There are many interesting headlines going into the 2022 NFL season. Multiple Quarterbacks across the league lost a top target, have a new home, or are facing adverse conditions for numerous reasons. As a result, many questions arise.
These are the 5 most interesting Quarterback Questions heading into 2022:
5. Will Aaron Rodgers still be a top QB without Davante Adams?
Back-to-back NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers will enter 2022 without his top target from the last 5+ seasons. Connecting for 1,375 yards and 18 Touchdowns in 2020 and 1,500 yards and 11 Touchdowns in 2021, Rodgers to Adams has been the best QB-WR duo in the league.
Last season, Adams was targeted 169 times, the second highest in the league. Rodger's second most targeted receiver, Allen Lazard, had just 60.
A Pro Bowler for 6 straight seasons and top 5 in the league in yards per game in each of the last 3 seasons, Adams is practically impossible to replace. In the two games Adams missed in 2020, though, Rodgers had his second highest passer rating of the season, threw for 610 yards, and won both games.
The Packers drafted receiver Christian Watson in the second round of the 2022 draft and also brought in Sammy Watkins. At 6'5, Watson is a big target and could turn out to be a steal for Green Bay and Watkins, the former 4th overall pick, has played for 4 teams in 8 seasons and has just one 1,000 yard season.
While Rodger's numbers may not look quite as good on paper, he will still be a top 5 Quarterback in 2022. Despite being 38 and losing the best receiver in the league, Rodgers does a better job than just about any other QB at winning with whoever is on the field and making other players better.
4. Which QB of the under-5-win teams from 2021 will bounce back?
The Jets, Texans, Jaguars, Giants, and Lions all had fewer than 5 wins in 2021.
The Texans, Jaguars, and Giants found new head coaches while the coaches of the Jets and Lions’ were in just their 2nd season and showed some promise.
One of my favorite drafts of 2022, the Jets have a strong young group of skill position players, and has set up 2nd year Quarterback, Zach Wilson, to succeed this season.
The offense has great potential with Corey Davis, Garret Wilson, and Elijah Moore at receiver and an improving offensive line. Wilson improved throughout last season and has been given the tools to take a major leap in 2022.
Wilson gravitated toward Moore last season, targeting him 77 times in 11 games. Moore emerged late in the season in particular and after drafting Garret Wilson, there is great potential at receiver. With the 36th pick, the Jets selected their future RB1 in Breece Hall to go along with 2021 RB selection, Michael Carter.
Daniel Jones is another interesting possibility. The Giants support of 25 year old QB has waivered and he must prove himself in 2022. He receives an unjust amount of hate and with his Pro Bowl Running back, Saqon Barkley, healthy, he can bounce back this season.
3. How will Tom Brady fair in his 23rd NFL season?
On February 2nd, the GOAT, Tom Brady, announced his retirement form the NFL. Just 2 months later, though, he was back, saying "I've realized my place is still on the field and not in the stands."
The all time NFL leader in passing yards, touchdowns, and super bowl wins has, astonishingly, shown few signs of slowing down despite his age of 44.
After a shocking move in 2020 which saw Brady leave the Patriots for Tampa Bay, he won the Super Bowl in his first season in a fashion only he could pull off.
For much of 2021, Brady was playing at an MVP level and finished the season as the league leader in passing yards and touchdowns. In the playoffs, he nearly pulled off an incredible 24 comeback against the eventual Super Bowl champion Rams.
While any reasonable logic about age suggests that Brady should be trailing off greatly if not retired, I expect 2022 to be another strong season. With a similarly strong squad to the past two seasons, Brady does not even need to play at an MVP level to fair well against NFC competition, especially within his own subpar division.
2. Which new QB will make the biggest impact?
After multiple notable QB moves in the offseason, we will see a few new starters across the league: DeShaun Watson/Jacoby Brissett, Mitch Trubisky/Kenny Pickett, Russell Wilson, Carson Wentz, Marcus Mariota, and Drew Lock.
While only a couple names jump out on this list, there are some interesting stories behind each.
I think the biggest impacts will come from Marcus Mariota and moreso, Russell Wilson. After 5 seasons with Tennessee as the starter and 2 in Las Vegas spent largely on the bench, Mariota is ready to become a starter once again.
Mariota played 2 seasons in Tennessee under current Falcons Head Coach, Arthur Smith. While the team around him is not the most experienced, there are familiar faces such as Smith and 5 other former-Titans brought in by Atlanta. Mariota has an underrated rushing ability and a capable arm to outperform Falcons QBs of the last few seasons.
Wilson, the obvious choice on this list, is a proven winner and joins an already capable team. The 9 time pro bowler and Super Bowl champion is joining the 7 win Broncos who have been a Quarterback away from success for multiple years.
Offensively, Wilson has similarly talented weapons to Seattle with Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton at receiver and Javonte Williams and Melvin Gordon in one of the league's best backfields. Denver has the best secondary in the NFL on paper and if they can live up to a fraction of those expectations, the defense can be dominant this season.
Wilson and the Seahawks had an off-year in 2021 but this fit makes too much sense not to work out.
1. Which QB Will Emerge in the Insane AFC West?
While the Chiefs remain the team to beat, the Chargers are on the rise, Broncos finally have a Quarterback, and the Raiders made a surprising run last season.
With an AFC Championship appearance in 4 straight seasons, Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs are the favorite to win the division but my pick is the Los Angeles Chargers.
Led by 3rd year QB, Justin Herbert, I would argue that the Chargers are the most talented in the NFL.
The offense is explosive with deep threat Mike Williams and the league's most consistent players, Keenan Allen, at receiver and the industrious Austin Ekeler in the backfield.
Not only is the division highly competitive but the games are insane. The Charger-Raiders game in Week 18 was the peak of regular season football and was a thrilling 35-32 Overtime win for Las Vegas. Chargers-Chiefs is always a good matchup, too, as two of the league's best and biggest-arm Quarterbacks trade shots.
Now, with Wilson in Denver, each team is built to score A LOT of points, making the division even more insane heading in 2022.