoyer threw just seven in 414 attempts and was able to keep the Stampede somewhat together during their season-ending Tyreek Hill-aided crash. Hoyer will be 34 when the 2020 season kicks off so this shouldn't be a long-term thing.
Prediction: Las Vegas The Outlaws will try to trade Chad Henne, and when that doesn't work they'll move on from the former Hitmen starter, clearing the way for a new acquisition. They'll go for a steady veteran presence, this time one who still plays well as a steady vet, while they draft a QB and groom him.
3. Stephen Morris: Morris comes off a decent enough season in Washington (190-319-2417, 14 TD 10 INT) to at least have an opportunity to win a starting job, although he'll probably be competing with a drafted rookie wherever he ends up.
Prediction: Washington After the Glory try to land the other two, they'll bring Morris back, who might just thrive in a new offense, led by veteran NFL/NCAA offensive coordinator/new boss Pep Hamilton and top lieutenant Tanner Engstrom.
4. Landry Jones: A weak market lands a pair of non-XFL quarterbacks on our list, the first being Jones, who has a few NFL starts under his belt and would easily be a top-level pickup by a starter-needy team. That said Jones, who turned 30 back in April, will fall behind younger options like Heinicke and Morris even with a bigger resume.
Prediction: Dallas So we'll call him reuniting with his ex-OU coach Bob Stoops in Dallas. Forget Dak Prescott's looming new contract for a second, the Lonestars really haven't had a solid backup over his three seasons: In 2017 it was Prescott and fellow rookie Brandon Doughty, 2018 saw Matt Barkley take the reins, and this past season was undrafted rookie Kyle Allen. Jones would probably be justified in demanding a starting job if he were to come to the XFL, but this is likely a gig he would take here.
5. Johnny Manziel: Yeah him, doesn't say much for the aforementioned Barkley now does it? Always more of a runner than a passer, any team that's just looking for excitement at the QB position is going to be in the hunt, and that really narrows his XFL prospects down to one team (and a familiar face).
Prediction: San Antonio Like Jones in Dallas, Manziel ends up back with his college coach (Sumlin), only in this instance the erstwhile Johnny Football will be expected to be the guy, something that wasn't evident in three different leagues. Of course with the Stampede bound to sever ties with the troubled Hill one way or another this off-season that puts Manziel on even thinner ice, and the way Sumlin's taking a blaster to everything this could be the epitome of a short-term arrangement if he isn't on the up-and-up.
1. Taylor Heinicke: Missing the playoffs with a shoulder injury won't deter Heinicke from cashing in on free agency. Keenum kept the Monarch machine rolling in Case Keenum's absence, going 52 of 82 for 602 yards with five touchdowns and no interceptions on the season overall.
Prediction: New York Even though Ron Rivera inherits former starter A.J. McCarron, who had a very good season for him in Washington in 2017, he probably has seen his last days as Rivera has a ton to do on both sides of the ball, starting here. San Antonio, Las Vegas, and, despite making it to the playoffs, Carolina will also be in play here.
2. Brian Hoyer: When Kevin Sumlin promised an off-season housecleaning, he wasn't kidding. Benching Hoyer in the season finale after two interceptions (short-lived as it turned out, because......Nathan Peterman) was probably the tipoff. However Hoyer threw just seven in 414 attempts and was able to keep the Stampede somewhat together during their season-ending Tyreek Hill-aided crash. Hoyer will be 34 when the 2020 season kicks off so this shouldn't be a long-term thing.
Prediction: Las Vegas The Outlaws will try to trade Chad Henne, and when that doesn't work they'll move on from the former Hitmen starter, clearing the way for a new acquisition. They'll go for a steady veteran presence, this time one who still plays well as a steady vet, while they draft a QB and groom him.
3. Stephen Morris: Morris comes off a decent enough season in Washington (190-319-2417, 14 TD 10 INT) to at least have an opportunity to win a starting job, although he'll probably be competing with a drafted rookie wherever he ends up.
Prediction: Washington After the Glory try to land the other two, they'll bring Morris back, who might just thrive in a new offense, led by veteran NFL/NCAA offensive coordinator/new boss Pep Hamilton and top lieutenant Tanner Engstrom.
4. Landry Jones: A weak market lands a pair of non-XFL quarterbacks on our list, the first being Jones, who has a few NFL starts under his belt and would easily be a top-level pickup by a starter-needy team. That said Jones, who turned 30 back in April, will fall behind younger options like Heinicke and Morris even with a bigger resume.
Prediction: Dallas So we'll call him reuniting with his ex-OU coach Bob Stoops in Dallas. Forget Dak Prescott's looming new contract for a second, the Lonestars really haven't had a solid backup over his three seasons: In 2017 it was Prescott and fellow rookie Brandon Doughty, 2018 saw Matt Barkley take the reins, and this past season was undrafted rookie Kyle Allen. Jones would probably be justified in demanding a starting job if he were to come to the XFL, but this is likely a gig he would take here.
5. Johnny Manziel: Yeah him, doesn't say much for the aforementioned Barkley now does it? Always more of a runner than a passer, any team that's just looking for excitement at the QB position is going to be in the hunt, and that really narrows his XFL prospects down to one team (and a familiar face).
Prediction: San Antonio Like Jones in Dallas, Manziel ends up back with his college coach (Sumlin), only in this instance the erstwhile Johnny Football will be expected to be the guy, something that wasn't evident in three different leagues. Of course with the Stampede bound to sever ties with the troubled Hill one way or another this off-season that puts Manziel on even thinner ice, and the way Sumlin's taking a blaster to everything this could be the epitome of a short-term arrangement if he isn't on the up-and-up.