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There is merit to the argument that these guys are playing for their careers... but ultimately, by declining the 5th year option, the team is saying no mas... they aren't on a trajectory to become starters anymore...
sure, every once in a while a guy like Mitch Trubisky gets a second shot at starting... but honestly, what are the expectations for that player moving forward? Its certainly not what it once was... The player may feel the pressure to save a career... but that's a completely different type of pressure than the pressure on a guy people are looking to perform at a high level...
Mac has that pressure to perform laid across his shoulders this season... I want to see growth in year two... others on this board have talked about seeing immediate results... I think he is under a lot of pressure to repeat the first part of the season, and to avoid the second half swoon that happened once teams got sufficient tape on him... and while we are no longer the playoff lock we were with the grizzled veteran under center, we are still The Patriots. And that is always worth an extra ounce or ten of pressure because of the stature of the organization as a whole...
Trevor Lawrence? Yeah he's got some, but lets face it, all people want to see out of him is a glimpse of his future, as the Jags have completely overhauled their team in the offseason... its basically a bye for him this year...
Zach Wilson? Hes got some pressure, but again its more along the lines of "can he stay healthy" and "is he going to throw double digit ints again? There are no grand expectations for him...
Tua? this is probably the only one on rainmakers list i agreed with... Miami went out and spent a buttload getting him a weapon... No more excuses, so he is squarely in that pressure cooker, no doubt about it... first and foremost is can he stay healthy, and secondly 2600 yards and under 20 tds isn't going to cut it...
Joe Burrow? He has a ton of pressure this season... Can he provide the Bengals a repeat performance? Can he throw for 30+ tds again...
Josh Allen, same thing... can he get those 13 seconds back?
Zach Wilson was the #2 overall pick with three other viable QBs that could taken other than him and there are no grand expectations for him? That's what you are looking for with the #2 overall pick - as long as he doesn't suck, I'm satisfied? The lowly expectation for Wilson is that he will be an All Pro QB. Maybe this year, but the expectations is that he will be at least a top 10 QB this year. Or at least it should be.