Albert Breer discusses Patriots’ NFL Draft Scenarios, redshirting young quarterbacks
Albert Breer from theMMQB.com discussed the Patriots’ NFL Draft Scenarios and the rarity of teams redshirting young quarterbacks on the Toucher & Hardy radio program.
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Breer mentioned examples of quarterbacks who waited before starting their first game and highlighted the shift in trends since 2008, where more first-round quarterbacks started from the beginning. Breer also discussed the pressure on teams to play rookie quarterbacks due to factors like job security, team performance, and the changing landscape of college football. He also mentioned the challenges faced by quarterbacks who are thrown into games before they are ready, pointing out the importance of proper player development.
TRANSCRIPT:
Fred Toucher: Bert, there has been a dramatic trend in the NFL playing quarterback.
Albert Breer: I keep this chart, and it’s actually been really helpful to me to kind of organize all this. But it shows when every first-round quarterback started his first game since 2000. And if you go back to the early part of the century, you’ll see there are a lot of guys who had to wait. Chad Pennington didn’t start until his 41st game, right?
Albert Breer: Rex Grossman until his 14th game, Philip Rivers 33rd game. Even Eli Manning in the 10th game, Jason Campbell in the 26th, Aaron Rodgers in the 46th, Brady Quinn in the 25th, JaMarcus Russell in the 16th game. So there was a lot to wait for. No, but I mean, but the point is like just taking the name. I understand there are a lot of examples. Then, in ’08, was the inflection point. Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco started from the beginning. Both made the playoffs. Ryan looked great. Flacco got his team into the AFC title game. Yeah, right. Like they lost to the Steelers in the AFC title game. And the whole thing flipped. So starting in ’08. And that’s 16 draft cycles, right? 48 quarterbacks have gone in the first round, right? Only two did not start a game as a rookie. Those two are Jordan Love and Jake Locker. There are four others that I think you could consider redshirts. Right. Because they only got in because of injury or because there was a coach firing, whatever. That’s Tim Tebow, Johnny Manziel, Patrick Mahomes, and Paxton Lynch. So like that’s six out of 48 if you want to say actually had a plan to be redshirted, executed, or didn’t wind up winning the job.
Albert Breer: So, in a lot of these cases, you had quarterbacks who were sitting behind established veterans or sometimes these teams were in contention. It’s hard to find bad teams that followed through with a plan to redshirt a quarterback. Well, why is that? It’s because what happens is a lot of times these teams get in these situations and they say we’re going to redshirt them, we’re going to redshirt them, we’re going to redshirt them. And there is so much pressure on them to play the kid. And then you get to the point where you’re 1 in 5 or you’re three and eight. And on radio stations like this one, what are they saying? You know, why don’t you play this draft pick that you’re going to lose? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. And there is, there is to lose. As you throw the kid out there, you crush his confidence. And at that level of the sport, it’s almost impossible to get it back once it’s lost. But I think they’re more apt to do it in recent years because there’s less chance that he’s going to get literally crushed. Right? Because of the way the game is officiated now. Yeah. If a kid’s not ready and he can’t read coverage and he can’t pick up blitzes, then yeah, he’s going to go out there. He’s going to get killed.
Albert Breer: I think in a lot of cases, what a GM and a head coach are worried about are two things: their own job security, what the owner thinks and likes. That’s the reality of it. Sometimes these bad teams, the quarterback will come in, and the coaches because the team was bad the year before. I mean, it’s like a self-fulfilling thing. Yeah. You’re drafting in the top five because you’re bad. You either have a new coach who is looking to start anew with a new quarterback who probably wants to play him anyway, or you have a coach who’s on his last legs because the team was bad the year before. So now that coach has got to find a way to convince his owner to keep him, and now you get to the point where you’re three and seven, well, what’s a way to keep your job? Throw the rookie out there. He plays okay. It’s like, well, you can’t fire me now. Like, do you want to mess with the kid’s development? So like I think these things again, it’s like it’s a part of the NFL. It’s really screwed up as far as developing players. It’s like a lot of these kids do need time to sit. And it’s as the college game has veered further away from what the pro game is because of the schemes and the all. That stuff is so different now. It’s so many levels of the college game. Sometimes you have kids who aren’t as ready to play, who need it more, but they’re being thrown into this environment where they’re being forced to play no more to play faster.
