MONDAY MORNING QUARTERBACK

How Joe Burrow is on pace to have all-time record

Bengals QB Joe Burrow has been very impressive in his first three years in the NFL and is on pace to finish his career with an all-time NFL record.

Burrow currently holds the all-time record for completion percentage (68.2%) over likely future Hall of Fame QB Drew Brees (67.7%).



Burrow has a long way to go as Brees played for 20 seasons in the NFL, but it's not an impossible feat as he enters his fourth year in the league.

During Burrow's rookie season, he played in just 10 games before tearing his ACL. Before his injury, he was running for his life and posted a 65.3 completion percentage as Cincinnati had one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL.

However, the Bengals have since put their focus on rebuilding their offensive line and they have certainly done so. It might not be a finished product, but the team's recent success proves it's been enough.

In Burrow's last two seasons, he's posted a 70.4 completion percentage and 68.3 completion percentage. If those numbers continue throughout the rest of his career, he'll never let the record go.

Another major factor in Burrow's success is his reliable weapons. Cincinnati has arguably the best wide receiver trio in the league. WR Tyler Boyd may be on the back end of his career, but the Bengals have shown no interest in letting wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins go anytime soon.

If that stays true, the continuity at wide receiver will certainly help Burrow finish his career as the NFL's all-time leader in completion percentage and maybe a ring or two as well.

YARDBARKER

 

Three reasons Lamar Jackson could win second MVP in 2023



Ravens QB Lamar Jackson was electric during the 2019 season on his way to his first career NFL MVP Award. Here are three reasons he will win his second MVP in 2023.

Best weapons yet
Baltimore has given Jackson the best supporting cast he has had in his career thus far. The team signed wide receivers Odell Beckham Jr. and Nelson Agholor in free agency and drafted WR Zay Flowers in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft. They join an offense that already includes All-Pro tight end Mark Andrews and former first-round pick WR Rashod Bateman.

Jackson is so confident with his new weapons that he said he wants to "throw for 6,000" yards this season. He may not throw for that many yards but it feels likely that he'll eclipse his career-best 3,127 pass yards from his 2019 MVP season. Plus, it's expected he'll continue to do some damage with his legs as well.

New offensive coordinator
The Ravens parted ways with Greg Roman this offseason and hired Todd Monken as their new offensive coordinator. Monken spent the last three years as the University of Georgia's offensive coordinator, helping the Bulldogs win two straight College National Championships.

Baltimore is hoping his offense, which was the fourth-best in points per game (41.1) and fifth-best in total yards per game (501.1) in 2022, can find similar success in the NFL. Former Ravens offensive tackle Orlando Brown Jr. told ESPN that he believes Jackson was "hindered" in the system Roman ran. If that's true, Jackson may have his best season yet in Monken's new offense.

Prove it year
Baltimore made Jackson the highest-paid quarterback in the league this offseason, signing him to a five-year, $260 million deal. Some may think it's a lot to invest in a player who has yet to make it past the Divisional round of the playoffs, but Jackson must prove those doubters wrong this year.

There are no more excuses for Jackson. He is happily paid in a new offensive system with the best weapons he's gotten to play with. The Ravens went all in on Jackson so he will look to repay them in wins in 2023.

YARDBARKER

 

3 reasons why he may not... Steelers, Bengals and Browns!

 

Did Raiders make winning decision replacing Derek Carr with Jimmy Garoppolo?

Following a rather unceremonious benching and subsequent release, Derek Carr has left Las Vegas for New Orleans.

The Raiders' all-time leading passer has been replaced by Jimmy Garoppolo, who's reunited with former offensive coordinator and new head coach Josh McDaniels.

Thus, the prevailing quandary ahead of the Raiders' 2023 season will be if Las Vegas made the correct choice replacing Carr with Garoppolo. NFL Research suggests the Silver and Black might well have made the right call.

Since 2017, Garoppolo has the third-highest QB winning percentage (minimum 25 starts) among active NFL quarterbacks, while Carr's 54 QB losses are the most in the league.

For a franchise forged on the motto "Just win baby," Garoppolo's resume portends doing just that.

Obviously, the lingering issue for Garoppolo, past and present, is his availability. Currently, the injury-prone signal-caller is on the road back from foot surgery.

Checkered as his injury history is, Garoppolo's quite simply a proven winner.

During his six seasons with the 49ers, Garoppolo led San Francisco to the playoffs every year he started double-digit games, which was three of the last four. For his career, Jimmy G is 40-17 as a starter, while Carr's 63-79 mark in nine seasons is the most losses for a QB over his first nine years since at least 1950, per NFL Research.

The Raiders went to the playoffs just twice in Carr's tenure, though he hardly got much help with an NFL-worst scoring defense (26.2 points per game) during his time.

Still, the Raiders haven't won a division title in 20 years, while Garoppolo helped the Niners to an NFC West crown a season ago.

Overall, Garoppolo has been the more efficient of the two, as well.

The former Patriots and 49ers QB boasts a better completion percentage (67.8-64.6), more yards per attempt (8.3-7.1) and a greater passer rating (99.7-91.8) in his career than Carr.

