The 2023 NFL off-season is heating up as teams scramble to secure their franchise quarterback. Let’s delve into the quarterback market and match the top rookies and vets with the teams that need them the most.
Every team wants a quarterback. The man under center runs the NFL. Gone are the days of just getting by with bad quarterback play. There are a lot of rumors surrounding the 2023 NFL offseason when it comes to quarterback. For those hoping to land Lamar Jackson, get it out of your head. The Baltimore Ravens are allowing Jackson to pick his own offensive coordinator. If that’s not a commitment, I don’t know what is.
2023 NFL offseason: Where are the best fits for top QBs?
Tom Brady is the biggest name in free agency, so it will be interesting to see how many suitors he has to be ideal for him to succeed. More than anyone else, the situation has to be perfect for the GOAT, so returning to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers isn’t likely.
While Brady is the big name, David Carr is the opposite. He will not get the love in the media, but he can help turn a franchise around. The question is, will a team trade for him? Jimmy Garoppolo is a guy who will get some media hype. The San Francisco 49ers quarterback is the odd man out on a team that invested in Trey Lance, and Brock Purdy took the torch and ran with it. Of course, there are always the Aaron Rodgers rumors. There is one team that will do anything to upgrade the quarterback position.
There are also the rookies in the 2023 NFL Draft. The polarizing class has the NFL Draft media in a frenzy, with Bryce Young, Will Levis, and CJ Stroud leading the way. Situations matter, so, where should the biggest names at the quarterback position in the 2023 NFL off-season land?
8. The Indianapolis Colts should draft Will Levis
The NFL scouts love Will Levis, and the Colts are the team that makes sense. There is no chance he’d slide past No. 4, and it makes a lot of sense for the Colts to pull the trigger on a guy that could benefit from the talent the Colts have.
There’s a lot to like about Levis. He’s a talented quarterback prospect in the 2023 NFL Draft. He boasts elite physical tools, including a 6-foot-3, 232-pound frame, a strong arm with a quick release, and dynamic running ability. Kind of like a poor man’s Andrew Luck. Levis produced impressive statistics at the University of Kentucky, despite playing behind a subpar offensive line. He’s a smart passer who has been praised for his accuracy and ball placement. While confidence in his arm can be a turnoff to some, he has the ability to make tight-window throws. Imagine what he could do with weapons like Michael Pitman and Alec Pierce.
He doesn’t have to start right away, in fact, the Colts may want to sign a vet like Jacoby Brissett to help him along the way. Still, Levis is an athletic dual-threat quarterback who is a threat to run if things break down. The Colts have a great running back to help take the pressure off Levis. With the right system, they can maximize Levis’ running ability in an RPO-type system. The Colts should do what they can to get him in the building.
7. The Seattle Seahawks should draft Bryce Young
Pete Carroll proved he was the system and the key ingredient to the success of Russell Wilson. The 71-year-old coach rejuvenated Geno Smith’s career, but Smith can only take the Seahawks so far. His potential is tapped out, and Carroll should have his eyes set on a young quarterback to build around for cheap. In the case of Young, he’s ready to start right now, but he doesn’t have to.
Young’s accuracy and decision-making are standout traits that would be a perfect fit in Seattle. He’s Russell Wilson-like in his ability to extend plays, throw in tight-window throws, and make quick decisions in the short-passing game. Most impressive is Young’s deep ball accuracy. He can drop the ball in the basket similar to Lamar Jackson.
If Young had to start for some reason, he would have the opportunity to work with a talented coaching staff and a roster loaded with weapons, including top-tier wideouts in Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf. He’d have a strong running game with Kenneth Walker leading the way, which will open up the field.
In conclusion, Bryce Young would be a perfect fit for the Seattle Seahawks and their future could be bright with him under center. His accuracy, football IQ, and ability to make plays would make him an asset for any NFL team, but his size may turn some teams off. If he falls it would be a great thing for him and Seattle to be the No. 5 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
6. Jimmy Garoppolo joins the Carolina Panthers
Jimmy Garoppolo is one of the most intriguing quarterbacks set to hit the free agency market this off-season, and one team in particular that should be at the top of his list of potential destinations is the Carolina Panthers. The reason for this is simple, Garoppolo has already proven to be a successful quarterback in an offense that closely resembles the one run by Frank Reich.
