Predicting each NFL Team’s starting QB…in 2020
No one can know for sure what will happen in 5 years, but there’s no law against taking a guess. Here are my predictions for every NFL team’s starting signal-caller at the start of the 2020 season:
Arizona Cardinals: Jake Fromm
New head coach Mark Richt puts the Cardinals in full rebuild mode, doing away with Tyrann Mathieu, Patrick Peterson, and David Johnson after a playoff appearance and acquire the #1 pick in the 2020, and use it to take Georgia QB Jake Fromm. Fromm beats out Tyrod Taylor in training camp, and the rest is history.
Atlanta Falcons: Matt Ryan
Ryan is nearing the end of his tenure as a starter, but that doesn’t matter. After an NFC Championship loss in the 2018 playoffs, Ryan cements his place as Falcons QB for another couple years.
Baltimore Ravens: Jimmy Garoppolo
The Jimmy G audition in San Francisco goes well for both parties, but the opportunity to get Kirk Cousins in free agency is to good to pass up, and after Cousins joins the 49ers, Garoppolo moves to the team starting a 35 year old Joe Flacco, and becomes the Raven’s quarterback of the future.
Buffalo Bills: Josh Allen
Buffalo are in win-now mode, and incumbent starter Blake Bortles is found out in 2019 OTA’s, and loses his job to second-year Josh Allen. The Wyoming man leads the Bills into a wild-card playoff spot, and earns himself an extension, securing his spot as starting QB for many years.
Carolina Panthers: Cam Newton
Newton breaks Micheal Vick’s QB rushing records in 2018, scoring more rushing touchdowns than anyone on the Panthers not named Christian McCaffrey, and leads the Panthers to another Super Bowl appearance in 2019, losing to an undefeated Raiders team. Newton gets some more money and a guarantee going into his age-31 season.
Chicago Bears: Mitchell Trubisky
There’s a reason why the Bears wasted a king’s ransom to move up to the number two spot in the draft. Trubisky lights up the preseason schedule once again, and after going 8-8 in 2018, Chicago is feeling good about their quarterback situation for the first time in forever. And in 2019, a shock playoff appearance led by Trubisky and 23 year old Derwin James earns Trubisky the money he deserves.
Cincinnati Bengals: Mason Rudolph
2018 first round draft pick Mason Rudolph sits for a few weeks behind Andy Dalton, but new head coach Jim Bob Cooter soon realizes that Rudolph is the man for the job in Cincy, and the rookie never looks back, putting in good performances and getting his job again in 2019, and again in 2020, even with pressure from backup Kevin Hogan.
Cleveland Browns: Baker Mayfield/DeShone Kizer
After years of searching for their savior, the Browns draft Baker Mayfield out of Oklahoma in 2018. But neither Kizer nor Mayfield beat each other out, and so the Browns decide on a strategy: start the good thrower (Mayfield) against poor pass defenses and the strong runner (Kizer) against poor run defenses. This revolutionary new tactic works like a charm for the Browns. It turns out they didn’t need to find the one. They needed to find the two.
Dallas Cowboys: Dak Prescott
Is this even a question? “Dak Attack” broke many rookie records in his first year in the NFL, and continues to play at a high level in his senior year, even with an aging receiving corps and no Ezekiel Elliot to run with or Tyron Smith to protect his blind side. But, in 2020, with a rejuvenated depth chart in the WR spot (ft. Jarvis Landry and Sterling Shepard) and improved pass rush to take this Cowboys team to a Super Bowl title or two.
Denver Broncos: Kelly Bryant
The Broncos need to figure out their QB situation. Fast. But, with a high pick in 2019, they take newly crowned NCAA champion Kelly Bryant. In 2019, starter Joe Flacco gets hurt and Bryant is thrust into the starting lineup. And after a strong showcase, he works himself into the Broncos starting lineup in 2020.
Detroit Lions: Matthew Stafford
There’s a reason why the Lions made Stafford the highest-payed man in the National Football League. After another wild-card playoff losses and a head coaching change, Stafford and new head coach Josh McDaniels take Detroit to the NFC championship.
Green Bay Packers: Aaron Rodgers
Rodgers is the greatest QB in NFL history. There, I said it. Unfortunately, 2020 marks the end of his powers as a starter, and 2019 1st round pick Jarrett Stidham puts on a lot of pressure to take up his spot at the main man at Lambeau Field. Rodgers holds onto his job through 2020, but that season may be his last before he starts holding the clipboard.
Houston Texans: DeShaun Watson
Before he shredded his ACL in 2017, Watson was on pace to break many-a-rookie record. Watson comes back strong from the injury and makes a claim as the best player in the NFL, winning Offensive Player of the Year in 2019 MVP in 2020.
Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck
Andrew Luck is a premier quarterback. It’s a shame he gets injured so much. After a strong 2018 season, Luck feels like he’s back. But then another injury during the 2019 season sets him back some more and backup JT Barrett inspired hope in his absence. Going into 2020, Luck is ready to move on, but needs a good season on his contract year. More importantly, however, the Colts are ready to move on from him.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Deondre Francois
For many years, the quarterback situation in Jacksonville has been a problem. The Jags are trying to build a dynasty, and with emerging wideouts such as Dante Pettis and Taylor Gabriel, as well as feature back Leonard Fournette and 3rd downer Derrius Guice, the 2019 AFC Wild Card team needs a franchise gunslinger. Enter Francois, who has the arm and the speed to make it in the big leagues.
