What broke the Quarterback pipeline? (why new QBs struggle)
November 19, 2025
What broke the Quarterback pipeline? (why new QBs struggle)
11 comments
Why new QBs struggle:
1. Most go to shitty teams in shitty situations with shitty organizational leadership who make knee jerk decisions
2. QB is the hardest position in sports and takes at leave 5+ years starting experience for players to truly master the NFL game
Without watching I’m guessing a mix of the incredibly short leashes QBs have as a result of HC and GM being on similarly short leashes due to the “what have you done for me now” mindset of the NFL
High pick QBs being put on rebuilding teams resulting in poor OL/supporting cast or even injuries
Being good (Baker and Goff) but not at the time good enough in the eyes of their teams to take the next step
If someone watched am I close?
What if it’s as simple as HC/OC fit?
QB’s aren’t given enough time to grow and develop.
NFL fans have been spoiled in the last two decades with guys like Cam Newton, RG3, Andrew Luck, and hell even Dak Prescott who have come in and had success as a rookie.
They expect it as the norm, not the exception.
Reality is that NFL QB is a very tough position and it used to be that rookie QB’s would sit behind a veteran for a year or two to learn, and then would get a year or two to start and take their licks.
That’s just not the NFL we live in today.
And as others have said ….
Most high picks go to shitty teams with shitty OL’s and shitty WR’s.
That plays a large part in it as well.
I also think the college game has changed so much, there is blame there as well. QB’s are not pushed nearly as much as they used to be, because if they are they just simply transfer out and go somewhere else to play. There isn’t nearly as much incentive to work harder and get better as their used to be.
Also, less colleges run pro style offenses. That’s definitely hurt the transition as well IMO.
It’s a very mixed bag of reasons.
Consider where these teams generally are when they draft QBs.
A team drafting at #1 overall has a lot of reasons for sucking beyond the QB position. They probably need WRs, OL, etc.
If that is true and a QB does well it can generally be be assumed that the team has a great coaching staff and knows how to put the team in a position to win and a QB to excel.
To me, I look at Bo Nix situation in Denver or better yet Drake Maye in NE or Williams in CHI.
I think Daniels is an outlier because he’s one of those generational athletes – not taking away from him or his ability. But dude is different.
Then look at Penix and McCarthy.
Fast Forward to this year and look at where the QBs went. I’d argue that the only one going into a good situation is Will Howard and even that is iffy.
Maye and Williams got new coaches and now their teams are winning. This just makes me think that Stefanski and the staff is a big part of the problem on top of the fact that we have no talent on Offense outside of Judkins.
tl;dw the college game is really different from the NFL game.
The college game primarily consists of:
1. Screens because the difference in where the hashes are give college offenses more space to run.
2. RPOs because offensive linemen get 3 yards instead of 1 on pass blocking.
3. Because of the above two, everything is out of the gun.
By contrast, the NFL game is predominantly under center because:
1. RPOs and screens don’t work as well because of the different rules.
2. So running is most effective under center.
3. So play action has to come from under center, and it’s something these kids have almost never done.
This is why you are getting guys like Baker, Goff, and Darnold finally figuring it out after 5+ years. It’s almost an entirely different skillset. It takes a long time to learn.
Darnold went from the worst undercenter player in the league to one of the best play action passers in the league.
This makes evaluation really hard. And it doesn’t play nice with NFL timelines for winning. How many coaches are around for 5+ years?
Odd that they put 2x pro bowler and Super Bowl starting Jared Goff on here. He started his career with a bang then got hurt and was traded bc McVay wanted a different style of QB in his offense.
Goff doesn’t belong in this list. And, these QB’s are 1st round picks. We’re talking about a 3rd and 5th rounder. They don’t get much time.
Knowing this, it’s exactly why the Browns should trade for Mac Jones in the off-season. Myles is elite right now, and likely won’t be in 3 to 4 years. It’s time to give him a quarterback that has a pulse while he is still the best living football player.
Amen
I feel like a lot of new QBs get put in shitty situations with bad teams or even bad coaching and that develops a lot of bad habits or just makes an already hard situation for a new rookie QB even harder. Then they get some time under their belt and get on a decent team and they start to shine.
