Arrr! A scurvy dog o' a NFL agent be chattin' 'bout why them scallywag backup quarterbacks be the second most prized mateys on a ship!
2024-01-11
Arrr! The 2023 NFL be the season o' the scallywag quarterbacks! Me matey, the renowned sports agent Leigh Steinberg, be chattin' about the reckonin' it brings fer the times t'come.
The 2023 NFL season has seen a rise in backup quarterbacks taking over due to injuries or lackluster performances. Now, two teams in the playoffs are being led by backup quarterbacks. This trend has caught the attention of legendary NFL agent Leigh Steinberg, who believes that investing in a solid backup quarterback is crucial for teams moving forward.According to Steinberg, the backup quarterback spot is the second most valuable position on a team's roster after the starting franchise quarterback. This season alone, 66 different quarterbacks have started in NFL games, just two fewer than last season's record. This indicates that at some point, the starter is likely to miss time, and teams will have to rely on their backup quarterbacks.
Steinberg suggests that teams should start viewing their second and third-string quarterbacks as irreplaceable, just like their starters. He refers to the San Francisco 49ers as an example, where multiple quarterbacks had to step in during crucial games due to injuries. Steinberg proposes a dynamic similar to the 49ers' approach in the late 1980s, where they had a backup quarterback with the ability to be a starter elsewhere.
However, Steinberg acknowledges that changes would need to be made in the league to allow for this strategy to be effective. He suggests a cap exception for the second quarterback to accommodate the financial aspect of investing in a quality backup.
Steinberg believes that the rise of backup quarterbacks in the 2023 season will influence the draft, with more quarterbacks being taken in the early rounds. He also anticipates that teams with franchise quarterbacks will be in the market for young signal-callers they can develop for the long term.
In the playoffs, Joe Flacco and Mason Rudolph, both backup quarterbacks, will lead their teams, the Cleveland Browns and the Pittsburgh Steelers, respectively. This further demonstrates the importance of having a reliable backup quarterback in today's NFL.