NFL Draft: 5 teams most in need of a quarterback in 2018
By Peter Panacy
With the 2018 NFL Draft approaching this April, Niner Noise takes a look at the five teams most in need of a new quarterback next season.
Cross the San Francisco 49ers off the list of teams needing a quarterback in the 2018 NFL Draft.
This, after the Niners traded for former New England Patriots backup QB Jimmy Garoppolo, subsequently starting him and riding a four-game winning streak in the process.
The 49ers are lucky. They appear to have their franchise guy for a long, long time — the dream of every NFL franchise.
San Francisco 49ers
Yet other teams aren’t so lucky.
More than a handful of squads are going to be seeking their next signal-caller, very likely via the NFL Draft. Unlike last year, the 2018 crop of quarterbacking prospects is pretty deep. So if you’re comparing various needs to a football-like version of “supply and demand,” you’ll understand how both have increased after what we saw in 2017.
In this slideshow, we’ll take a look at the five most-needy teams looking for quarterbacks and why.
But first, let’s look at some who may not be as desperate, yet may find themselves on the hunt for a QB sooner than later.
New England Patriots
Trading away Garoppolo means the Pats no longer have an heir apparent to future Hall of Famer, Tom Brady.
Brady, via The MMQB’s Peter King, indicated he’d like to play until his mid 40s. At 40 years old now, it’s certainly possible. But as we saw with former Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning, the drop off from being one of the elite to merely a struggling game manager can be both quick and steep.
Washington Redskins
Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins is on his second consecutive franchise tag, and he’ll be in line for what looks to be a lucrative contract.
Somewhere.
The way Washington has handled this situation is odd, although the team would be wise to lock up a more-than-capable QB for the long term.
If the Redskins don’t, though, this need jumps to the top of the list.
Los Angeles Chargers
Quarterback Philip Rivers is playing well enough to suggest he’s good for another year, or two, with the Chargers. He’s had a healthy wide receiver in Keenan Allen, which has been beneficial, and the Chargers should be able to protect Rivers better in 2018 after offensive guard Forrest Lamp returns from a knee injury.
But Rivers is 36 years old, and the countdown to his NFL finale is getting louder.
New Orleans Saints
Like Rivers and the Chargers, the Saints eventually have to think about replacing future Hall of Famer Drew Brees. He’ll be a free agent this offseason, although there’s no logical way New Orleans lets him walk.
Brees has continued to supply Pro Bowl-level performances this late in his career. But at 38 years old, the end is sooner than one would like to think.
Buffalo Bills
Who knows what Bills head coach Sean McDermott will want to do under center next season. The incumbent, Tyrod Taylor, is signed through 2018. But McDermott’s benching of, Taylor in favor of rookie QB Nathan Peterman in Week 11, went about as poorly as one could have imagined.
McDermott may still not be sold on Taylor, though, which could be enough to suggest Buffalo will be on a quarterback hunt in this NFL Draft