Five Potential Landing Spots for Jaguars Gardner Minshew

Despite Minshew’s performance, Foles will be the starter in Jacksonville for the near future. The former Super Bowl MVP signed a deal through 2022 that will see him make $88 million in total.

While Minshew is likely one of the better backup quarterbacks in the league. He isn’t likely to see the field barring an injury to Foles. The Jags could keep Minshew on as an affordable backup. However, if the team could get a high draft pick, would they sell off their diamond in the rough?

Last season the New Orleans Saints traded for Teddy Bridgewater, sending a third-round pick to the New York Jets. Their gamble paid off as Bridgewater filled in admirably following an injury to Drew Brees.

If the Jaguars could earn a third-round pick in return, would they trade Minshew?

While that question is open-ended, what isn’t is the fact that many teams around the league would be willing to trade for him. He has proven in an albeit short span that he could lead an offense and win football games. If a team feels that Minshew is their future, perhaps they offer Jacksonville a lucrative third-round pick.

Again, it’s no guarantee that the Jags would consider trading Minshew. However, if they did make that decision, multiple teams around the league should consider bringing in the former Washington State product to see if he could capture the “Minshew Magic” that made him one of the early stars of the 2019 season.

Chicago Bears

Perhaps the most obvious pick on the list, the Chicago Bears are desperate for a starting quarterback.

Mitch Trubisky has been mediocre to awful throughout the entire season. Playing in nine games, the Bears’ quarterback has completed 62% of his passes for 1,580 yards and a 9/4 touchdown/interception ratio.

His 82.2 passer rating ranks 26th among all active quarterbacks, while his adjusted quarterback rating of 35.9 ranks 31st among 33 qualifiers. Furthermore, Trubisky’s 5.6 yards per attempt ranks dead last among all qualifying quarterbacks in the NFL.

Trubisky has looked timid on the field, unwilling to take gambles in both the passing and running game. While some of the blame falls on head coach Matt Nagy, Trubisky doesn’t look like a quarterback who could lead the Bears to a Super Bowl.

The Defense Needs Help

Despite losing names like Arian Amos and Bryce Callahan in free agency and Akiem Hicks and Danny Trevathan to injury, Chicago’s defense still ranks seventh-best in the league in yards allowed. With a strong offense, the unit could rise to the success it had in the 2018 season.

While Minshew wouldn’t solve all the problems on offense, it would give Chicago a player with upside at the position. If the Bears want to win now, adding a player like Minshew could help spark the offense and bring the team back playoff contention.

The Bears do not have a pick in the first round of the 2020 Draft because of the Khalil Mack trade. They likely won’t find a player of Minshew’s immediate value in the second round, let alone the third.

Moving a mid-to-late third round or fourth-round pick for Minshew would give the Bears a controllable option at quarterback who provides more upside than Trubisky.

Los Angeles Chargers

Phillip Rivers has had an up and down season with the Chargers in 2019. Through 11 games played, Rivers is currently third in the league with 3,169 yards passing. However, his 14 interceptions also rank second-most in the NFL.

Likewise, Rivers’ 7.6 yards per attempt ranks 11th in the NFL whereas his completion percentage of 64.4 ranks 17th. With the Chargers sitting at 4-7 on the year, it seems unlikely that they reach the postseason.

As Rivers hits free agency this offseason, there have been murmurs that the Chargers don’t plan on bringing him back for a 17th season.

According to CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora, the Chargers have yet to engage Rivers on extension talks and do not have plans to. He goes on to write that Rivers’ relationship has frayed with some in the organization, and they may be prepared to go a different route at quarterback.

Rivers is a Chargers’ legend and one of the most impactful players in franchise history. However, with his decline in play and their full-time move to a new stadium in Los Angeles pending. The Chargers may choose to search for a new identity at quarterback.

The team will have Tyrod Taylor under contract for one more season at just $5 million. However, going on 31, the former Raven, Bill, and Brown hasn’t started more than three games since 2017. Also, he has only appeared in one playoff game in his nine-year career. He isn’t the future in Los Angeles.

