Up For Grabs - Previewing QB Competitions Around the League

Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons

Every year, new quarterbacks enter the league, and old quarterbacks are replaced. Some veterans hang up the cleats and head to retirement, while some take a backup job and hope a change of scenery revitalizes their careers. In any case, the constant flow of roster turnover leads to yearly quarterback competitions. In this column, I’ll lay out the details of those competitions ahead of training camp this summer.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Trubisky vs Pickett vs Rudolph

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After the retirement of Steelers legend Ben Roethlisberger, a new quarterback will be under center in the yellow and black. Oddly enough, the incumbent backup Mason Rudolph feels like the man with the most difficult path to the starting job. His spot starts for the Steelers in the past have been unimpressive, and with two newcomers in the QB room, it’s hard to believe Pittsburgh has much faith in Rudolph. One of those newcomers is free agent signing and former second overall pick Mitch Trubisky, fresh off a year backing up Josh Allen in Buffalo. Trubisky was never excellent as a starter in Chicago, but many blame former Bears head coach Matt Nagy for his lack of development. With a change of scenery, some have hope that Trubisky’s potential can still be unlocked. And yet, the Steelers used their first round pick on the only quarterback selected in the top 70: local boy Kenny Pickett. At the moment, Pickett is taking third-team reps in practice, but his NFL-caliber arm and elusiveness in the pocket could power his rise up the depth chart.

Current Depth Chart: one: Mitch Trubisky, two: Mason Rudolph, three: Kenny Pickett

Projected Week one Starter: Mitch Trubisky

I think Pickett is talented enough to start Week one if he needed to. But I don’t anticipate a veteran head coach like Mike Tomlin will feel the need to go to the rookie right away. Pickett will take over eventually, but I think Trubisky gets the nod early.

Seattle Seahawks: Lock vs Smith

AP Photo/Ted S. Warren

For the first time in ten years, the Seahawks have a quarterback competition. They sent franchise legend Russell Wilson to Denver in exchange for a bevy of picks and players, including Drew Lock, who never seized control of his opportunities in Denver. This certainly feels like Lock’s final chance to become a starter. Geno Smith hasn’t been a full-time starter since 2014 with the New York Jets, where he played quite poorly. Last season with Seattle, however, he stepped in in place of Wilson and produced. He put up a career high in completion percentage (with multiple starts) as well as five touchdowns and one interception in four games. He’s taken nearly every first-team rep during OTAs, so Lock will need to really impress in order to take the job. The biggest question is: will Seattle add another player? They elected not to draft a rookie this spring, and with veteran options like Baker Mayfield available, a move would be possible. But for now, their competition will be between Smith and Lock.

Current Depth Chart: one: Geno Smith, two: Drew Lock

Projected Week one Starter: Geno Smith

I don’t have a lot of faith in Lock, especially not when he has to yet again learn a completely new offense. This is Smith’s third year in Seattle, and there were times last year where you could argue he executed the offense better than Wilson did. If they make a trade for Mayfield, he probably takes over, but my money’s on Smith right now.

Atlanta Falcons: Mariota vs Ridder

AP Photo/John Bazemore

Atlanta is another team who departed with a franchise legend this spring. After sending Matt Ryan to the Indianapolis Colts they quickly signed Marcus Mariota and later spent a third-round pick on Desmond Ridder, two quarterbacks with similar play styles. Ridder was a polarizing prospect, as many of this year’s quarterbacks were, but his body of work at Cincinnati could never be questioned: he led the team to an undefeated record and a College Football Playoff appearance. Mariota was a former second overall selection by the Tennessee Titans who never reached his potential in Tennessee. He spent two years as Derek Carr’s backup in Las Vegas, where he was occasionally used as a gadget player before signing with the Falcons. Clearly, Mariota is the bridge option, and Ridder is likely their plan for the future.

Current Depth Chart: one: Marcus Mariota, two: Desmond Ridder

Projected Week one Starter: Marcus Mariota

I suppose this is technically a competition, but I don’t think there’s much of a chance Ridder starts Week one. Mariota played well in his limited opportunities as a Raider, and he won a playoff game as a Titan. However, he has never started a full season of games in his career, so Ridder could potentially get some playing time this year.

Carolina Panthers: Darnold vs Corral

ALEX SLITZ alslitz@charlotteobserver.com

Entering the offseason, Carolina’s quarterback situation was dire, to say the least. Since their MVP quarterback Cam Newton led the team to a Super Bowl appearance and a 15-1 record, they’ve cycled through what feels like thousands of different starters. In the last five years, seven different QBs have started for the Panthers: Newton (in two separate stints), Taylor Heinicke, Kyle Allen, Will Grier, Teddy Bridgewater, P. J. Walker, and Sam Darnold. The latter is now competing with third round rookie Matt Corral for the starting spot. Darnold is an interesting player, a very competent college prospect who once again failed to lead his team to a winning record in 2021. His chances of starting may soon be gone, especially if Corral produces early. Corral was in the conversation for the first quarterback to be taken in this draft before injuring his ankle in the Sugar Bowl his senior year. Although former XFL superstar P. J. Walker is still on the roster, this battle is between Darnold and Corral, unless the team adds another quarterback. Trade talks for Baker Mayfield have run dry, but Carolina has also been connected to 49ers player Jimmy Garoppolo, who is currently rehabbing an injury. If they add Garoppolo, he enters the competition with a real chance to start.

Current Depth Chart: one: Sam Darnold, two: P. J. Walker, three: Matt Corral

Projected Week one Starter: Sam Darnold

With Matt Corral learning a very different offense from his collegiate scheme, and starting behind Walker on the depth chart, I don’t think there’s enough time for him to take the starting spot. However, I think he’s got a chance to beat out Darnold mid-season if the Panthers have another disappointing year.

Harry How/Getty Images/TNS

Additionally, two teams that are worth mentioning are the San Francisco 49ers and the Tennessee Titans. San Francisco traded the farm for Trey Lance last year, and while Jimmy Garoppolo started on the way to the NFC Championship Game, the team has been openly shopping him all off-season. Any rumors of Garoppolo starting seem unfounded at this point. The Titans spent a third-round pick on Malik Willis, but the controversy has been drummed up by incumbent Ryan Tannehill’s comments recently, claiming that it’s not his job to mentor Willis. Regardless, I don’t believe there will be a competition for the Titans, at least not this year, given that Willis is notoriously raw and requires a lot of time to develop.

While veteran quarterbacks have the upper hand in many of these camp battles, don’t count out the young, talented QBs entering the league this year. Be sure to watch all preseason long as these battles unfold.