QBs under scrutiny as camps near
The fates of almost all NFL franchises rest on the arms of their passers. It’s a quarterback league, and they fetch the most lucrative contracts of any position. When things go well, fans love them. But when they don’t? It can turn quickly.
While they are not involved in a battle for the starting job, here’s a look at the quarterbacks who enter training camp facing the most scrutiny. CAM NEWTON, CAROLINA PANTHERS Coming off an MVP campaign and NFC crown in 2015, Newton underwhelmed last season (52.9% completion rate, 3,509 yards, 19 touchdown passes, 14 interceptions). He had surgery on his throwing shoulder in March, forcing him to spend the offseason program rehabbing. Carolina drafted versatile running back Christian McCaffrey in the first round and wide receiver Curtis Samuel in the second. The message was clear: Newton has more weapons, so it’s time for him to return to his previous levels of production.
JARED GOFF, LOS ANGELES RAMS
The Rams traded a fortune of draft picks to move up and select Goff with the first overall pick in the 2016 draft. When he finally took over, his play was uneven (54.6% completion rate, 1,089 yards, five TD passes, seven interceptions), but he faced constant pressure and was sacked 26 times in seven games. Los Angeles bolstered its front with left tackle Andrew Whitworth and added a few offensive weapons. It’s time for Goff to start backing up that No. 1 pick billing.
ELI MANNING, NEW YORK GIANTS
The Giants have arguably the top receiving corps in the NFL with Odell Beckham Jr., Brandon Marshall and Sterling Shepard. They also drafted athletic tight end Evan Engram in the first round. This will be Manning ’s fourth season in coach Ben McAdoo’s offense (the second with McAdoo as head coach), and New York’s defense should remain one of the league’s best. The team’s window to win is narrowing. Fair or not, the praise or blame for this season will fall on Manning ’s shoulders depending on whether the Giants meet (or exceed) expectations.
KIRK COUSINS, WASHINGTON REDSKINS
In line for a massive long-term deal — before the July 17 deadline or next offseason if he hits the open market — Cousins is in a spot where he needs to continue to prove his worth. That’s the problem with the series of oneyear arrangements Washington has opted for with consecutive franchise tags. Even if Cousins, who would make about $24 million this season playing on the franchise tag, agrees to a lengthy contract before training camp, he’ll have to show that he was worth all the money.
JOE FLACCO, BALTIMORE RAVENS
Since the Ravens signed Flacco to a massive contract in 2013, the team has posted records of 8-8, 10-6, 5-11 and 8-8, making the postseason once in that span. Granted, the Ravens have had awful luck with injuries, and their roster has lacked consistent and dynamic skill-position players. But for whatever reason, Flacco faces questions about his ranking among his peers that many other quarterbacks don’t. He put up solid numbers (64.9% completion rate, career-high 4,317 yards, 20 TD passes, 15 interceptions) last season, but the pressure will be on for him to take Baltimore back to the playoffs.
ANDREW LUCK, INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
Almost six months after having surgery to repair a partially torn labrum in his shoulder, Luck still isn’t throwing. That seems ominous, but it makes sense for the Colts to be cautious with their $140 million franchise quarterback. An offensive line that surrendered 44 sacks last year has allowed Luck to get battered and, as a result, injured. With few offseason upgrades, the 2017 group will be largely the same. Luck played well last season despite his lackluster supporting cast, but the odds might be stacked against him. And, similar to Flacco’s case, the blame is likely to fall on Luck if Indianapolis misses the playoffs for a third consecutive season.
BLAKE BORTLES, JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
The Jaguars announced they were picking up his fifth-year option for the 2018 season, but it’s guaranteed only for injury. So if Bortles continues to regress the way he did last season — showing mechanical flaws with an elongated throwing motion and continuing to rack up interceptions — the Jags could cut him at the end of this season and move on.
DAK PRESCOTT, DALLAS COWBOYS
It’s odd to see the NFL’s reigning offensive rookie of the year on this list, but that’s what happens when a quarterback takes over the league’s most visible franchise and supplants a fan favorite in Tony Romo. All eyes are going to be on Prescott to see if his rookie year (67.8% completion rate, 3,667 yards, 23 TD passes, four interceptions as well as 282 yards and six scores rushing) was a fluke. If he struggles at any point, there will be questions about whether the team would have been better off with Romo.