NFL Opinion: Trio Of Veteran Quarterbacks Looking To Shine -

The NFL will never treat every veteran quarterback in the same manner. Which of these three veterans will succeed?

When three veteran quarterbacks found new homes this offseason, each of their respective fanbases cheered. Yet, the potential ugliness of pressure to win becomes the specter that hangs over their new destination. Granted, two of these passers led their team to at least one Super Bowl appearance. Meanwhile, the other racked up stats and regular-season glory, whatever that means. In the NFL, a quarterback is one game away from lionization or condemnation. Regardless of where their fortunes fall, their new teams needed them. With that said, how will they perform?

Aaron Rodgers

For the entirety of his starting career in Green Bay, people attempted to draw a parallel between Rodgers and Tom Brady. The six Super Bowl differences and countless accolades end that conversation. Now, in New York, Rodgers from first blush appears content and happy. He takes the help of a team, filled with young talent that does not know how to win at the NFL level yet. Instead, they will look to Rodgers to get them over the hump. Joe Douglas works miracles as general manager. He stockpiled picks and spent them wisely to bolster the starting talent and depth on both sides. Despite entering his age-40 season, Rodgers maintains a level of play that the Jets would crave. For the first time since 2021, Rodgers works for an offensive coordinator that he can trust. Nathaniel Hackett sits at the controls, acting more as a consigliere than a leader.

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Derek Carr

When the Las Vegas Raiders sent Derek Carr home for the last two games of the 2022-2023 NFL season, you knew he would not return. The new brass wanted their own player and Carr, despite his fealty to previous regimes, never clicked with Josh McDaniels. After an early offseason of meetings and waiting, Carr found himself signing with the New Orleans Saints. For the first time since Drew Brees retired, the Saints actually employ an above-average NFL starting quarterback. However, the limits of Carr’s talent prevent him from taking a bigger step. Yet, his issues were never physical, blessed with serious arm talent. In New Orleans,a franchise that invested in high-dollar talents, the goal is to win immediately. Forget the grace/honeymoon period.

Jimmy Garoppolo

Perhaps no NFL quarterback with a winning record endures the derision and mocking than the former Niner. Armed with a 67.6 completion percentage, an 8.3 yards per attempt, you’d think people would show Graoppolo love. However, people look at those stellar Niner defenses, the injury bug, and missed game-winner to Emmanuel Sanders. Now, one of those remains Garoppolo’s fault. In Las Vegas, this feels truly like his last shot as a starter. Not just that, but a starter to build around. The Raiders came up empty in the first round. There is no apprentice-in-waiting. The Raiders, for at least the next year or two, will sink or swim with Garoppolo. Josh McDaniels probably lobbied for Garoppolo. While they are both at the crossroads of their careers, both coach and player need to win.

The Odds Overview

In all honesty, all of these quarterbacks will not enjoy success in their new city. The NFL fates love to play cruel tricks of bad luck and happenstance. Under those consequences, who succeeds? Barring a meltdown/tantrum, Aaron Rodgers should make the Jets a playoff contender. On the other hand, Jimmy Garoppolo will line up as the fourth-best quarterback in his division. So, the margin for error becomes that much slimmer. In the NFL as in life, the best ability is availability, meaning avoiding the injury bug helps. Lastly, Derek Carr possesses the best weapons of the three. Yet, without the elements being a problem, being a good offensive line, he has no excuses left. Life in the NFL remains like how every game starts: a coin flip.