By Lance Tominaga, ESPN Honolulu Web Editor.
There’s no question that the NFL is a quarterback’s league. Every team with championship aspirations needs a franchise QB to lead the way, i.e. Tom Brady and Tampa Bay, Patrick Mahomes and Kansas City, and Aaron Rodgers and Green Bay. Franchise QBs, however, don’t always stick with one team. Here are five top NFL QBs who could be on the move after the season:
- AARON RODGERS: Rodgers is still under contract through the 2022 season, but the QB’s relationship with the Packers organization has deteriorated to the point where a divorce seems inevitable. Such a breakup would make financial sense for the franchise, with Rodgers scheduled to make nearly $27 million next season. Besides, the Packers are anxious to see what second-year QB Jordan Love – their 2020 first-round draft pick – can do.
- RUSSELL WILSON: The rumors are enough to make Seahawk fans sleepless in Seattle. Wilson has grown disenchanted with the team’s offensive system, enough so that he expressed a willingness to be traded before the start of this season. His agent, in fact, named four teams that Wilson was willing to be dealt to.
- DESHAUN WATSON: This one’s a no-brainer. Once regarded as a Top Five NFL QB, Watson’s 2021 season – and maybe his career – has been derailed by multiple accusations of sexual misconduct. At this time next year, Watson will either be on a different team or out of of the league. The Miami Dolphins were said to be wanting to deal for the beleaguered WB. Is that interest still there?
- DEREK CARR: After Sunday’s embarrassing loss to Kansas City, it’s looking more likely that the Raiders will clean house. That will almost certainly include bringing in a new head coach, and that coach will likely want his own guy leading the offensive huddle. When he’s on his game and has the right talent around him, Carr has shown he can be a Top 10 QB. Expect the team to try to deal him for a second-round pick.
- BEN ROETHLISBERGER: He’s had a Hall of Fame career, but Big Ben’s time in Pittsburgh is coming to an end. The Steelers need to rebuild, while Roethlisberger still has designs on slinging his way to another Super Bowl title. He’ll be better off elsewhere.