If we put on our thinking caps, which of the highly-touted Rookie prospects does Mariota's game and skill set most closely identify with?
Happy New (NFL) Year, fellas!
As we begin Day 3 of the Unofficial Tampering Period, and impact signings begin to taper off, we begin to turn our focus back to the 2024 NFL Draft, I will re-ask this question to the group accompanied by
@Brunell4MVP 's post from upthread...
Not a fan of the Mariotta signing. What’s the point? I’m not a believer of the vet in the qb room to help a youngster. The only way this makes sense to me is if they plan to start Howell next season or wait until round 2 for a qb, then have all 3 of those in the room to fight it out for the job. But I’m an idiot so there’s that.
For whatever reason, I strongly believe the Mariota signing is a tell that they're drafting Daniels over Maye if they hold the 1.02 Pick.
I have a different opinion about how to build a QB room, and until he signed with the Patriots, I was really hoping we were going to retain Brissett, (who I believe is one of the best, if not the best backup QB in the League), to continue as a guide and mentor in the room, and if they were to go QB, to either draft Maye at 1.02, or trade back for McCarthy or another of the 'traditional mold' (dropback pocket passer) QB's, vs one of the more 'modern mold' (dual-threat) QB's, and continue developing Howell.
Part of my optimal QB room build includes a veteran backup who mirrors the playing style of the QB you're trying to develop. Mariota is more Daniels than Maye.
I have full faith in Adam Peters, and I'm going to assume he knows he has a minimal-investment, high-return commodity in Howell (5th Round cost, live game experience, with flashes of competence, rookie contract), who's value could potentially increase, and will not move him this Season unless he gets an outstanding offer. Howell has some legit dual-threat to his game, that we saw in college, but hasn't been overly emphasized in the NFL.
I also think that no matter what the Team is doing in Free Agency (and I'm almost giddy about it, thus far), they still have a lot of work to do on the Roster, and that the 2024 Season is going to be a springboard for long-term, consistent success. This Team is nowhere near ready, IMHO, to put a rookie QB, no matter the pedigree of draft cost, under center, taking game-speed snaps, until more of the foundation is laid and set. If we invest in a Rookie QB in the upcoming Draft, I want him on the sideline holding a clipboard until everything is in place to set him up to succeed or fail on his own merits, and not fail due to extenuating circumstances.
Does anyone else think the willingness to let Brissett walk, for roughly the same amount of $ as they gave Mariota, is a tell about how they're going to manage the QB position moving forward?