Perhaps most importantly to McDaniels and the Raiders is that Garoppolo has four playoff wins in his career, while Carr will be vying for his first still with the Saints this fall.

Did the Raiders make the right decision going with Jimmy G and moving on from Carr? Only the season ahead will tell, but NFL Research certainly offers up a statistical explanation of why the Silver and Black could be led to believe the future is brighter with Garoppolo under center.

NFL.com

 

Jackson ain’t winning another MVP and the Raiders will be a better team with Garoppolo . Better than the Ravens.

 

I doubt that, but anything can happen, thats why they play the games.

 

Sam Darnold: Grasping offense “a work in progress,” excited to continue in training camp

As long as Brock Purdy remains in rehab mode for his elbow, the 49ers will have a competition between Trey Lance and Sam Darnold for the starting quarterback job.

The 49ers acquired Lance with the third overall pick of the 2021 draft, so he has spent three years with head coach Kyle Shanahan in the team’s offensive system. Darnold was with the Jets and Panthers before signing with the 49ers this offseason, so he’s had to get a handle on the offense while also trying to show that he can run it well enough to play this fall.

During an interview with Jennifer Lee Chan of NBCSportsBayArea.com at teammate George Kittle’s Tight End University, Darnold gave an update on how that’s going.

“Yeah, it’s been a work in progress ,” Darnold said. “I thought I got better throughout camp and just got more comfortable with the system, so still got to study and go through the process of continuing to learn the system. But I’m excited for it, and it’s been really fun so far.”

Word from the 49ers and Purdy has been that he’s on track to be ready for the regular season, so Darnold’s work might be put toward a bid for the No. 2 job when all is said and done.

NBC

 

Trey Lance: Last year was a bump in the road, and I will be better for it

Since the 49ers drafted Trey Lance as their next franchise quarterback, he has experienced nothing but injuries and disappointment.

Lance heads into his third season happy and, most importantly, healthy.

“Yeah, absolutely,” Lance told Jennifer Lee Chan of NBC Sports Bay Area during the recent Tight End University. “I’m in a great spot physically, mentally and just excited for this year.”

Lance broke a finger in the preseason of his rookie season and saw his second season end only 16 snaps into Week 2 with an ankle injury. The No. 3 overall pick in 2021 has played only 262 snaps in eight games over two seasons, with two starts.

“I like to play,” Lance said. “That’s why I came here, so it’s definitely hard when I don’t get that opportunity, and last year was part of it. Just a bump in the road and I’ll be better for it.”

Lance headed into his second season as the team’s starter. He heads into his third behind at least Brock Purdy, if Purdy can return from elbow surgery before the start of the season. The 49ers, though, started three quarterbacks last season and played four, so Lance will stay ready for whatever happens.

At some point, he will get another chance, whether that’s in San Francisco or somewhere else.

The 49ers report to Santa Clara for trianing camp on July 25.

NBC

 

Jaylen Waddle explains why he loves playing with Tua Tagovailoa

Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle led the NFL in yards per catch last season, and he credits quarterback Tua Tagovailoa for that.

Waddle told KPRC in Houston that coach Mike McDaniel’s offense emphasizes receivers gaining yards after the catch, and Tagovailoa puts his receivers in a perfect position to accomplish that.

“His ball placement. I think everybody sees it, knowing exactly where to place the ball so his receivers can not just catch it, but catch it and run with it. That’s what makes Tua Tua,” Waddle said.

Waddle has now played with Tagovailoa for two years in the NFL, after previously playing together at Alabama, and he said they have developed a strong rapport.

“It’s great,” Waddle said. “Tua’s a great guy. We’ve got years in with us playing together, so it’s always good being familiar with your quarterback, from the college game to the NFL game. It’s like riding a bike, getting back playing with him. It’s fun. You don’t have to learn quarterback tendencies when you’ve already played with him.”

After averaging just 9.8 yards per catch as a rookie in 2021, Waddle averaged a whopping 18.1 yards per catch in 2022, with Tagovailoa and Waddle showing that their rapport is a great fit in McDaniels’ offense.

PFT

 

The only thing that can hold Tua back is his health

 

Jalen Hurts finds thrill in never being satisfied

For quarterbacks who have won a Super Bowl (like Aaron Rodgers), there’s a real question that emerges regarding what comes next. For those who are still chasing that first one, there’s no ambiguity. They won’t be satisfied until they climb the mountain.

Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, who nearly got there in 2022, remains driven to make it happen. And he enjoys the torment that comes with it.

“Everybody aspires to be the best and works to be the best, but ultimately you have to find some separation,” Hurts recently told Rob Maaddi of the Associated Press. “And that’s the thrill . There’s a thrill in not being satisfied and there’s a thrill in being on this journey, and I have embraced that. I love this game and I know my purpose within this game. I truly just want to be intentional. . . . So every day I just try to be the best that I can be and that is not based off of external factors. Those things don’t matter. You just try and control what you can.”

Hurts has the right mindset to succeed. We saw it last year, in his dramatic improvement following his second NFL season. This year, some wonder whether he’ll stay in the pocket more often and develop as more of a passer.