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Patriots free agency tracker: The latest news & rumors out of New England
The New England Patriots have been throwing plenty of money around in free agency, and we’ve got you covered on it all here at the Patriots free agency tracker.
Most of the money the Pats have thrown around has been at their own players. Key pieces like Michael Onwenu, Kendrick Bourne, Hunter Henry, Josh Uche, and Anfernee Jennings have all agreed to new deals to stay in New England.
MORE: Patriots lose out on Calvin Ridley to darkhorse team
But the team has also filled needs at various other spots on the roster with outside additions. They added a veteran quarterback in Jacoby Brissett, a tight end in Austin Hooper, a tackle in Chukwuma Okorafor, and an off-ball linebacker in Sione Takitaki. Get a quick list of every signing.
Aug 19, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett (7) throws during the second half against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
As we head into day 4 of the free agency period, the Patriots still have needs and enough cap space for a big signing or two. However, the market has thinned at their positions of need and they may also need to explore trade ideas.
We’ll have every piece of Patriots news & rumors for you as the open market rolls along. Read below for the latest in the live tracker…
Patriots add new wide receiver
The New England Patriots are bringing in a new wide receiver via free agency.
As first reported by the NFL Network’s
The #Patriots are adding again, this time signing former #Vikings WR K.J. Osborn, per me and @TomPelissero. pic.twitter.com/jrs3dezclW
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 17, 2024" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ian Rapoport, the Patriots are signing former Minnesota Vikings receiver K.J. Osborn. Osborn has played 50 of a possible 51 games over the past three seasons, averaging 54 catches, 627 yards, and five touchdowns per 17 games in that span.Read more on the Patriots’ newest signing.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – DECEMBER 24: K.J. Osborn #17 of the Minnesota Vikings catches a pass against the Detroit Lions during the second quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium on December 24, 2023 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
Showing interest in Tyler Boyd
According to Mark Daniels at MassLive, the Patriots are showing interest in veteran free-agent wide receiver Tyler Boyd.
Boyd, 29, has long been a steady presence at WR for the Bengals, including a 90-catch season in 2019. His production has dipped in recent years, as the Bengals added Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins to the depth chart. He’d be a good, solid signing for the Patriots, just not the big difference-maker the team needs.
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA – DECEMBER 23: Tyler Boyd #83 of the Cincinnati Bengals runs with the ball during the first quarter of a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium on December 23, 2023 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
Patriots sign G Nick Leverett
The Patriots are signing former Bucs guard Nick Leverett to a one-year deal worth up to $3 million, according to Jeremy Fowler. Terms of the contract have yet to be reported. Leverett started 10 games for the Bucs in 2022, but played only three games with no offensive snaps in 2023.
TAMPA, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 02: Tom Brady #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers fist bumps Nick Leverett #60 prior to the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Raymond James Stadium on October 02, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Patriots Free-Agent Signings
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – SEPTEMBER 17: New England Patriots helmets on the bench at Gillette Stadium on September 17, 2023 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Here’s a full list of the Patriots’ free agent signings and the basic numbers attached to them. This list will continue to be updated as the Pats make more signings…
Name Position Contract Hunter Henry TE 3 years, $27 million, $15.8M guaranteed Kendrick Bourne WR 3 years, $19.5 million, $5.5M guaranteed Michael Onwenu OL 3 years, $57 million, $36.5M guaranteed Jalen Reagor WR 1 year, $1.3 million, $442,500 guaranteed Sione Takitaki LB 2 years, $6.645 million, $2M guaranteed Chukwuma Okorafor OT 1 year, $4 million, $3.25M guaranteed Josh Uche LB 1 year, $3 million, $2.23M guaranteed Austin Hooper TE 1 year, $4.25 million Anfernee Jennings LB 3 years, $12 million Armon Watts DL 1 years, $3 million Nick Leverett OG TBD
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Matt Dolloff is a writer and podcaster for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Check out all of Matt’s content.