11 comments
Why new QBs struggle:
1. Most go to shitty teams in shitty situations with shitty organizational leadership who make knee jerk decisions
2. QB is the hardest position in sports and takes at leave 5+ years starting experience for players to truly master the NFL game
Without watching I’m guessing a mix of the incredibly short leashes QBs have as a result of HC and GM being on similarly short leashes due to the “what have you done for me now” mindset of the NFL
High pick QBs being put on rebuilding teams resulting in poor OL/supporting cast or even injuries
Being good (Baker and Goff) but not at the time good enough in the eyes of their teams to take the next step
If someone watched am I close?
What if it’s as simple as HC/OC fit?
QB’s aren’t given enough time to grow and develop.
NFL fans have been spoiled in the last two decades with guys like Cam Newton, RG3, Andrew Luck, and hell even Dak Prescott who have come in and had success as a rookie.
They expect it as the norm, not the exception.
Reality is that NFL QB is a very tough position and it used to be that rookie QB’s would sit behind a veteran for a year or two to learn, and then would get a year or two to start and take their licks.
That’s just not the NFL we live in today.
And as others have said ….
Most high picks go to shitty teams with shitty OL’s and shitty WR’s.
That plays a large part in it as well.
I also think the college game has changed so much, there is blame there as well. QB’s are not pushed nearly as much as they used to be, because if they are they just simply transfer out and go somewhere else to play. There isn’t nearly as much incentive to work harder and get better as their used to be.
Also, less colleges run pro style offenses. That’s definitely hurt the transition as well IMO.
It’s a very mixed bag of reasons.
Consider where these teams generally are when they draft QBs.
A team drafting at #1 overall has a lot of reasons for sucking beyond the QB position. They probably need WRs, OL, etc.
If that is true and a QB does well it can generally be be assumed that the team has a great coaching staff and knows how to put the team in a position to win and a QB to excel.
To me, I look at Bo Nix situation in Denver or better yet Drake Maye in NE or Williams in CHI.
I think Daniels is an outlier because he’s one of those generational athletes – not taking away from him or his ability. But dude is different.
Then look at Penix and McCarthy.
Fast Forward to this year and look at where the QBs went. I’d argue that the only one going into a good situation is Will Howard and even that is iffy.
Maye and Williams got new coaches and now their teams are winning. This just makes me think that Stefanski and the staff is a big part of the problem on top of the fact that we have no talent on Offense outside of Judkins.
tl;dw the college game is really different from the NFL game.
The college game primarily consists of:
1. Screens because the difference in where the hashes are give college offenses more space to run.
2. RPOs because offensive linemen get 3 yards instead of 1 on pass blocking.
3. Because of the above two, everything is out of the gun.
By contrast, the NFL game is predominantly under center because:
1. RPOs and screens don’t work as well because of the different rules.
2. So running is most effective under center.
3. So play action has to come from under center, and it’s something these kids have almost never done.
This is why you are getting guys like Baker, Goff, and Darnold finally figuring it out after 5+ years. It’s almost an entirely different skillset. It takes a long time to learn.
Darnold went from the worst undercenter player in the league to one of the best play action passers in the league.
This makes evaluation really hard. And it doesn’t play nice with NFL timelines for winning. How many coaches are around for 5+ years?
Odd that they put 2x pro bowler and Super Bowl starting Jared Goff on here. He started his career with a bang then got hurt and was traded bc McVay wanted a different style of QB in his offense.
Goff doesn’t belong in this list. And, these QB’s are 1st round picks. We’re talking about a 3rd and 5th rounder. They don’t get much time.
Knowing this, it’s exactly why the Browns should trade for Mac Jones in the off-season. Myles is elite right now, and likely won’t be in 3 to 4 years. It’s time to give him a quarterback that has a pulse while he is still the best living football player.
Amen
I feel like a lot of new QBs get put in shitty situations with bad teams or even bad coaching and that develops a lot of bad habits or just makes an already hard situation for a new rookie QB even harder. Then they get some time under their belt and get on a decent team and they start to shine.