The 30 biggest NFL storylines of the 2020 season
By Dustin Baker
30. Will Gardner Minshew II solidify his spot as Jacksonville’s starter of the future?
Or do the Jaguars enter the offseason pursuit of Trevor Lawrence? Minshew posted a 91.2 passer rating 2019, which was wickedly impressive for a man nobody expected to play after Nick Foles was anointed the team’s savior.
The Jaguars are in a pivotal spot. Minshew can put a stranglehold on the job if he builds on his rookie campaign. Otherwise, the team’s roster is in a ripe spot for an overhaul that could necessitate a top-three draft pick next spring.
29. The Alex Smith Comeback
The Washington Football Team employed the worst quarterback in the NFL vis-a-vis QBR rating in 2019. The culprit, Dwayne Haskins, deserves a mulligan for this lowly designation as he was a true-blue (or green) rookie quarterback.
His leash, however, tightened recently as Smith was announced to be ready for football activities once again. With a good leg, Smith is the better signal-caller than Haskins. Will new skipper Ron Rivera stick it out with Haskins or go with a proven winner in Smith?
28. Joe Burrow — Is the hype merited?
LSU quarterback Joe Burrow looks like the most sure-fire prospect at the position since Andrew Luck in 2012. Now, he just has to go out and, you know, play the games.
Surrounding him, Burrow has reasonable weapons in Joe Mixon, Tyler Boyd, and the freshly-healed A.J. Green. We will find out if Burrow begins his journey to own a Tom Brady or Peyton Manning-like legacy. It’s undoubtedly a lofty expectation.