Draft Options

The Chargers will likely have a pick in the top 15. They could be in range to select a quarterback like Justin Herbert. However, the Chargers went deep into the playoffs last season and are built to win-now. They may be willing to sacrifice a mid-round pick for a player who has shown he could succeed in the NFL than arguably the third-best quarterback in the draft class.

It would undoubtedly be different to see the Chargers enter 2020 without Rivers at quarterback. However, as the team begins a new era, it might be smart to start with a new quarterback.

Tennessee Titans

The Titans have been a bit of a surprise this season, currently sitting at 6-5 and just one game out of the AFC South lead. Perhaps the most shocking aspect is the team finding such success after benching Week One starter Marcus Mariota.

After six games and a 2-4 record, Mariota had completed just 59% of his passes for 1,179 yards and a 7/2 touchdown/interception ratio. He added 24 carries for 129 yards.

Head coach Mike Vrabel and the Titans’ brass had clearly seen enough of Mariota. From there, the former Dolphin Tannehill has completely revamped his value and seems like a solid NFL starting quarterback.

Through seven games, including five starts, Tannehill has completed 72% of his passes for 1,420 yards and a 10/4 touchdown/interception ratio. He has added 123 yards and three scores on the ground.

While he doesn’t qualify, Tannehill’s completion percentage would rank third in the NFL, whereas his 9.2 yards per attempt would rank highest in the league. Perhaps Tannehill’s most impressive stat, at least from a Titans perspective, is his 4-1 record as a starter this season.

Tennessee has already proven that they no longer believe Mariota is the future of the franchise. As a free agent after this season, he will likely no longer be with the organization.

The problem for the Titans is that Tannehill is also a free agent after signing a meager one year/$2 million contract this offseason. According to La Canfora, his play has other teams around the league interested in his services.

There’s still a chance the Titans re-sign Tannehill. However, if there is league-wide interest and his price tag gets too high, would they be willing to pay? While he has come on strong this season, it’s still Ryan Tannehill. The same quarterback that couldn’t cut it in Miami.

Perhaps he indeed has improved, but if this is a flash in the pan season, the Titans could get burned. They have dealt with mediocrity for so long with Mariota, signing Tannehill long-term only for him to regress could set the franchise back multiple years.

While like Tannehill, Minshew’s success isn’t a given; he certainly wouldn’t cost as much. On a sixth-round rookie contract, Minshew is paid pennies. He is a type of low-cost quarterback; you can build your offense around.

For the Titans’ coaching staff, Minshew would be the perfect mold of clay in which they could craft their quarterback of the future. Adding him to an offense that includes Derrick Henry and up-and-coming wide receiver A.J. Brown could be one of the more formidable in the AFC.

The Titans have a big decision to make on Tannehill this offseason. If he leads them to a playoff berth it may be hard to say goodbye.

However, if Tennessee has their future in mind, they should be looking to spend their money elsewhere and take a shot on a young quarterback who could be exactly what Marcus Mariota never was.

Miami Dolphins

On the surface, Miami might seem like an ill-fitted location for Minshew. It’s no secret the Dolphins are in need of a quarterback. However, it’s always seemed like the draft would be where they found their future signal-caller.

An injury to Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa might change those plans.

The Dolphins currently sit at 2-9 on the season with games against the Eagles, Patriots, and an away matchup against the Jets. There is a good possibility the Fins end with a maximum of four wins. That would put them squarely in position for a top-five pick.

Even if Cincinnati comes away with a victory this year, it’s hard to imagine them not earning the number one overall pick. It seems like a lock they’ll take LSU quarterback Joe Burrow with that selection. With Burrow off the board, the Dolphins have an interesting decision to make.

If Tagovailoa doesn’t declare, do they reach on Herbert or take a defensive piece to build around? Going deeper, if the Dolphins land the second overall pick in the draft, would they pass on Chase Young in favor of a quarterback?

Of course, these are just hypothetical, and there are many more games to be played before the draft order finalizes. However, if the Dolphins are in a position to take Young or another top defender, it seems foolish to pass on them for arguably the third-best quarterback in the draft.

