NFL: Teams Who Wouldn't Trade For A Qb, Shouldn't Draft One Early On

In today’s NFL, there is no shortage of teams looking for a quarterback to get them over the hump. Even the teams that have ones that are successful question moving on from their QB if he’s not doing well in the postseason. Of course, there are proven talents who are past their prime or just aren’t taking the next step for the organization. There always seems to be a hot QB in the draft, one surprise move in the offseason, and a few above-average veterans who move before the season starts. There are always options but never many solutions.

It seems one of the most common solutions is, to take what you can get in the NFL draft. Quarterback is probably the most reached-for position in the draft. After all, other than maybe one year in recent memory teams pounce on whatever quarterback they can get their hands on. The only problem with that is, most quarterbacks aren’t going to great teams which is how they got such a high pick, to begin with. That doesn’t sway NFL teams from throwing young rookies out to the wolves in hopes they’re the next Super Bowl winner. It’s a strategy that’s frustrating at best.

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Face the facts, if teams aren’t willing to trade for a top-level quarterback who might be available, the QB isn’t the only spot they need to be filled. Take, for instance, Lamar Jackson. It’s been said that he wants a big deal in his next contract. There has also been speculation that he could test free agency this year. He’s a stud and Baltimore would be crazy to move on from him. However, if teams aren’t willing to give up their first-round picks to get a proven talent under center, why do they throw away their high picks to throw in a rookie who’s just going to struggle?

It took a while for the Bills to acquire enough talent to make Josh Allen successful. Patrick Mahomes went into a good situation in Kansas City but sat behind Alex Smith. Aaron Rodgers wasn’t the day 1 starter, he was behind Brett Favre. These guys have been successful, but they weren’t thrown to the wolves. Allen was the closest starting 11 of the 12 games he played in his rookie season, but let’s not forget he struggled those first two seasons.

But then take a look at this year’s NFL Playoffs which had two seventh-rounders starting for their respective teams. Granted both were third-stringers who only received playing time because of injuries. One played well enough to keep his team in a close game against a division rival, the other is playing in the conference championship.

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So the question has to be, is it more important to get an established system in place with the talent to surround them or should teams keep throwing money and high picks at QBs in early rounds? Tom Brady wasn’t a first-round pick. Neither was Dak Prescott. Matt Hasselbeck brought the Seahawks to the Super Bowl and was drafted in the sixth round. Russell Wilson was a third-round pick. Randall Cunningham in the second, as were Brett Favre and Drew Brees. Joe Montana is arguably one of the best to ever play in the NFL, he was drafted in the third round.

The NFL has been upside-down for years. Too many young quarterbacks are thrown behind a terrible offensive line, with little talent to surround them, and the wrong coach at the helm. If teams were smart, they’d stop burning picks on flash and start drafting on substance. Build a team to surround your QB first, then get the right guy in place. If you wouldn’t trade your first-round picks to get an established QB, an undeveloped one isn’t going to fix your team either.