The quarterback position is the most important of all football and have instilled in them a responsibility to carry teams into the promise land of playoffs. Teams draft quarterbacks to help rebuild a franchise. In the league there are players that are given the chance to do so, but have to take the opportunity by the horns and dominate it to the best of their ability. Some quarterbacks rise to the occasion and finally live up to their potential while others fall flat on their face. People say defenses win championships but I think a quarterback gets them there. The real questions are: How long does a team wait before they give someone else a shot? Will one year of success be enough?
Next season a couple of quarterbacks will be walking on thin ice and will have to have an impressive season to stay in their teams. Some of the teams may even draft quarterbacks to give these guys competition.
Sam Bradford, St. Louis Rams
When Bradford came out of the draft he was the expected savior of the Rams and was undoubtedly the best quarterback and backed it up with a rookie of the year award. After that people thought of him as a sure thing for the Rams, but the year after that was when the injuries came. In 2011 he wasn’t able to finish the season plus he wasn’t on pace for a good year. He had as many touchdowns as interceptions and while he started in double digits games his touchdowns weren’t in the double digits. He has failed to take the team to the playoffs and while his division is strong when he started off they had an opportunity, but failed to grasp it. Another important aspect is his health and how he has only finished two seasons which were decent, but that is a red light because that was his big red flag before he got drafted. The Rams may give him another shot but it wouldn’t be surprising if they get someone who will be biting his heels to start.
Matt Schaub, Oakland Raiders
The Raiders acquired Schaub this year for a pick in the draft, but they got him in the lowest point of his career. While Matt Schaub was part of Texans history by leading them to the playoffs he hasn’t played like he used to. This last year he threw a pick six in four straight games. Later in the year Schaub got benched and was then looked at as expendable to the Texans. While the Raiders look at him as a proven veteran, he might be more of a clipboard guy that can help someone for the future. The Raiders are looking for him to start, but they may want someone waiting in the wings to clean up if he makes a mess.
Jake Locker, Tennessee Titans
Locker was drafted as a player to plug, but has failed to put a spark in the offense of the Titans. He has not started all 16 games since he started the league and seems to have an injury bug that he can’t seem to shake. The Titans haven’t made the playoffs sine 2008 and are looking for someone to take the reigns and take over the team. While they do have Charlie Whitehurst and Tyler Wilson who both have had their shot to start and failed. The Titans may not be drafting someone this year, but if they don’t see him succeed this year he may be on his way out in 2015.
Photo Credit: AP Photo/Tom Gannam