What each team that has a quarterback decision to make should do

Jacksonville Jaguars – Start Gardner Minshew & dump Nick Foles’ contract

The Jaguars landed one of the steals of the 2019 draft as Minshew mania took hold in Jacksonville last year.

Sixth-round pick Minshew outplayed big-ticket free agent Foles and deserves to be the starter in 2020.

That would leave a team that only has $22.8million in cap space paying a backup $22.1m.

Jacksonville can get out of Foles’ massive contract next year. However, for the Jaguars to effectively reload their roster, the smart move would be to find a trading partner for him this year.

It would cost them $33m in dead cap to do so, but the mistake of the Foles contract is something they should put behind them sooner rather than later.

Los Angeles Chargers – Trade for Matthew Stafford

For the Chargers, it isn’t just about replacing Philip Rivers, it is about creating a buzz around the team as they move to a new stadium they appear unlikely to fill at present.

Signing Tom Brady would certainly do that but putting a 43-year-old quarterback behind their offensive line would be a recipe for disaster.

Detroit Lions general manager Bob Quinn, per The Lions Wire, has stuck with his stance that there is no chance of Stafford being traded. However, if the Chargers were to make an approach with a package that included the sixth overall pick, it may be tough for a Lions team with plenty of holes to resist.

Parting with the sixth pick would mean turning down the chance to draft Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert or an elite defensive prospect. The Chargers, though, are projected to have $51million in cap space, ample room to address other areas of need in free agency.

In Stafford, they would be acquiring a supremely talented quarterback who was enjoying one of his best seasons in 2019 prior to a back injury. The Chargers must get aggressive to attract fans and dealing for Stafford is exactly the kind of move they need to make.