Is Quarterback Development One of the NFL’s Biggest Problems?
The NFL has a development problem, primarily with quarterbacks. Gone are the years of allowing quarterbacks to sit and develop. Usually, teams that draft in the top 10 are considered to be bad teams. The problems these teams face can vary, but there is almost always one massive hole to fill: the quarterback. Quarterback is arguably the most challenging position to play in all of sports. The position requires a rare mix of physicality and mental fortitude. Neither attribute guarantees success, and neither does having both. The success of the quarterback also depends on the situation around him. Being drafted into a terrible situation or an organization that has a strained relationship between the coach and the front office can be devastating. There are many examples of these quarterbacks over the years. Let's examine some examples of quarterbacks who have become elite after a year of sitting, and those who have been thrown into the fire and discarded.
The Art of Development
There was a time in the NFL when rookies wouldn’t see the field in their first year. Rookies would have to earn their keep and prove that they belong on the field by putting in the work. Which brings me to my first example of a player sitting and learning: Patrick Mahomes. If it weren’t for Tom Brady, Mahomes would probably be the GOAT. The current Chiefs quarterback was drafted 10th overall in the 2017 draft. Since then, Mahomes has lit up the league, throwing for over 32,000 yards, 245 touchdowns, a completion percentage of 66.6, six Pro Bowls, two All-Pros, two MVPs, and three Super Bowls, all in eight years. An insane stat line for eight years, the former MVP spent his rookie year on the bench. Alex Smith was the starter in 2017, and he was perfect for what he was. In 2017, Smith led the Chiefs to the playoffs with a Pro Bowl and over 4,000 passing yards. The former first overall pick got the job done, but head coach Andy Reid saw his chance and jumped all over it, trading up for the former Texas Tech quarterback. Reid is considered one of the greatest coaches in league history, and he subscribes to the old school philosophy that rookies must sit. Mahomes credits both Reid and Smith for his growth as a quarterback, with the latter teaching him how to analyze film effectively. This begs the question of what would have happened if the Bears drafted the MVP? We may never know, but what we do know is that the Bears have a history of ruining quarterbacks. Would Mahomes have been afforded the luxury of sitting and learning or tossed into the fire?
Another future Hall of Famer who was drafted behind an established starter is Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers was not just drafted behind a starter, but a Hall of Famer in Brett Favre. At 36, Favre had already carved a Hall of Fame career, but with Father Time creeping in, the Packers were eager to find a replacement for the future. The former Cal quarterback fell to the 24th pick in the 2005 draft, where the Packers seized their opportunity. Rodgers didn’t start until 2008. Along with head coach Mike McCarthy, the Packers rose into prominence for the decade. In retrospect, it is wild that a quarterback of Rodgers’s pedigree spent three years on the bench. He hoped to be drafted first overall by the San Francisco 49ers.
Two future Hall of Famers, both of whom sat their first year or years in Rodgers' case. Both of these players met the physical and intellectual minimums, but what set them apart and guided their paths forward was an environment that allowed them to grow. It is evident in just these two player cases that the environment in which a quarterback is drafted has a dramatic effect on their future. Somewhere along the road, a couple of chosen quarterbacks came into the league and broke the mold on the art of development. For every chosen one, there were multiple wasted talents, banished to the shadows of history.
A Cautionary Tale of Those Left Behind
Whether the brights are too light, personal off-the-field issues, or organizational issues, not every play will succeed at the next level. No other player exemplifies all three of these issues like JaMarcus Russell. After a phenomenal junior season at LSU, throwing for 3,129 yards, 28 touchdowns, and bringing home a bowl win, Russell flew to the top of draft boards. The former LSU quarterback’s rookie season was less than desirable. The team went 4-12, cycling through two quarterbacks. The team also lacked receiving talent, with no receivers breaking the 1,000-yard mark. Under head coach Lane Kiffin, the locker room and coaching staff were in complete disarray. Kiffin’s lack of results and loss of the locker room led to his termination after just four games into the 2008 season. The former first overall pick found himself in a situation with all odds against him, with the pressure of the organization on his back. He was expected to turn the team around, despite lacking the necessary tools to do so. Russell was not interim head coach Tom Cable’s guy. Russell was also dealing with his own personal demons in addiction. Unfortunately, Russell found himself out of the league only two years later. The Raiders organization had failed Russell and his development, pushing him further away. Russell is not entirely faultless in this whole ordeal, but it begs the question: What would Russell look like with a better-organized team?
The next candidate that is heading towards irrelevance is Anthony Richardson. Richardson is an athletic freak, breaking records at the NFL Combine—the former Florida quarterback measured in at six-foot-four, 244 pounds. He continued to put on a show with a 4.43 40-yard dash, 40.5-inch broad jump, and a 129-inch broad jump. Richardson threw the ball so hard that it hit the top of the roof of the training facility. With these athletic feats, Richardson’s draft stock rose to the top, only behind C.J. Stroud and Bryce Young. The Colts, looking to restart their franchise, took Richardson with the fourth overall pick. The pick did not come without doubt.
Richardson only played 24 games while at Florida, and during those games, his flaws were on full display. Besides availability, the future Colts quarterback suffered from accuracy and turnover issues. With the signing of new head coach Shane Steichen and a decent receiving room, the Colts felt that they could steer him towards greatness. The 2023 fourth overall pick’s talents were on full display during his first few games. Big throws and huge rushing upside were the name of his game. Richardson still missed easy passes and made major mistakes, but the future looked bright. Richardson ended up hurting his shoulder, forcing him out for the rest of the season. Unfortunately, this is where the best of Richardson’s playing ends. His next couple of years were wrought with turnovers, injuries, and inaccuracy. In 2024, with his most played games, Richardson threw for 1,814 yards, eight touchdowns, and 12 interceptions with a completion rate of 47.7%. He was benched after he pulled himself out of a game for two games. It is apparent that Richardson is not ready to be a starting quarterback in the NFL, let alone a franchise staple. Anthony Richardson will never get the time he needs to develop with the Colts. His only hope now is to be picked up by a team willing to let him sit and learn.
The Reality of the Development Problem
Anthony Richardson is the unfortunate product of a team looking for a quick solution. Teams will always be obsessed with winning because winning equals profit. Profits will always come at the detriment of the players, as they are the product. These players are just a couple of examples of the many who have come before them and the many who will go after them. The bottom line is that players need environments that allow them to grow and develop. The coaches and staff are the unsung heroes of the NFL. Without them, players wouldn’t be able to hit their caps, but many players will be thrown under the bus and shipped off, while the franchise will continue to stand.