News around the NFL has made the past week seem at least a teeny bit normal, as sports fans around the world have now flocked to the news of new acquisitions to escape from reality. In the past several days, former league MVPs (regular season and Super Bowl), Heisman winners, and No. 1 overall picks have either hit the market or signed with new teams. The 2020 football season got kicked off in style this week, so what better way to dive into new storylines than to start off with incredible moves at the Quarterback position.
Tom Brady – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The legend of Tom Brady continues. Arguably the biggest acquisition of the last twenty years in the league, the six-time Super Bowl Champion has decided to take his talents to Tampa Bay after 20 seasons and nine Super Bowl appearances with the New England Patriots. Brady signed a two-year, $50 million dollar deal (all guaranteed), with no tags or trade clauses prohibited in the deal. He’ll be heading an offense that is spearheaded by a tremendous dual-threat passing attack of Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, along with a well respected Head Coach in Bruce Arians. We’ll have to wait and see on the degree of upgrade that the 42-year old vet is over Jameis Winston, but one thing is for sure – Tampa Bay now becomes the ultimate free agent destination.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers +200 odds to Win NFC South / +850 to win NFC Championship
A no-trade clause…
A no tag clause…
Brady is planning to play two years in Tampa and leave open the option of continuing his NFL career…. pic.twitter.com/XFX9l5Ozgt— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 20, 2020
Philp Rivers – Indianapolis Colts
Another tenured relationship has ended, as Philip Rivers will travel cross country to Indianapolis after 16 seasons with the San Diego / Los Angeles Chargers. The move didn’t come as much of a surprise, as signs pointed to this most of the 2019 regular season. The 38-year old Rivers will look to bounce back and bring a Colts team that has been dragged through the mud the past year back to the playoffs.
Indianapolis Colts +150 odds to Win AFC South / +1400 to Win AFC Championship
Philip Rivers and his A+ trash talk are headed to Indy 🎙😂
(via @thecheckdown)pic.twitter.com/dqiNJJZpDl
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) March 17, 2020
Nick Foles – Chicago Bears
In an interesting series of events, Nick Foles finds himself in a Quarterback battle with Mitch Trubisky in Chicago two years removed from a Super Bowl MVP with the Eagles, and one year removed from signing a massive deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Many Bears fans were following the hype circling around the reports surround a signing of Saints’ Teddy Bridgewater but were then given the news that their hometown team came to terms with Foles instead. This is still an upgrade from Trubisky, but it will be interesting to see when the Bears make the official statement that Foles will be starting games. Chicago is buying extremely high on the hopes that Nick can return to Super Bowl MVP form, so this could either work out very well or wind up being train wreck terrible for the Monsters of the Midway.
Chicago Bears +300 odds to Win NFC North / +2000 to Win NFC Championship
Nick Foles has gone from Philly to St Louis to Kansas City back to Philly to Jacksonville and now to Chicago in the span of seven years. Won a little Super Bowl MVP in there.
Weirdest. Career. Ever.
— Zack Rosenblatt (@ZackBlatt) March 18, 2020
Teddy Bridgewater – Carolina Panthers
The Saints had some serious decisions to make with their three QBs for the 2020 season. Ultimately, they brought back their captain, Drew Brees, on a two-year deal that will ultimately make him a Saint for life. New Orleans also chose to hold onto swiss-army knife Taysom Hill, who was given a first-round tender. After Bridgewater’s impressive 5-0 run as the starter due to Brees’ in-season injury last year, the Panthers seem to think they can build their team around a proven mobile Quarterback instead of injury-ridden Cam Newton. Carolina has several moving parts to figure out the next few months (new Head Coach, new staff, new QB), but what Bridgewater brings to the table compliments nicely with Christian McCaffrey, DJ Moore, and the rest of the Panthers offense.
Carolina Panthers +1400 to Win NFC South / +6600 to Win NFC Championship
The #Panthers have their new QB: Teddy Bridgewater lands in Carolina. pic.twitter.com/0j3geVFL9V
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 17, 2020
Marcus Mariota – Las Vegas Raiders
Tennessee has finally moved on from Marcus Mariota. Their No. 2 overall pick in the 2015 draft played four seasons with the Titans (29-32 career record as a starter) but could never really take his team over the hump outside of an impressive playoff run in the 2017-18 season. Mariota will join forces with Jon Gruden and the Las Vegas Raiders, where he will compete with Derek Carr for the starting job.
Las Vegas Raiders +800 to Win AFC West / +1600 to Win AFC Championship
Jon Gruden is HYPED about the signing of Marcus Mariota 😂
(via @FrankCaliendo)pic.twitter.com/scrSa18NlW
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) March 17, 2020
There have been several backup QB moves around the league as well. Lions Jeff Driskel signed a two-year deal with the Broncos to back up to Drew Lock following Joe Flacco’s departure. Colt McCoy left Washington and will now be the No.2 to Daniel Jones with the Giants. Due to the Nick Foles signing, Chicago has parted ways with Chase Daniel, who will now take his services to Detroit to back up Matthew Stafford. Finally, Case Keenum is packing his bags once again, as the veteran will depart to the Cleveland Browns, where he will serve as a much-needed eye for Baker Mayfield in an important year for the Dawg Pound.
Cam Newton, Jameis Winston, Andy Dalton, and Joe Flacco are among the NFL Starting Quarterbacks who have not yet found a home in 2020. Other unsigned free agents include Blake Bortles, Brett Hundley, Mike Glennon, Josh McCown, and Trevor Semian.
