Minnesota Sports Forum

Is Carson Wentz toast?
Can Sam Darnold be saved?

Are they a product of bad environments or can they be productive NFL QB's somewhere else?

Wentz has done it so it is matter of what is wrong. Would the Eagles take the cap hit to move on?

Darnold has not had a chance since day one. I want to think he could be better somewhere else, but have my doubts. Could he be the next Ryan Tannehill?

I've seen a lot of Wentz and he's a good one to debate. His O-Line has been absolutely wrecked with injuries over the last couple of years and they have zero deep threats at WR, so he's trying to squeeze his passes into an area the size of a postage stamp. Those are the two main points in his defense.

To his detriment, he holds onto the ball too damn long though. Takes waaaaaaay too many sacks.

The Vikings would be smart to get a developmental backup QB like Darnold behind Kirk. With our weapons and by the time he would start the line could be fixed, he'd be in a much better situation here and the season wouldn't feel instantly over if anything happened to Kirk like it does with Manion as the backup.

Is Alex Smith a retread?

Since 2011... that guy has won at a .681 clip... for three different organizations.

He was cast aside after a 13 - 3 season for Kaepernick.
He was cast aside after a 10 - 6 season for Mahomes.

Then, he led the Redskins to a 6 - 2 record before breaking his leg... and almost losing it. The Redskins went 4 - 19 without him.

They're now 3 - 1 since he's returned as a starter. It's been a decade. Stats be damned... that's not one giant fluke.

khans2k5 wrote:The Vikings would be smart to get a developmental backup QB like Darnold behind Kirk. With our weapons and by the time he would start the line could be fixed, he'd be in a much better situation here and the season wouldn't feel instantly over if anything happened to Kirk like it does with Manion as the backup.

Spielman has never been one to have a good backup. He consistently has some crappy backups as to not ever challenge the starter or have controversy. On one hand I can see the strategy to put all your eggs in one basket and not spend on a backup and eliminate any controversy as to hopefully give the starter the most confidence. But on the other hand, we don't have a true pipeline to develop someone 2-3 years down the road to takeover.

Another issue is when your starter goes down so you send a 1st rounder for Bradford when that pick could have netted us Mahomes or Watson.

AbeVigodaLive wrote:Is Alex Smith a retread?

Since 2011... that guy has won at a .681 clip... for three different organizations.

He was cast aside after a 13 - 3 season for Kaepernick.
He was cast aside after a 10 - 6 season for Mahomes.

Then, he led the Redskins to a 6 - 2 record before breaking his leg... and almost losing it. The Redskins went 4 - 19 without him.

They're now 3 - 1 since he's returned as a starter. It's been a decade. Stats be damned... that's not one giant fluke.

I don't think he is. He has won everywhere. Kaep and Mahomes had such bright futures you can't fault the teams from moving on, but I am sure the 49ers wish they would have kept him.

Funny story about Alex Smith. My co-worker spent the early COVID pandemic on the Big Island in Hawaii. His neighbor was Alex Smith. They ended up doing co-family dinners together a few times a week over 2 months.

WolvesFan21 wrote:
Spielman has never been one to have a good backup. He consistently has some crappy backups as to not ever challenge the starter or have controversy. On one hand I can see the strategy to put all your eggs in one basket and not spend on a backup and eliminate any controversy as to hopefully give the starter the most confidence. But on the other hand, we don't have a true pipeline to develop someone 2-3 years down the road to takeover.

Another issue is when your starter goes down so you send a 1st rounder for Bradford when that pick could have netted us Mahomes or Watson.

I don't get it. We should have been developing a guy this year. I am a Jordan Love fan, but was surprised he went as early as he did. I would rather have Josh Rosen on this team than Manion. That is not saying much.

bleedspeed177 wrote:

WolvesFan21 wrote:
Spielman has never been one to have a good backup. He consistently has some crappy backups as to not ever challenge the starter or have controversy. On one hand I can see the strategy to put all your eggs in one basket and not spend on a backup and eliminate any controversy as to hopefully give the starter the most confidence. But on the other hand, we don't have a true pipeline to develop someone 2-3 years down the road to takeover.

Another issue is when your starter goes down so you send a 1st rounder for Bradford when that pick could have netted us Mahomes or Watson.

I don't get it. We should have been developing a guy this year. I am a Jordan Love fan, but was surprised he went as early as he did. I would rather have Josh Rosen on this team than Manion. That is not saying much.

The other problem is the transition to the next QB becomes even more difficult. Do you just let Cousins walk when his contract expires and draft a guy to take over from game 1? Ideally I think you need to have the guy in your system for a year. Get him use to at least practice and the pro game a bit, maybe preseason if it comes back.

WolvesFan21 wrote:

The other problem is the transition to the next QB becomes even more difficult. Do you just let Cousins walk when his contract expires and draft a guy to take over from game 1? Ideally I think you need to have the guy in your system for a year. Get him use to at least practice and the pro game a bit, maybe preseason if it comes back.

Mahomes sat a year learning from Alex Smith. I don't like the idea of drafting a guy and throwing him in the fire. I think a lot of good QBs have had short careers because of that. Daunte Culpepper surely benefited from a year of watching and learning. I am not sure he has success without a year to learn the pro game.

I remember those good times when people were ripping Spielman for signing that Case Keemun guy. What a terrible move...

I do like the idea Kahn's has put forth of brining in a guy like Sam Darnold a young guy (turns 24 next year) to be behind Cousins and MAYBE be the next guy. Darnold has all the physical tools based on what I have seen. Is he a possible reclamation project or is he the next Blaine Gabbert backup QB type? The QB position in the NFL is a bit saturated When it comes to the lower end of starter level guys. Some guys have had to settle for backup roles that I think in the past would have gotten other chances. I do also think some guys are picking a better spot where they play in a system that might make them look more valuable like Winston signing with the Saints last offseason. I'd be interested in hearing some other guys people would consider if they were available. It will be interesting to see if the Jets find a taker for Darnold or they just have to cut him. I have no idea if someone would be willing to trade anything for him and still have to pay around 5 million for next season.