1) We are not likely to have an elite QB. It could happen. We have 5 more years with Jones.
2) We may now have a top 10 QB, or not.
3) We have a QB for low money for the next four years, and we have the rights to him for another.
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At most, 10 teams are in the SB over a five-year time period. What is the best plan to be one of them?
IMO, it is difficult to be a SB team without an elite QB. It can happen. What would it take? It would take building a very strong roster around the quarterback. That isn't done in a year or even two. We had a year of transition. We are now in Year 2 of our QB.
Going into last offseason, this team was a disaster. The team drafted well and spent more money in free agency than anyone in the league. Getting to the playoffs was an incredible accomplishment. All but message board posters understand that.
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2022 and BEYOND
We aren't favored to be in the playoffs. We are unlikely to have one of the 6 top AFC QB's in the AFC this year. We will fight for the playoffs, as we did last year. However, success this year and beyond is going to be based on building a much stronger roster.
Let's look at the CLE example. They got their QB. They build around him. They won their first playoff game in decades. The QB was injured and had a mediocre season in 2021.
CLE had the roster, but weren't sure of their QB going forward, and wouldn't commit. Going into 2022, they were a playoff team without a top 10 QB. CLE knew they needed to get a QB this year or next. Their roster was ready to compete with the best. CLE went out and made a simple bet, that Watson will be healthy. He is clearly an elite QB. If CLE loses their bet, the very worst result would be that they will go back to what they were before this 5-year run (going on 10 with Watson).
And we are in a similar position that CLE was 3 years ago. We are in Year 2 of Jones. We will build a team. If Jones doesn't develop into an elite QB, we'll likely move on a try again, this time with a quality team BEFORE securing our next QB or continuing with Jones. We could even draft a QB as early as 2023, while continuing to build the roster.
2) We may now have a top 10 QB, or not.
3) We have a QB for low money for the next four years, and we have the rights to him for another.
============================
At most, 10 teams are in the SB over a five-year time period. What is the best plan to be one of them?
IMO, it is difficult to be a SB team without an elite QB. It can happen. What would it take? It would take building a very strong roster around the quarterback. That isn't done in a year or even two. We had a year of transition. We are now in Year 2 of our QB.
Going into last offseason, this team was a disaster. The team drafted well and spent more money in free agency than anyone in the league. Getting to the playoffs was an incredible accomplishment. All but message board posters understand that.
==============
2022 and BEYOND
We aren't favored to be in the playoffs. We are unlikely to have one of the 6 top AFC QB's in the AFC this year. We will fight for the playoffs, as we did last year. However, success this year and beyond is going to be based on building a much stronger roster.
Let's look at the CLE example. They got their QB. They build around him. They won their first playoff game in decades. The QB was injured and had a mediocre season in 2021.
CLE had the roster, but weren't sure of their QB going forward, and wouldn't commit. Going into 2022, they were a playoff team without a top 10 QB. CLE knew they needed to get a QB this year or next. Their roster was ready to compete with the best. CLE went out and made a simple bet, that Watson will be healthy. He is clearly an elite QB. If CLE loses their bet, the very worst result would be that they will go back to what they were before this 5-year run (going on 10 with Watson).
And we are in a similar position that CLE was 3 years ago. We are in Year 2 of Jones. We will build a team. If Jones doesn't develop into an elite QB, we'll likely move on a try again, this time with a quality team BEFORE securing our next QB or continuing with Jones. We could even draft a QB as early as 2023, while continuing to build the roster.