As Maaddi notes, Hurts isn’t saying.

“I put a lot of work in,” Hurts said when asked about the possibility of more passing and less running. “I invest a ton into this and always have, and I just want to continue to quantify my work. That’s been something that I’ve been able to do since I’ve been in college. So that’s always my goal. Find those weaknesses and turn them into your strengths. And then if you do have a strength, boost it and make it a touch stronger.”

Hurts will only ever be limited by the limits of his God-given abilities. He will always be driven to get the most out oeverything he has. There’s a powerful lesson in that for the rest of his teammates — and for the rest of us.

NBC

 

The; "Just because I can" files;

Since taking over as the Vikings starting QB in 2018, Cousins ranks second in completion percentage (67.8), fourth in touchdowns (153), and fifth in passing yards (20,934) and passer rating (100.9) over that span, per StatMuse.

Of Jefferson’s (JJ was asked to pick his current top 5 QB's in the League) top five QBs — Patrick Mahomes, Aaron Rodgers, Joe Burrow, Jalen Hurts and Josh Allen — only Mahomes has more passing yards, and only Mahomes and Rodgers have more touchdowns than Cousins over the last five seasons.


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Bottom feeder when it comes to big games tho, lol.

 

Not tooting my own horn, but that’s why I drafted Mahomes AND Cousins in the 6pt/TD league yesterday!


Wait… I guess I am rooting that horn.. loudly

 

I'll be honest, Mahomes was who I wanted on my 1st pick, but I knew he'd be gone, so I looked at Cousins quite extensively, but the uncertainty of his future caused me to go Herbert.

Im Kirk's biggest fan, he really is a good QB, just snake-bit when it comes to primetime or playoffs. If he plays as well as he can this season and the Vikings defense shows up under Flores, I could be happy come playoffs time, but its a one week at a time thing.

Good luck with your WDF team, its a dandy of a team!

 

Good luck to you also!!! I would definitely take Herbert over Cousins, but when he was still there, I couldn’t resist, after filling all my starter spots.

 

Jim Irsay: It’s going to be tough for Anthony Richardson as a rookie, but he has to play

The Colts haven’t named Anthony Richardson their season-opening starter, but whether he starts the first game, the No. 4 overall pick will play early and often this season.

Richardson will become the third quarterback drafted in the top five to start as a rookie for the Colts over the past 25 years.

The Colts selected Peyton Manning with the No. 1 overall pick in 1998, and Manning started all 16 games his rookie season. Andrew Luck, the No. 1 overall pick in 2012, also started every game as a rookie with the Colts.

So how many games will Richardson start for the Colts this season?

Colts owner Jim Irsay drew the distinction between Manning and Richardson. Manning started 45 college games, while Richardson started only 13. Even then, the Colts went 3-13 in Manning’s rookie season.

The Colts know there will be growing pains for Richardson and, in turn, for them, but they are building for the future.

“For Anthony Richardson, it’s going to be tough . We know that,” Irsay said on the Pat McAfee Show on Monday. “But he has to play to get better. I mean, there’s no question. Gardner [Minshew] could play come out and obviously play better early on, just being a veteran, but we have to get Anthony on the field. That’s Shane’s call when he decides to do it.”

NBC

 

Deshaun Watson expects 'tight' chemistry with Amari Cooper in second season with Browns

After undergoing core muscle surgery, Amari Cooper, the Cleveland Browns' WR1, missed some offseason work. Cooper also missed throwing sessions in Houston and Puerto Rico with quarterback Deshaun Watson.

However, Watson and Cooper have gotten work in post-June minicamp to work on their chemistry.

"Amari's going to be good," Watson told Ashley Bastock of Cleveland.com at the QB's inaugural high school 7-on-7 tournament on Tuesday. "He's a guy that's a vet, been in the league for a while, so he knows exactly what he needs to do to be ready for the season and training camp and our chemistry is going to be tight. We've been hanging out, we just going to continue to build that chemistry as much as possible."

Cooper generated 1,160 yards and nine touchdowns on 78 catches in his first year in Cleveland. In the six games Watson played in 2022, Cooper earned 21 catches for 368 yards and two TDs. He had just one game over the 75-yard mark in those six contests after generating six such instances in his first 11 games.

The Browns are counting on Watson returning to his Pro Bowl days after knocking the rust off. The addition of Elijah Moore to the WR corps provides another potential playmaker. Still, the connection between Watson and Cooper will ultimately determine how high Cleveland's passing offense can soar in 2023.

NFL.com

 

Will..........do you think Deshaun Watson is a early pick or a late pick in Fantasy ?

He has the potential to get his MOJO back.

 

It will be purely made by each individual based on their own opinion. His return last year was not compelling at all. Doesn't mean he won't return to form, but I won't be picking him early. Ask anyone around here, I always draft Browns players early.

 

I agree with, Irish, Im not thinking he's an early pick. I hope/wish he does well for Cleveland, but I dont see any concrete evidence that he should be an early pick based on last years showing. Its up in the air at the moment and he sure will have weapons, but as it stands right now, Id look elsewhere when considering a 'top pick' QB'.