Retread QB - trend or mirage? (1 Viewer)

[oldmanhawkins]

At the current moment, it appears that many NFL teams are finding success by grabbing a retread QB (or two) and opting for experience over the shiny new toys in the draft. It remains to be seen if it will have an impact on the draft position of this year’s class, but other teams do seem quick to copy it.

This got me thinking about all of the retread QBs from the past and there were so many more than initially came to mind so I thought I’d pole the pool to see if you think the recent examples of teams giving a QB a 2nd or 3rd chance rather than spending a high draft pick on the position is more trend or mirage.

 

[eighsse2]

Seems like the decent ones who started out garbage usually come from the Jets. Hmm, definitely nothing to be concluded from that ...

 

[oldmanhawkins]

It’s interesting to see how the giants, jets and browns have set themselves up to go this route if needed with Wilson/winston, fields/taylor and Flacco/pickett. And it is easy to dismiss the logic behind the approach because of the franchises involved. But, I think it is prudent how these teams have competent solutions to the QB position and can now let the draft come to them.

 

[-OZ-]

It’s interesting to see how the giants, jets and browns have set themselves up to go this route if needed with Wilson/winston, fields/taylor and Flacco/pickett. And it is easy to dismiss the logic behind the approach because of the franchises involved. But, I think it is prudent how these teams have competent solutions to the QB position and can now let the draft come to them.

titans best QB since McNair was a retread. I’d have wanted them to do that again.

 

[travdogg]

Seems like the decent ones who started out garbage usually come from the Jets. Hmm, definitely nothing to be concluded from that ...

I'm gonna go ahead and continue to bet against Zach Wilson.

 

[oldmanhawkins]

It’s interesting to see how the giants, jets and browns have set themselves up to go this route if needed with Wilson/winston, fields/taylor and Flacco/pickett. And it is easy to dismiss the logic behind the approach because of the franchises involved. But, I think it is prudent how these teams have competent solutions to the QB position and can now let the draft come to them.

titans best QB since McNair was a retread. I’d have wanted them to do that again.

I think I would, if I were in their position. Draft Carter or Hunter and make a play for Cousins. I was never a believer in Levis but he’s still only 25. Are they going to give Ward more than a few dozen starts to figure it out?

 

[oldmanhawkins]

Seems like the decent ones who started out garbage usually come from the Jets. Hmm, definitely nothing to be concluded from that ...

I'm gonna go ahead and continue to bet against Zach Wilson.

I feel the same about Kenny Pickett, but both landed in favorable situations and stranger things have happened.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

it appears that many NFL teams are finding success by grabbing a retread QB (or two)

Who is finding success doing that? Serious question, as I'm blanking on recalling one in my old age.

 

[oldmanhawkins]

it appears that many NFL teams are finding success by grabbing a retread QB (or two)

Who is finding success doing that? Serious question, as I'm blanking on recalling one in my old age.

The notable recent ones are Geno with the Seahawks, Baker in Tampa, Darnold on the Vikings.

 

[osubuckeyeman]

Would Alex Smith fit this mold? I'm not sure I would consider him a bust in San Francisco.

 

[travdogg]

Would Alex Smith fit this mold? I'm not sure I would consider him a bust in San Francisco.

I don't think so. KC traded a 2nd round pick for him, so he was clearly highly thought of. I think if Smith were included, then you are basically just saying any QB who changes teams counts.

 

[menobrown]

it appears that many NFL teams are finding success by grabbing a retread QB (or two)

Who is finding success doing that? Serious question, as I'm blanking on recalling one in my old age.

The notable recent ones are Geno with the Seahawks, Baker in Tampa, Darnold on the Vikings.

I count the Steelers in that group.

 

[menobrown]

And it's not a mirage, not sure I even want to call it a trend, it's just the way it is.

There are only so many QB's a team is going to grade high enough to draft high and annoint and you got to be lucky/bad enough to get a pick for one of them or pay out the nose to move up(which has been a disaster more times then not, especially when paying to move into top 3).

Maybe GM's are getting smarter about not feeling like you have to take just any QB in round one because you need one. For sure they got to see recent history shows that it's a myth to think drafting a QB high buys you time.

So when you don't pick or can't get a draft pick high enough to draft a QB you believe can be your franchise QB then this is what you got to do and I don't see that not continuing.

 

[Biabreakable]

Projecting Plus QBs Using Plus Metrics and Aging Curves

Plus metrics may require normalization, but there’s nothing normal about these QBs.

medium.com

 

[Biabreakable]

The author does a nice job of normalizing the data throwing outliers like Brady out, but you see a steady progression in these QB metrics from age 25 to 30 and even beyond that although most don't keep playing after age 40.

 

[InDitkaWeTrust]

Thinking of the younger retreads (Baker, Fields, Darnold, etc), the pressure to produce immediately is immense. Back when rookie QBs had time to adjust to the NFL game, coaches and teams could really evaluate and develop them. Now, they are thrown into a starter's position with minimal practice and development time. Guys like AR and Trey Lance had 24 and 18 college starts respectively. Add in that the 1st round picks typically go to bad franchises with failing coaches/GMs, it's a recipe for disaster. I think the extra COVID years has unintentionally helped some of these guys get more reps under their belts making them more NFL ready (Nix, Daniels).