Reich spent two seasons as the offensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles, developing Carson Wentz into one of the top quarterbacks in the league. To this day, Wentz had his best seasons under Reich. a variety of different concepts and schemes to put him in a position to succeed. Some key elements of Reich’s offense are pre-snap movements, bootlegs, and the use of mesh route concepts,
It’s no secret that Garoppolo has had a lot of success working with head coach Kyle Shanahan and the San Francisco 49ers, which features a lot of the same concepts and schemes that Reich likes to use.
Garoppolo would work well in Reich’s offense, thanks to his intelligence, quick release, and accuracy to make quick, decisive throws in tight windows, which is essential for making mesh routes work. He also has the mobility and athleticism to extend plays and create opportunities when things break down.
Jimmy G will have weapons. Terrace Marshall has the potential to be an excellent weapon for Reich thanks to his catch radius, deep speed, and ability to dominate contested catches. On the other side is the No. 1 wideout, DJ Moore, who brings excellent route runner, the ability to make plays after the catch, and the ability to line up everywhere.
5. The Washington Commanders should draft Anthony Richardson
Anthony Richardson is an athletic, big-arm quarterback who is well-equipped to succeed as a quarterback at the next level, especially with the Washington Commanders, under head coach Ron Rivera. For starters, Rivera has a history of making life easier for his quarterbacks and is known for being a defensive-oriented coach who trusts his offensive coordinators to develop his QBs.
The Commanders will utilize a run-heavy offense that emphasizes the middle of the field. Richardson, who has been known to struggle with accuracy in the short to intermediate range, will benefit from this style of play. With running backs Brian Robinson and Antonio Gibson – one of the best receiving backs in the NFL – leading the way, Richardson will have plenty of support in the ground game.
Rivera’s teams also employ a lot of play-action, which plays to Richardson’s strengths. Richardson’s deep ball is his strongest asset as a passer, and he will have the opportunity to utilize it to make big plays off play-action. This will open up the field for him and give him the weapons to succeed, with Terry McLaurin leading the way as one of the league’s top wideouts, supported by Curtis Samuel and Jahan Dotson.
Given his running ability, strong arm, and athleticism, there’s no doubt that Richardson has the physical skills to be a successful quarterback. Coupled with the strong team and coaching staff in Washington, he has the potential to find early success with the Commanders. No. 16 isn’t an unrealistic spot for Richardson, but Commanders may want to jump up to grab him.
4. Derek Carr should become an Atlanta Falcon
Somehow, Derek Carr was blamed for the Las Vegas Raiders’ inability to make the playoffs. Josh McDaniels benched Carr toward the end of the season, ending the Carr era with the Raiders. At the time of this article, Carr hadn’t been granted a release, but the Falcons should be at the top of his list of teams to sign with. Likewise, the Falcons shouldn’t shy away from offering Carr a contract for three to four years.
One of the main reasons Carr and the Falcons work well together is the leadership he brings to the team. Controversy hung over the Raiders franchise during Gruden’s last year as a head coach. Carr showed poise and the ability to lead his team after Gruden was fired. The result saw the Raiders make the playoffs under interim head coach Rich Bisaccia.
Carr is the ideal quarterback for Arthur Smith. The former Fresno State signal-caller has good in-pocket mobility that Smith likes. He can move the pocket and use Carr on bootlegs. Since Smith runs a heavy dose of play-action, Carr’s arm strength and deep ball accuracy will maximize the playbook.
As for Carr, he’ll have ideal weapons at his disposal in Drake London and Kyle Pitts. The Falcons hold the No. 8 pick that they can use on the offensive line. They also have a ton of cap space to build a team ready to compete for the NFC South title sooner rather than later.