Kansas City Chiefs: Patrick Mahomes II
The Chiefs didn’t give up two first round picks to get the Texas Tech alum for no reason. Mahomes has always been the future at the Chiefs’ QB spot, and that won’t change in 2020, as he was elected into the Pro Bowl and All-Star team for the first time in his career as the Chiefs win the Super Bowl against the Cowboys. Oh, and did I mention? New receiver Odell Beckham Jr. makes their life a lot easier.
LA Rams: Jared Goff
However good Goff may be, there will always be a question of “what if?” the Rams had taken Carson Wentz instead of him. Anyhow, Goff tosses TDs for fun, with Sammy Watkins, Cooper Kupp, and Robert Woods making his job easy and earning him an extention after a 2017 and 2019 playoff appearance.
Miami Dolphins: Brett Hundley
Hundley has shown flashes of talent in his brief stint as the Packers’ QB. And with Matt Moore and Ryan Tannehill injured, the 26 year old moves on from the Pack in 2019 to the ‘Fins, where he gets his money in free agency. However, backup Jacob Eason keeps him honest and working hard for his spot.
Minnesota Vikings: Case Keenum
Everyone thought Keenum was just another journeyman backup. But, with a shock Super Bowl 52 appearance, the Vikings decide to let him settle for once. His connection with Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs makes for a dominant team in Minneapolis. The extra addition of LeGarrette Blount to the backfield doesn’t exactly hurt, either.
New England Patriots: Tom Brady
TB-12 is still slinging the football at the age of 43. The GOAT gets a lifetime pass at the Patriots-he can play for them however long he so well wants. And when he wants to move on, rookie Trace McSorley is waiting, ready to take over the reigns and become the next Tom Brady.
New Orleans Saints: Teddy Bridgewater
Drew Brees is a generational quarterback, but even great careers must end at some point. For Drew, that is the end of the 2019 season, and backup Teddy Bridgewater is thrust into the first team squad. And Teddy’s talent-brimmed arm is finally shown, returning to performance levels that won him Rookie of the Year in 2014, and as for 2020, an NFC South Championship.
New York Giants: Josh Rosen
With the #5 pick in the 2018 NFL draft, the Giants pick Eli Manning’s eventual successor: Josh Rosen. The ex-UCLA player is a strong arm and great leader, and when Manning gets injured in 2018, the keys are given to Rosen, and he takes full advantage, forcing Manning into retirement in 2019.
New York Jets: Sam Darnold
Is there any question about this one? Darnold and the Gang Green seem like a match made in football heaven, and the Jets realize this and trade up to the #1 pick in the 2018 draft to take him. The last USC quarterback to play for the Jets led them to the playoffs twice, so what could go wrong?
Oakland Raiders: Derek Carr
Carr has this spot on lockdown, having secured a big money contract in 2016 that basically made this spot his. And why would that change? He is the MVP of the Super Bowl 53 champion Raiders, and with new addition David Johnson to replace Marshawn Lynch, an AFC team has risen to challenge Pittsburgh and New England.
Philadelphia Eagles: Carson Wentz
Super Bowl 52 champion Wentz loves the city of Philadelphia. And the city of Philadelphia loves Super Bowl 52 champion Wentz. The North Carolina native will stay in Philly as long as he so well wants, and that does mean he’ll be sticking around in 2020.
San Diego Chargers: Jalen Hurts
2-time NCAA champion Hurts looks like the new Russel Wilson- a cannon arm and two quick legs for rushing and scrambling. Hurts is a guy that can take a team from the bottom half of the league to champions, and the Chargers know this, deciding to screw Luke Falk and trade up to the #2 overall spot from #16 for Hurts in the 2020 draft.
San Francisco 49ers: Kirk Cousins
Cousins bails on Washington in 2018 free agency, rejecting a franchise tag and signs a 35 million-per-year deal to come save Kyle Shanahan’s sinking ship. But in 2020, Cousins is nearing the end of his peak (of leading the NFL’s best passing offense), and backup Nick Fitzgerald is ready to get some game-time when Cousins becomes a free agent in 2021.
Seattle Seahawks: Russel Wilson
Duh.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jameis Winston
Duh.
Tennessee Titans: Marcus Mariota
Duh.
Washington Redskins: Colin Kaepernick
In 2019, new head coach Jim Harbaugh says “S___ Goodell!” and signs Kaep to lead his team to where he took his brother’s team: five yards from winning the Super Bowl. However, the now part-time activist does not deliver, and although he holds a grip to the starter’s position over Josh McCown, the ‘Skins are eyeing one of Clemson’s Hunter Johnson, Georgia’s Justin Fields, or Tennessee’s Trevor Lawrence to be their new QB for 2021 and beyond. But for now, Kaepernick is fine.
Andrew lives and breathes sports. When not playing football for Canyon Vista Middle School or soccer with his soccer team, you can find him at work refereeing...
Colin • Mar 14, 2019 at 4:33 pm
HEY! You got Baker, Darnold and Allen right! And maybe Bridgewater and Rosen too!