Another week of miserable quarterback play means it’s another week of pinpointing which passers need to be benched. But this week, we aren’t just kicking them to the curb: We’re finding which trade candidates would be best to replace them as the NFL’s trade deadline approaches on Tuesday.
Fortunately, Cleveland is spared of being the poster child for franchises with quarterback problems due to being on a bye in Week 9, but all that does is highlight the other quarterbacks around the NFL that are simply underperforming. Tua Tagovailoa, who struggled again on Thursday, is now the hot topic when it comes to suffering quarterbacks.
It was reported that the Dolphins could look to replace Tagovailoa with one of his backups, as the lefty is now playing for his job. Miami is on the verge of cleaning house so they could be interested in starting the next phase of their franchise under center. Here’s who showed in the early window that they don’t deserve to play another snap this season.
J.J. McCarthy, Minnesota Vikings
It’s time for the Minnesota Vikings to end the J.J. McCarthy experiment. He hasn’t looked like the player they need him to be and now they look bad for turning to him over Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones. While he did make a phenomenal throw to seal a win for the Vikings, McCarthy just isn’t playing up to the standard he should. You have to think that’s why they let Carson Wentz play injured for as long as they did.
I know McCarthy was still recovering from an ankle injury and they didn’t want to rush him back, but what if they just didn’t have the belief he’d play better than Wentz, even if he wasn’t fully healthy? McCarthy was able to get a big win, but there’s no guarantee he keeps this up.
Replacement: Jameis Winston
This makes sense to me as Russell Wilson would find a way to self-destruct in an offense built for any quarterback to succeed. Winston is a veteran that would add real experience to this quarterback room. Taking nothing away from Wentz, but I feel like McCarthy could learn more from Winston. In this system, Winston wouldn’t be a downgrade, which is ultimately the best thing for the Vikings. McCarthy is destined to get hurt again and if he does, Winston is a much better option than anyone else.
Bo Nix, Denver Broncos
Like McCarthy, Bo Nix did enough to seal a win for the Denver Broncos, but that doesn’t absolve him of blame for his struggles this season. The Broncos keep winning, but it's rarely pretty, and that’s largely because he doesn’t turn it on until the fourth quarter. That’s not a winning recipe and if Nix doesn’t start playing better over the first three quarters, it’s ultimately going to catch up to Denver.
This season, his numbers suggest he’s one of the strongest starting quarterbacks, but when you dive beyond the box score, you realize this offense isn’t that efficient when he’s running it. I’m not ready to say comeback wins against the New York Giants and Houston Texans mean his job is secured. It’s only secured because he’s not playing himself out of it (yet).
Replacement: Kirk Cousins
I’m not in love with this move, but Cousins could add some experience and, if nothing more, be a solid mentor to Nix. He hasn’t really had a veteran quarterback in his ear and Cousins would be a great asset. I’m not sure if Cousins could drastically improve this team, and they’re winning right now, but it could force Nix to play better knowing that his job could be in jeopardy.
Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers
It’s time to accept that Bryce Young just isn’t the quarterback the Panthers need. He’s shown flashes of NFL potential, but ultimately, he may benefit from a change in scenery. Just this past game, he had 102 passing yards and an interception with no touchdown passes. This season, he has just one game with over 200 passing yards.
The Carolina Panthers are winning this year more than they have since he’s gotten there but that doesn’t mean it’s because Young is playing better. He learned a lot from being Andy Dalton’s backup for a brief stint last year; you have to think it would go a long way for him to learn from another veteran this year.
Replacement: Russell Wilson
Russell Wilson has had a horrible tenure in New York, getting benched a month into the season. Now he could finally play the ultimate role he should, which is being a mentor. In Carolina, if he plays poorly, who cares? They brought him in because Young isn’t ready, and learning from a former Super Bowl-winning quarterback might be the difference in salvaging Young’s career. The expectations are low, but his role would be significant and it could be the last chance the Panthers have to see if Young is their guy.