The Dolphins’ lack of quarterback play has set their organization back. They need to find a signal-caller to build around. But they shouldn’t sacrifice adding potential difference makers to do so. Not when a player like Minshew could fall into their laps.

Miami has shown they’re willing to take a chance by trading draft picks for signal-callers. They moved a fourth-round pick for former UCLA Bruin and Arizona Cardinal Josh Rosen. Rosen didn’t pan out as a Dolphin as he lost the starting job to journeyman Ryan Fitzpatrick. Nevertheless, that doesn’t mean Miami’s front office wouldn’t try again.

The Dolphins are in full rebuild mode. They traded two building blocks in offensive lineman Laremy Tunsil and cornerback/safety Minkah Fitzpatrick for first-round picks. The 2020 draft will see the team land three new faces of the franchise, much like the Browns did in the 2017 draft.

Looking at that Browns’ draft, the team took Myles Garrett number one overall, over Patrick Mahones, Deshaun Watson, and Mitch Trubusky despite their quarterback needs. While Garrett is obviously in the headlines for his on-field assault of Mason Rudolph, he is one of the best pass rushers in the NFL.

If the Dolphins could get a player like Myles Garrett (Young) while continuing to build a team, rather than taking a quarterback for the heck of it, perhaps their rebuild would move quicker.

Miami has proven they’re willing to trade mid-round picks for a quarterback with upside. Minshew has proven to be more NFL-ready than Rosen in his small sample size. Perhaps the Dolphins would be willing to build around him rather than take a shot in the draft, especially if Tagovailoa isn’t available.

Ask yourself this Dolphins’ fans: Would you rather have Chase Young and Gardner Minshew, or Justin Herbert and Taco Charlton?

Carolina Panthers

Like the Dolphins, the Panthers may seem like another interesting choice. A team like the Broncos could use a quarterback, but they took Drew Lock in the second round last season and are more likely to add another through the draft. The Bengals are the most quarterback-needy team in the league but looked poised to land Joe Burrow. Perhaps the Raiders would consider moving on from Derek Carr, but he certainly hasn’t looked bad in 2019. That leaves us with the Panthers.

Starting with Cam Newton, the former MVP has been out for all but two games in 2019 with a foot injury. In those two games, he completed just 56.2% of his passes for 572 yards and a 0/1 touchdown/interception ratio. He “added” just five rushes for negative two yards.

Newton isn’t the player he once was, and his name has been on the rumor mill all season. There’s no word on if the Panthers would deal Newton. He is owed a little under $19 million in 2020 before hitting free agency. Perhaps if Carolina gets a strong offer, they would trade their franchise signal-caller.

Kyle Allen

With Newton’s health issues keeping him out almost all season, Kyle Allen has been functioning as the Panthers’ starting quarterback. Through nine games, he has completed 62% of his passes for 2,179 yards and 13/9 touchdown/interception ratio.

He ranks 22nd in passing yards and 25th in passing yards. While he has shown potential at times, the Panthers sit at just 5-6 and have lost four of their last five games. With the Saints holding a four-game lead in the NFC South, the Panthers’ playoff hopes are slowly slipping away.

Allen hasn’t necessarily been bad, but he doesn’t have the same level of play-making ability that Newton holds. He’s a decent game manager, but without a running back like Christian McCaffery, it’s hard to see him succeeding long-term.

Allen is an Exclusive Rights free agent this offseason, meaning the Panthers could sign him to a one-year tender bringing him back to Carolina. There’s a good chance they do that, as he now has starting experience with the team and it wouldn’t cost much. However, the Panthers should be looking for an upgrade at the quarterback position, whether or not they trade Newton.

It’s probably the least likely scenario on the list, but the Panthers could find themselves in quarterback trouble this offseason. The Saints aren’t going away in the NFC South, and the Bucs and Falcons should only get better. Carolina should be looking for ways to maximize their potential.

The Jaguars Minshew gives them a legitimate play-maker who would elevate the offense. With CMC as well as DJ Moore and Curtis Samuel in the fold, Minshew would help the Panthers find their true potential on offense.

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