NFL Stock Up, Stock Down: NFC Quarterbacks
With the Julio Jones trade likely being the last blockbuster move of the offseason, the time has finally come where we can make knowledgeable season predictions. In this edition of “Stock Up, Stock Down”, we will discuss every projected starting QBs outlook for 2021 and whether it’s gone up, remained the same, or plummeted.
NFC North
GREEN BAY: Aaron Rodgers
Age 37, 4299/48/5 (YDS/TD/INT) in 2020
Stock: DOWN
As you can see by the absurd statline, Aaron Rodgers played some ridiculously good football in 2020. Now, he doesn’t even want to remain with the only team he’s known in his 16-year career. Rodgers should be good wherever he goes, but his stock is trending in the wrong direction thanks to all the uncertainty clouding his future.
CHICAGO: Andy Dalton
Age 33, 2170/14/8 (YDS/TD/INT) in 2020
Stock: DOWN
Andy Dalton is not going to have a starting job by the end of this season. He is currently a placeholder for a talented rookie in Justin Fields, and I don’t think the Bears want to keep their first-rounder on the bench for too long.
MINNESOTA: Kirk Cousins
Age 32, 4265/35/13 (YDS/TD/INT) in 2020
Stock: UP
Most probably stopped paying attention to Cousins after he threw 10 INTs in the first six weeks and oversaw a team that went 1-5. If you did, you missed out on an exceptional second half of the season that saw Cousins throw for 2790 yards, 24 TDs, and just 3 INTs in 10 games. Over 16 games, that extrapolates to a statline of 4464/38/5.
DETROIT: Jared Goff
Age 26, 3952/20/13 (YDS/TD/INT) in 2020
Stock: DOWN
Goff struggled mightily last year despite having a talented roster and an offensive guru for a head coach. Moving to the Dan Campbell-led, talent-devoid Lions isn’t going to do him any favors.
NFC South
NEW ORLEANS: Taysom Hill
Age 30, 928/4/2 (YDS/TD/INT), 457/8 (rYDS/rTD)
& Jameis Winston
Age 27, 75/0/0 (YDS/TD/INT) in 2020
Stock: NEUTRAL
The Saints are currently in the midst of one of the weirdest QB competitions in NBA history. On one side you have Taysom Hill, the NFL’s premier gadget player, but who’s arm talent is lacking. On the other hand, you have Jameis Winston, a #1 overall pick just six years ago, and a man who has a 5,000/30/30 season under his belt. Sean Payton is in for a test in his first-year post-Brees.
TAMPA BAY: Tom Brady
Age 43, 4633/40/12 (YDS/TD/INT) in 2020
Stock: UP
When you’re 43 and your stock is rising, you’ve got to be doing something right. Coming off of his seventh Super Bowl victory, Tom Brady gets the benefit of having his entire starting lineup return, making the Bucs the early favorites for 2021.
CAROLINA: Sam Darnold
Age 24, 2208/9/11 (YDS/TD/INT) in 2020
Stock: UP
Even though Baker Mayfield was chosen first overall in 2018, it was Darnold that was widely considered the best QB prospect in the class. He hasn’t lived up to the billing at all. In a previous article, I wrote that I wouldn’t necessarily blame Sammy for his failures in New York, because, well, it’s the Jets. I will blame him, however, if he flames out on a team that has Christian McCaffrey, DJ Moore, Robby Anderson, and Terrace Marshall.
ATLANTA: Matt Ryan
Age 36, 4581/26/11 (YDS/TD/INT) in 2020
Stock: DOWN
When you lose Julio Jones, you lose your stock. Not much more to say here.
NFC East
WASHINGTON: Ryan Fitzpatrick
Age 38, 2091/13/8 (YDS/TD/INT)
Stock: UP
The league’s premier journeyman has now moved to his ninth team. With the FitzMagic experience, you never know what you’re going to get, but now on one of the league’s most talented teams, noise could be made in DC.
NEW YORK (Giants): Daniel Jones
Age 24, 2943/11/10 (YDS/TD/INT) in 2020
Stock: NEUTRAL
Realistically, Jones can’t get much worse, but he hasn’t shown us that he’s going to get much better either. The Giants have put a solid team and great coach around him, it’s now-or-never for the third-year pro.
DALLAS: Dak Prescott
Age 27, 1856/9/4 (YDS/TD/INT) in 2020
Stock: UP
Before a gruesome ankle fracture robbed him of his 2020 season, Dak Prescott was looking to run roughshod in the record books. A valiant effort from Andy Dalton paired with a putrid division meant Dallas nearly made the postseason anyway, but they could only go so far without their leader. That offense is going to be good, have no doubt, and if their defense can keep up their strong showing from late last year, watch out.
PHILADELPHIA: Jalen Hurts
Age 23, 1061/6/4 (YDS/TD/INT), 354/3 (rYDS/rTD) in 2020
Stock: UP
Starting job? Check. New Heisman receiver? Check. New offensive-minded coach? Check. Full support from a rabid fanbase? Check. Hurts has everything set up for him to make the leap.
NFC West
SEATTLE: Russell Wilson
Age 32, 4212/40/13 (YDS/TD/INT)
Stock: NEUTRAL
There were rumors of internal issues in the Seahawks organization centering around Russell Wilson, but those seem to have dissolved. Otherwise, not much has happened with the club. After missing out on the Antonio Brown sweepstakes, they return mostly the same core from last season, and that’s not a bad thing at all.
LOS ANGELES (Rams): Matthew Stafford
Age 33, 4084/26/10 (YDS/TD/INT) in 2020
Stock: UP
After toiling for over a decade with the league’s most historically inept franchise, Matthew Stafford finally gets to star for a contender. He’s got a large stable of weapons on his side of the ball and one of the NFL’s best units on the other. I’d argue that outside of Tampa, the LA Rams are the NFC’s best squad.
ARIZONA: Kyler Murray
Age 23, 3971/26/12 (YDS/TD/INT), 819/11 (rYDS/rTD) in 2020
Stock: UP
The Cardinals fizzled out late in the season, but their most important takeaway from 2020 is that Kyler Murray is indeed a franchise QB. The addition of A.J. Green gives Arizona the 2015 version of the Avengers, but if he has something left in the tank, the 2021 rendition won’t be too shabby. Here comes Year 3 for K1.
SAN FRANCISCO: Jimmy Garoppolo
Age 29, 1096/7/5 (YDS/TD/INT) in 2020
Stock: DOWN
Jimmy Garoppolo makes nearly $30 million a year and has only started more than six games… once. The 49ers decided they had seen enough and drafted Trey Lance #3 overall in this year’s draft. When a team drafts your replacement, your stock is done. It’s only a matter of time before Jimmy G is looking for a new home.
Writer
-By: Micah Jimoh