Just to make sure we are all on the same page as NFL free agency just got officially started, six or more teams entered the NFL offseason with a need at the most important position in the league, quarterback. The Seattle Seahawks joined that list by sending Geno Smith to the Las Vegas Raiders but then signed Sam Darnold, dropping the number back to five.
Justin Fields filled the New York Jets need, which leaves the Cleveland Browns, New York Giants, Pittsburgh Steelers and Tennessee Titans looking for answers.
Now Russell Wilson will visit the Browns while Kirk Cousins rumors continue to swirl. On top of that, Aaron Rodgers could be interested in signing with the Steelers, Giants or even the Minnesota Vikings but no one really knows which of those teams want him.
Welcome to the NFL’s game of QB chicken. Who has leverage? Everyone and no one. Who wants control? Everyone.
Bringing Wilson in to Cleveland, in an era where free agent visits are very rare, could be an earnest decision to see if there is a fit between the two parties. More likely, the Browns want to make sure they have leverage in any trade talks with the Atlanta Falcons about Cousins (which could realistically happen if the Falcons eat a ton of the cap hit) and Wilson wants to make sure he is seen to have more than one suitor (whether that is New York or Pittsburgh).
Rodgers, based on rumors, is who the Steelers want to sign but seems to want to fulfill his Brett Favre arc by joining the most talented team we’ve mentioned, the Vikings. Pittsburgh could instead pivot to adding Cousins in a trade or bringing back Wilson. Heck, Jameis Winston and Joe Flacco could come into play for teams soon as well.
The game of musical chairs has a few openings and a few veterans but Rodgers, Wilson and Cousins make up the (somewhat sad) top tier of available or potentially available quarterbacks with others falling behind. Then there is the NFL draft with Cam Ward seemingly clearly ahead of Shedeur Sanders but only those two in the conversation for the first round.
Players want leverage, teams want leverage. Between now and when signings/trades actually happen, everything else is a part of this game of chicken.
Which QB do you think the Browns will end up with? Share your thoughts on the QB game of chicken in the comment section below
