NFL Quarterbacks Are Not All Cut from the Same Cloth. The recent trend of chasing high-ceiling quarterbacks who are expected to be the franchise's future leader is not sustainable, and teams need to start valuing experience over upside.
The NFL has seen numerous young quarterbacks struggle in their early careers. In some cases, they've been traded or cut by teams that were hoping for a different outcome. The path from being considered one of the league's top prospects to becoming a career backup is steep, and it's often due to unrealistic expectations and a lack of preparation.
Trey Lance is a prime example of this. After being drafted as the 3rd overall pick in 2021, he struggled to adapt to the NFL, earning $36 million in his short career - that translates to over $7 million per start. The San Francisco 49ers traded him after just two years due to concerns about his development.
Lance's case is not unique. Many quarterbacks have failed to live up to their potential due to a lack of experience and preparation. This is where teams like the New York Jets and New England Patriots are heading by drafting players who had disappointing careers elsewhere but are still worth a shot.
Quarterbacks like Sam Darnold, Baker Mayfield, and Daniel Jones are now considered reclamation projects - players who were once first-round picks but have been cut or traded due to underwhelming performances. They're being given another chance because they've gained valuable experience in other systems.
Lance, at 25 years old, is still relatively young. He's currently working with Jim Harbaugh, one of the league's top quarterback coaches. With a steady role and a stable system, Lance could prove himself as an NFL starter. The Chargers' decision to sign him on a low-salary contract offers a chance for him to regain his footing.
The key is that teams need to stop chasing quarterbacks with high upside and start valuing experience. Quarterbacks who have proven themselves in the league know how to read defenses, make adjustments, and execute plays effectively. They're not flashy, but they get the job done.
For Lance, it's time to put himself back on the map as a legitimate NFL quarterback. With Harbaugh guiding him and a stable role with the Chargers, there's still hope that he can become an asset for his team rather than a liability.
The NFL has seen numerous young quarterbacks struggle in their early careers. In some cases, they've been traded or cut by teams that were hoping for a different outcome. The path from being considered one of the league's top prospects to becoming a career backup is steep, and it's often due to unrealistic expectations and a lack of preparation.
Trey Lance is a prime example of this. After being drafted as the 3rd overall pick in 2021, he struggled to adapt to the NFL, earning $36 million in his short career - that translates to over $7 million per start. The San Francisco 49ers traded him after just two years due to concerns about his development.
Lance's case is not unique. Many quarterbacks have failed to live up to their potential due to a lack of experience and preparation. This is where teams like the New York Jets and New England Patriots are heading by drafting players who had disappointing careers elsewhere but are still worth a shot.
Quarterbacks like Sam Darnold, Baker Mayfield, and Daniel Jones are now considered reclamation projects - players who were once first-round picks but have been cut or traded due to underwhelming performances. They're being given another chance because they've gained valuable experience in other systems.
Lance, at 25 years old, is still relatively young. He's currently working with Jim Harbaugh, one of the league's top quarterback coaches. With a steady role and a stable system, Lance could prove himself as an NFL starter. The Chargers' decision to sign him on a low-salary contract offers a chance for him to regain his footing.
The key is that teams need to stop chasing quarterbacks with high upside and start valuing experience. Quarterbacks who have proven themselves in the league know how to read defenses, make adjustments, and execute plays effectively. They're not flashy, but they get the job done.
For Lance, it's time to put himself back on the map as a legitimate NFL quarterback. With Harbaugh guiding him and a stable role with the Chargers, there's still hope that he can become an asset for his team rather than a liability.
. teams need to value EXPERIENCE OVER UPRIGHT POTENTIAL. those young QBs who got drafted high but struggled in the league are just trying to prove themselves all over again... it's like they're trying to fit into a puzzle that doesn't quite exist yet 
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. and hey, maybe teams should take a page out of the jets and patriots' books by signing those reclamation projects like sam darnold and baker mayfield... who knows, they might just surprise us all 
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. Teams should be looking for guys who've already proven themselves in the league, not some hot mess from another team's dumpster fire 
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