Jimmy G, Lance highlight top QB battles this season
With rookie minicamps in the books, the NFL's rosters are finally coming into shape. This year there will be a number of key quarterback competitions as teams search for the right player to lead their franchises to victory in 2021. Here is a list of some of the top QB battles heading into the preseason.
Matt Nagy and the Bears have made it clear that they intend on Andy Dalton being the starting quarterback Week 1, but after Ryan Pace drafted Justin Fields No. 11 overall, things are expected to change.
Fields was impressive during rookie minicamp, but there's a long way to go.
While Nagy might do his best to downplay any official competition, starting Dalton might not give the Bears their best chance to win on Sundays this season.
Cam Newton re-signed with the New England Patriots on a one-year deal this offseason, but Bill Belichick still drafted the team's QB of the future, Mac Jones, with the No. 15 overall pick in the 2021 draft. Jones might not be ready to start Week 1, but that shouldn't hinder competition during training camp in August. Jones has all the tools to execute the run-heavy, play-action offense that Josh McDaniels likes to run.
While Newton has experience as a 10-year veteran in the league, Jones has the potential to be the Patriots' next great signal caller for years to come.
Jimmy Garoppolo expects to be the San Francisco 49ers' Week 1 starter. But since Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch drafted Trey Lance with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 draft, it might be only a matter of time before the rookie QB takes over. Garoppolo has dealt with a wealth of injuries over the course of his time in the Bay.
After missing all but three games in 2018, Garoppolo returned in 2019 and played all 16 games plus the playoffs and Super Bowl for the 49ers. But a lingering ankle injury limited him to six games in 2020. The chances are high that Garoppolo is replaced by Lance at some point in the season, but when that will be remains to be seen.
The Saints decided to re-sign Jameis Winston to a one-year deal this offseason despite inking Taysom Hill to a four-year, $140 million extension in March. With future Hall of Fame QB Drew Brees retired, Winston and Hill are prepared to have an intense battle in training camp this summer. Hill was listed as the second-string QB last season and started four games in place of the injured Brees, going 3-1. Despite being the third-string QB, Winston was still brought back, so Saints head coach Sean Payton must have a plan for the former Buccaneers starter.
Hill totaled 457 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on the ground while passing for 928 yards and four touchdowns and being Payton's Swiss Army knife for New Orleans' offense.
The Broncos might be favorites to trade for embattled Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers as of late, but the top two quarterbacks on their roster right now are prepared to battle it out for the starting job come August.
Denver traded for Panthers QB Teddy Bridgewater shortly before the 2021 NFL Draft, a sign their confidence in former 2019 second-round pick Drew Lock could be waning.
New Broncos GM George Paton has a relationship with Bridgewater from his days as the Minnesota Vikings assistant GM and might favor him over Lock heading into the season.
Either way, Denver's decisions the next couple months will be interesting to watch as they look to gain ground on the Kansas City Chiefs and keep up with the Los Angeles Chargers in a competitive AFC West division.
