Does The NFL Have A Development Problem?
With the Colts benching second-year QB Anthony Richardson, a narrative has started to form around the struggles of young NFL quarterbacks. The question is, “Does the NFL have a problem developing young players?” It’s a valid question, and there are many sides to the argument. What should the NFL change moving forward?
Young QBs On The Bench
Multiple quarterbacks under the age of 30 are currently sitting on the bench: Anthony Richardson (22), Trey Lance (24), Justin Fields (25), Will Levis (25), Zach Wilson (25), Mac Jones (26), and Kenny Pickett (26). All of these quarterbacks were drafted within the last five years and faced varying challenges coming into the league.
Justin Fields was drafted by the Chicago Bears, Levis to the Titans, Wilson to the Jets, and Jones to the Patriots. All of these QBs went to franchises that were at a low point. They were brought in to save their respective teams, and immediately thrust into the fire. Those failures fall on the team offices.
Build The House First
Jayden Daniels and CJ Stroud, who have seen immediate success, were brought into different situations. Washington already had playmakers like Terry McLaurin and Brian Robinson Jr., who could help ease the transition. The Texans were in a similar spot, with wideout Nico Collins and a defense that was ready to contend. These are teams that set their franchise QBs up for success immediately, as opposed to throwing them to the wolves with nothing.
Then there is the other developmental option, let them sit while you build for them. Jordan Love sat behind Aaron Rodgers for two years, learning from a veteran while the team was being assembled. Now he has his receiver room with guys like Romeo Doubs and Jayden Reed, and their chemistry is off the charts. Patrick Mahomes sat behind Alex Smith for a year, waiting and establishing a relationship with Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill. These QBs had time to build their skills and have a team molded around that.
Comparatively, the Patriots drafted Mac Jones in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Less than three years later, the Patriots have a new head coach, GM, and quarterback, while Jones sits on a bench in Jacksonville. Jones didn’t live up to the hype, which was on him, but the situation around him wasn’t good either.
The Jets drafted Zach Wilson second overall in that same 2021 Draft. He was brought into a team that just went 2-14 and fired their head coach. New York was entering a rebuild and had nothing in place for Wilson to succeed. Similar to Mac Jones, Wilson hasn’t lived up to the expectations, but maybe they shouldn’t have been on him to begin with.
Why Don’t Other Positions Face This Problem?
The fourth overall pick in the 2021 draft was tight end Kyle Pitts to the Atlanta Falcons. For three years, fans have talked about his talent being wasted. Despite the Falcons’ struggles in that span, he hasn’t been benched or traded.
Two years later the Falcons drafted Bijan Robinson eighth overall. He’s faced the same issues that Pitts has, in the same organization. Now the Falcons have a new coach and a new system, and both of these players are thriving. Ultimately it wasn’t that they were busts, it was the Falcons’ leadership that failed them.
Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold are examples of how a new system can help a quarterback succeed, similar to skill position players. Mayfield looked like a bust in Cleveland. He was a meme and a laughingstock, while Darnold was "seeing ghosts" on the Jets. Both developed as backups in new systems and now they’re seeing success they never could before. Pitts, Robinson, Darnold, and Mayfield, all under effective leadership, are on fire right now.
Should The NFL Implement A Developmental System?
The simple answer here is yes. The NBA has its G-League to help young players develop and find their rhythm before going to the wolves. The NFL treats College as their developmental system, but that system is broken now. College football has become more than a place to grow, it’s now something much bigger. Players can make money in college through NIL deals, they can become famous for being a QB for the school they’re at. The NFL is still where the big money is, but college is no longer just a program.
Players like Anthony Richardson, who played only 25 games in college, were never developed for the NFL. Richardson only threw 66 pass attempts in his first two years at college. If he had come into the NFL, and been given time to develop to the NFL style, he might still be Indy’s future.
When Will Levis was drafted, there were questions about his ability to transition to the NFL, a G-League-style system might have done wonders for him. Of course “maybe” and “might have” only go so far. While it’s possible they would’ve failed in the NFL anyways, a proper system would eliminate that “what-if”.
How Long Is Too Long?
Did the Colts give up too soon? Anthony Richardson was drafted and benched after only 10 starts. There is also the issue of holding on too long. The Giants are seeing that with Daniel Jones, who is in his sixth, and likely final year in New York. Jones’ fifth-year option was declined, and he was set to leave after his rookie deal. He stepped up in 2021 and earned a massive contract, one that the Giants are likely regretting.
Teams can either give up too soon or hold on too long. It’s difficult to tell where the line is. Rookie contracts are as low as they are for a reason, to see if things work out before long-term commitment. Organizations shouldn't expect a player to be an immediate game-changer, but acknowledge that they’re just a piece of a larger puzzle. Anthony Richardson shouldn’t have been expected to save the Colts. Mac Jones shouldn’t have been dubbed “Brady’s replacement”.
Patience can be a virtue with a new QB. The Broncos kicked Tim Tebow to the curb despite the fact he won a playoff game in his first year as the starter. He never found a starting position again after that. Tebow was a talented QB who never had the chance to progress in his career, and the Broncos would spend most of the next decade in QB purgatory. Now Tebow is a massive “what-if” in NFL history.
What Should Expectations Be?
The NFL does have a development problem. The problem is that organizations and fans look to 21-year-olds to save a multi-million-dollar franchise. Not every player will be Jayden Daniels or CJ Stroud. Josh Allen threw 10 touchdowns and 12 interceptions his rookie season, now he’s a top-five QB in the league.
Let these young men make mistakes and learn, build around their strengths. If a QB gets to their fourth year and still doesn’t have “it”, then it’s time to move on. If a player can sit and learn, take the opportunity. If that’s not the case, temper expectations, and let the growing pains hurt.
Benching a young QB is seen as a punishment, it should instead be an opportunity. The NFL is a tough transition, and if someone takes to it quickly, that’s perfect. Sometimes these players are a project though and need to be built around to find their place.
Anthony Richardson might be a great QB one day, but the only way to find out is to lengthen the leash and let him develop at his pace. Good things take time, and giving up too soon might lead to great regret. There is no one single solution to this, sometimes things just don't work out, and sometimes they do.
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