3. Tom Brady should sign with the San Francisco 49ers
There won’t be a lot of suitors for Tom Brady, but the 49ers should be one of them. Kyle Shanahan is a highly regarded offensive mind, known for his innovative and creative play-calling. He needs a veteran who knows how to win to help him capture that elusive Super Bowl. Insert Tom Brady and you have a recipe for a title. The 49ers are one of those teams that have all the things Brady needs to succeed. They have an excellent running game led by one of the best running backs in the league Christian McCaffrey.
George Kittle is the second-best tight end in the NFL, but he is the most complete. We’ve seen the magic Brady created with Gronk, and Kittle is a similar type of player. Brady would also have Trent Williams protecting his blind side.
Shanhan’s system is designed to create mismatches and exploit weaknesses in the defense, and he is constantly looking for new ways to keep defenses guessing. Brady, on the other hand, is a quarterback who is well-versed in reading defenses and making quick, accurate decisions. Sure, there would be some adjustments to what Shanahan likes to do with moving his quarterback, but he’s coached Matt Ryan, who, like Brady, was a statute in the pocket.
Brady could come in and show Brock Purdy and Trey Lance how to be pro quarterbacks, deal with adversity, and prepare for the playoffs. It will be a one-year experiment that can result in a Super Bowl title.
2. C.J. Stroud should be on the Houston Texans roster
The NFL may be enamored with Will Levis and Bryce Young, but C.J. Stroud is a quarterback prospect that should not be overlooked in the 2023 NFL Draft. Even if it means parting ways with the No. 12 pick.
The Ohio State signal-caller has been a star for the Buckeyes over the past two seasons, throwing for over 8,000 yards and 85 touchdowns while becoming the school’s first two-time Heisman Trophy finalist.
One of Stroud’s most impressive attributes is his accuracy and arm strength. He can drive the ball to all levels of the field and has a natural feel for the game, allowing him to improvise based on the defensive approach. He’s also a good decision-maker with solid pocket composure, and his ball placement is top-notch, allowing his receivers to make plays after the catch.
Stroud’s performance in the Buckeyes’ College Football Playoff semifinal matchup against top-ranked Georgia was particularly impressive. Despite the narrow defeat, Stroud completed 23 of his 34 passes for 348 yards, four touchdowns, and zero interceptions. He also used his legs on several occasions to extend drives, putting to rest any doubts about his ability as a runner.
As a leader and quarterback, Stroud could help turn around the fortunes of a team like the Texans. With the right supporting cast, including a talented young wide receiver and a solid right tackle, Stroud could lead the Texans to playoff contention in no time.
1. New York Jets should trade for Aaron Rodgers in the 2023 NFL offseason
The stars are aligning in New York City, with the Jets making moves to lore Aaron Rodgers to the Big Apple. Sure, Nathaniel Hackett was likely hired because he was the better candidate. On ESPN’s KJM, Dianna Russini refuted the idea that Hackett was brought in with the hope of the Jets trading for Aaron Rodgers. However, if the cleats fit…
The Jets are a desperate franchise willing to do any and everything to get them a top quarterback. Hall fame quarterback Joe Namath said he’s willing to unretire the No. 12. Even Fox News is buying into the idea of Rodgers in New York. If it means seeing Rodgers in the Big Green. It all makes sense.
The Jets have an electric core of wideouts led by rookie Garret Wilson who managed 1,103 yards despite playing with three different quarterbacks. Imagine what he can do with Rodgers as the quarterback. Elijah Morre is that Randall Cobb, Julian Edelman type of slot wideout, who’d be the perfect safety blanket for Rodgers.
Breece Hall was dominating as a rookie before going down with an injury. He’s looking to work his way back, but we know Hackett isn’t afraid of running the ball to take pressure off his quarterback. In the meantime, Rodgers would have Michael Carter, who runs and plays a dual role similar to Aaron Jones (Packers).
Carter compares favorably to Jones in size, running style, and receiving ability. Rodgers would be right at home. Given New York is a media market he could easily win another MVP.