Quarterbacks With Something to Prove in 2018

Writer: Peter DiPaola

Each NFL season, players in every position have to prove themselves, this piece focuses on the quarterbacks that have something to prove in 2018.

JAMEIS WINSTON 

Jameis will not be starting the first three games of the 2018 season due to a suspension from an off the field incident in which Winston was accused of groping a female Uber driver. He is now entering his fourth season in the NFL, and in 45 games played since being taken with the first pick in 2015 he has compiled the following statistics:
11,636 Yards
60.8% Passes completed
69 Passing touchdowns
44 Interceptions
513 Rush yards
8 Rushing touchdowns (6 of which came his rookie season)
15 Lost fumbles

In 45 games Winston has 77 total touchdowns and 59 turnovers, and with his turnover issues, and being suspended the first three games of 2018, Winston could be in a tough spot once he comes back. The Buccaneers start off the season on the road against their division rival Saints, then they play back to back home games, one against the Eagles and the other against the Steelers. If the Buccaneers have a rocky start, when Winston comes back he will have to play smarter football by keeping the turnovers down. If he struggles when he comes back and Tampa Bay has another losing season, the young signal caller might face a tough road ahead attempting to stay in Tampa.

Keep an eye on Winston in 2018, this could be a make or break year for the former Heisman winner.

RYAN TANNEHILL

After spending all of 2017 on the injured reserve, Ryan Tannehill will be back as the Dolphins starting quarterback in 2018. Why is Tannehill on this list?  Following his first four years in the NFL, in which Tannehill improved each season in passing categories, he struggled in 2016. During the 2016 season, Tannehill played in 13 games, tossing 19 touchdowns and 12 interceptions and averaged 230.4 yards a game.  To be fair during 2016 he did set career highs in completion percentage (67.1%) and passer rating (93.5). So while Tannehill has shown potential in the NFL, he is coming back after missing the 2017 season due to a torn ACL he suffered in a training camp practice. Tannehill will also be missing wide receiver Jarvis Landry (traded to the Browns), who led the league in receptions  (112) in 2017. Tannehill is a quarterback to watch this upcoming season, watch him to see how he comes back from injury and how he performs with some new teammates.

MARCUS MARIOTA

Marcus Mariota is entering his fourth year in the league, and he has played in 42 games (all starts), in his career he has compiled the following statistics:
9.476 Passing yards
61.8% Passes completed
58 Passing Touchdowns
34 Interceptions
913 Rush yards
9 Rushing touchdowns
12 Lost fumbles

In total he has 67 total touchdowns and 46 turnovers in 42 games, Marcus went from 26 touchdowns and 9 interceptions in 2016 to 13 touchdowns and 15 interceptions on 2017. Tennessee did manage to make the playoffs in 2017 and won a road game against the Kansas City Chiefs on wildcard weekend. Tennessee now has a new head coach in Mike Vrabel, Marcus will have to show his new coaching staff that he can improve from his down season. New coaching staffs will want players that fit their system, Marcus is a quarterback worth following in 2018. Watch to see how he looks to improve and fit in the new coaches system, if Mariota can play the way he did in 2016, or better, he should not have to worry about his future.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

JOE FLACCO- Joe Flacco averaged 196.3 yards per game in 2017, his worst since his rookie season in 2018 (185.7 per game). His team, the Baltimore Ravens, traded back up into the first round and selected quarterback Lamar Jackson with the 32nd pick as well. As long as Flacco can stay healthy and improve on his numbers, he should be safe.

TYROD TAYLOR- After helping the Buffalo Bills get to the playoffs last season for the first time since 1999, he was shipped to the Cleveland Browns. Tyrod makes this list because if he performs well, the Browns could shop him if they can resign him or tag him after the season is over. That is because they have the 2017 Heisman winner and 2018 first overall pick, quarterback, Baker Mayfield on the roster.

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