 

[Grahamburn]

it appears that many NFL teams are finding success by grabbing a retread QB (or two)

Who is finding success doing that? Serious question, as I'm blanking on recalling one in my old age.

The notable recent ones are Geno with the Seahawks, Baker in Tampa, Darnold on the Vikings.

There’s no room for patience anymore. No time to develop a guy. Draft someone in the top 10 they had better be the guy and quickly.

Unfortunately, these guys are typically going to really bad rosters and/or organizations.

They’re generally set up to fail. Not coincidentally they find more success elsewhere with a defined culture and solid roster where there’s less pressure on them to perform.

Baker fit into Tampa like a peg.

I personally think the Vikings have made a big mistake. But, their roster and culture is still great so McCarthy may not feel that pressure.

 

[InDitkaWeTrust]

it appears that many NFL teams are finding success by grabbing a retread QB (or two)

Who is finding success doing that? Serious question, as I'm blanking on recalling one in my old age.

The notable recent ones are Geno with the Seahawks, Baker in Tampa, Darnold on the Vikings.

There’s no room for patience anymore. No time to develop a guy. Draft someone in the top 10 they had better be the guy and quickly.

Unfortunately, these guys are typically going to really bad rosters and/or organizations.

They’re generally set up to fail. Not coincidentally they find more success elsewhere with a defined culture and solid roster where there’s less pressure on them to perform.

Baker fit into Tampa like a peg.

I personally think the Vikings have made a big mistake. But, their roster and culture is still great so McCarthy may not feel that pressure.

Agreed on the Vikes. I know the groupthink around here is that JJM will be amazing from the get go, but I expect there will be some fairly strong growing pains in their offense for most of the 2025 season.

 

[-OZ-]

Unfortunately, these guys are typically going to really bad rosters and/or organizations.

It’s amazing how some franchises seem to turn the page when they get a QB. Washington is a surprising example, Houston seems to have too. Minnesota and Denver seem to have greatly improved, or just had a down year the year before; I fully expect Chicago and Atlanta to show major strides this year. Although Chicago has a tough schedule with only one “easy” away game (possibly 4 easy home games, so that’s something).

 

[Biabreakable]

it appears that many NFL teams are finding success by grabbing a retread QB (or two)

Who is finding success doing that? Serious question, as I'm blanking on recalling one in my old age.

The notable recent ones are Geno with the Seahawks, Baker in Tampa, Darnold on the Vikings.

There’s no room for patience anymore. No time to develop a guy. Draft someone in the top 10 they had better be the guy and quickly.

Unfortunately, these guys are typically going to really bad rosters and/or organizations.

They’re generally set up to fail. Not coincidentally they find more success elsewhere with a defined culture and solid roster where there’s less pressure on them to perform.

Baker fit into Tampa like a peg.

I personally think the Vikings have made a big mistake. But, their roster and culture is still great so McCarthy may not feel that pressure.

Lets not forget Baker had a really good rookie season but yeah the Browns.

 

[Biabreakable]

it appears that many NFL teams are finding success by grabbing a retread QB (or two)

Who is finding success doing that? Serious question, as I'm blanking on recalling one in my old age.

The notable recent ones are Geno with the Seahawks, Baker in Tampa, Darnold on the Vikings.

There’s no room for patience anymore. No time to develop a guy. Draft someone in the top 10 they had better be the guy and quickly.

Unfortunately, these guys are typically going to really bad rosters and/or organizations.

They’re generally set up to fail. Not coincidentally they find more success elsewhere with a defined culture and solid roster where there’s less pressure on them to perform.

Baker fit into Tampa like a peg.

I personally think the Vikings have made a big mistake. But, their roster and culture is still great so McCarthy may not feel that pressure.

Agreed on the Vikes. I know the groupthink around here is that JJM will be amazing from the get go, but I expect there will be some fairly strong growing pains in their offense for most of the 2025 season.

Certainly could be a step back statically for the Vikings passing game as I do expect the Vikings to really try to run the ball more.

In the long run I think the Vikings will be proven right and McCarthy becomes a really good QB but of course that may take some time.

 

[Ray_T]

At the current moment, it appears that many NFL teams are finding success by grabbing a retread QB (or two) and opting for experience over the shiny new toys in the draft. It remains to be seen if it will have an impact on the draft position of this year’s class, but other teams do seem quick to copy it.

This got me thinking about all of the retread QBs from the past and there were so many more than initially came to mind so I thought I’d pole the pool to see if you think the recent examples of teams giving a QB a 2nd or 3rd chance rather than spending a high draft pick on the position is more trend or mirage.

this is actually not a new thing. we went away from it for a few years, but this actually was the norm a number of years ago. A few teams have discovered that you can still have success if you are pulling one of those retread QB into the right situation.