01-16-2016, 11:26 PM
First or all, having a franchise quarterback is worth more than the quarterback's weight in gold in the NFL. Here are the starting quarterbacks in the league:
Franchise Quarterbacks that the teams are happy with (14 players):
Tom Brady, Big Ben, Joe Flacco, Andy Dalton, Andrew Luck (even after the 2015 campaign), Philip Rivers, Eli Manning, Tony Romo (but definitely in the market), Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, Cam Newton, Matt Ryan (even after this crappy season), Carson Palmer and Russell Wilson.
Franchise Quarterbacks that are marginal (3):
Matthew Stafford, Jay Culter and Ryan Tannehill.
Quarterbacks that might be future Franchise Quarterback (8):
Jameis Winston, Marcus Mariota, Derek Carr, Teddy Bridgewater, Blake Bortles, Kirk Cousins, Brock Osweiler and Tyrod Taylor.
Quarterbacks that are either Game Managers and/or "Guy Keeping the Car Warm" (3):
Alex Smith, Ryan Fitzpatrick (slightly better version of Jon Kitna), Brian Hoyer (Jon Kitna 2.0)
Teams with major quarterback issues (4):
Browns (Johnny Football)
49ers (Blaine Gabbert/Colin Kaepernick)
Rams (Case Keenum/Nick Foles)
Eagles (Sam Bradford)
Basically going into 2016 there are 4 teams that are desperate for a QB (Browns, 49ers, Rams and Eagles), 3 teams looking for an upgrade at QB (Texans, Bills and Jets even after the career year from Fitzpatrick), and the Cowboys are looking for a future QB post-Tony Romo. Every year there are around 8 teams looking for a QB....but there are never 8 starting quarterbacks in a draft. This is why trading McCarron or Dalton might not be a bad idea.
Since McCarron was "meh" not good in the Wild Card game, trade him for a 1st round draft pick at a minimum. If no team bites, then keep him. Have a legit Dalton vs McCarron QB fight for the job in 2016.
If any team does bite on getting McCarron, then the Bengals can add another legit player via draft.
Sorry but Dalton is a franchise QB and a top ten QB in the league. McCarron might be at the "Tannehill tier" at this point in his career. He does have some upside, but the team is in "win now mode", not "win 2-4 years down the road mode".
This is a great problem to have. I like Dalton and I like McCarron. But in the end, it's business.
P.S. If Browns offered the #32 pick in 2016, 3rd/4th round pick in 2017 and swapping of the Browns first round pick for the Bengals 2nd round pick in 2018 (dependent on if McCarron hits maybe 70% of snaps and/or the Browns make the playoffs within two years), I would be for a trade like that....Very win-win for both teams....
Franchise Quarterbacks that the teams are happy with (14 players):
Tom Brady, Big Ben, Joe Flacco, Andy Dalton, Andrew Luck (even after the 2015 campaign), Philip Rivers, Eli Manning, Tony Romo (but definitely in the market), Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, Cam Newton, Matt Ryan (even after this crappy season), Carson Palmer and Russell Wilson.
Franchise Quarterbacks that are marginal (3):
Matthew Stafford, Jay Culter and Ryan Tannehill.
Quarterbacks that might be future Franchise Quarterback (8):
Jameis Winston, Marcus Mariota, Derek Carr, Teddy Bridgewater, Blake Bortles, Kirk Cousins, Brock Osweiler and Tyrod Taylor.
Quarterbacks that are either Game Managers and/or "Guy Keeping the Car Warm" (3):
Alex Smith, Ryan Fitzpatrick (slightly better version of Jon Kitna), Brian Hoyer (Jon Kitna 2.0)
Teams with major quarterback issues (4):
Browns (Johnny Football)
49ers (Blaine Gabbert/Colin Kaepernick)
Rams (Case Keenum/Nick Foles)
Eagles (Sam Bradford)
Basically going into 2016 there are 4 teams that are desperate for a QB (Browns, 49ers, Rams and Eagles), 3 teams looking for an upgrade at QB (Texans, Bills and Jets even after the career year from Fitzpatrick), and the Cowboys are looking for a future QB post-Tony Romo. Every year there are around 8 teams looking for a QB....but there are never 8 starting quarterbacks in a draft. This is why trading McCarron or Dalton might not be a bad idea.
Since McCarron was "meh" not good in the Wild Card game, trade him for a 1st round draft pick at a minimum. If no team bites, then keep him. Have a legit Dalton vs McCarron QB fight for the job in 2016.
If any team does bite on getting McCarron, then the Bengals can add another legit player via draft.
Sorry but Dalton is a franchise QB and a top ten QB in the league. McCarron might be at the "Tannehill tier" at this point in his career. He does have some upside, but the team is in "win now mode", not "win 2-4 years down the road mode".
This is a great problem to have. I like Dalton and I like McCarron. But in the end, it's business.
P.S. If Browns offered the #32 pick in 2016, 3rd/4th round pick in 2017 and swapping of the Browns first round pick for the Bengals 2nd round pick in 2018 (dependent on if McCarron hits maybe 70% of snaps and/or the Browns make the playoffs within two years), I would be for a trade like that....Very win-win for both teams....
