The Lions got Jared Goff back in the blockbuster Matthew Stafford trade, but with all their newfound draft capital they very well may take another passer early. They’ve got the seventh overall pick in April, plus two future first-rounders from the Rams now. Even if they do draft a young quarterback, it sounds like new offensive coordinator Anthony Lynn would prefer Goff to play initially. After acknowledging that if there were a dramatic difference in training camp he would have to play the better player to keep the locker room, Lynn explained his belief that a rookie quarterback should sit at first, via Carlos Monarrez of the Detroit Free Press.
“I’d love to see that rookie sit and watch for a little while. If he could watch for half the season or watch for the first year like Patrick Mahomes did (behind Alex Smith), I believe he can learn so much from the right veteran quarterback because a lot of rookies come into this league and they’re not ready,” the Lions’ new offensive play-caller said. “The speed of the game is twice as fast as it was in college and they don’t have success. And in today’s environment with social media things get out of whack and some of these guys lose their confidence and, hell, they never get it back. So if I can sit a rookie, I will. If I can.”
Of course, Lynn was the head coach of the Chargers this past year when they initially started Tyrod Taylor over first-round pick Justin Herbert. An injury knocked out Taylor after only one game, and Herbert took the job and never looked back.
Here’s more from the NFC:
- Many teams lost full-time starters due to COVID-19 opt outs for 2020, including the Bears with defensive tackle Eddie Goldman. Goldman started at least 15 games at nose tackle in each of the three previous seasons for Chicago before sitting out this past year. Fortunately for the Bears, new defensive coordinator Sean Desai said Monday that the team believes they’ll have him back in 2021, per Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com. Due to the league’s opt-out rules, Goldman’s contract, which owes him $4.75MM next year, tolled to 2021 automatically.
- Cardinals outside linebacker Dennis Gardeck had a breakout 2020 season when he recorded seven sacks, but unfortunately it ended in injury. He was placed on injured reserve with a couple of games left to go, but we didn’t know at the time how severe it was. In an Instagram post last month, Gardeck revealed it was a torn ACL that he suffered. An UDFA in 2018 out of D2 school Sioux Falls, he was just a special teamer his first two years. He still was only getting limited snaps this past year but made the most of them, racking up the seven sacks despite playing less than ten percent of the defensive snaps. He had three multi-sack games. Unfortunately due to how late his ACL tear came, he should be considered questionable for Week 1 right now.
- In case you missed it, the 49ers are reportedly either going to take a ‘big swing’, or stick with Jimmy Garoppolo.
I don’t think there is a right or correct answer as if a young QB should sit or start. We have seen plenty succeed and plenty fail. P Manning always said playing was the most important thing to do for a young starter.
And I believe it truly worked for Peyton because he was so confident in himself. That same exact season he had could have ruined some other young QBs.
Both ways can work, but if you’re going to throw a rookie into the starting job right away he needs to be allowed to fail for the entire season. Meaning the team isn’t looking to yank his job from him after 2-3 bad games. He needs a coach that has his back and a supporting cast around him that can block, catch, and run.
Let’s be real, Peyton had an advantage with two future Hall of Famers in Marshall Faulk and Marvin Harrison there to support him.
Just a few years ago people were saying Josh Allen was a bust. He had 10 TDs in 12 games with 12 INTs and 8 fumbles. The Bills let him play his own style and grow into being a good QB. They let him learn and started surrounding him with weapons and now he’s a star. Be patient with a QB and it usually works out.
Having said that, I’m a Bears fan and it doesn’t always work out. If there’s no progress after two years you need to pull the ripcord.
The Lions should be packaging those future first rounders in a deal to move up and get a QB THIS year – as next year looks weak for QB’s, especially if you are picking somewhere in the 20’s.
They have the number 7 pick
And will probably have better than that next year… and the year after… and after. (Plus the Rams picks in the 20s.)
Because early first round QBs always work out.
The Lions need to add talent to the defense and see if a change of scheme can get Goff’s performance back toward his 2017/18 performance. If he can, they have a great 26 yr old QB. If not, they have a top 3 pick again and won’t need to package their other 1st.
Well… with Golladay, Jones, and Amendola all probably on their way out… whoever the QB is will need someone other than Hockenson to throw to.