(12-22-2021, 01:56 PM)Mikey Wrote:

Quote:Bullseye:

Think about some of the best QBs in the league now and in recent years...Brady, Rodgers, Mahomes, Brees.

These guys all rode the bench for most of their rookie years because better coaches than UM felt these guys weren't ready to play initially. 

I think a big part of each decision was also that each team had an establish veteran starter that was performing well (Bledsoe, Favre, Smith and Flutie), or well enough that the coach felt comfortable enough to let their prospect sit.

Also, darft position is a slight factor. Mahomes is the highest selected of the four, and he went 12, I think? A lot less pressure to start players immediately in that position.

I don't disagree with much of what you stated, but there were definitely other reasons these guys were still sitting besides preference to develop off the field.

Agreed that the veteran presence at QB played a huge role in these guys sitting early (though Flutie was by no means a long term answer for the Chargers).  But I think that is a credit to those teams to have the veterans in place to bring the new signal callers around at a more moderate pace.

I also agree there is less pressure to start a lower draft pick than it is a higher one.  The vets you listed above also serves to mitigate the pressure to start those guys.  But QBs taken in the first round-even mid to late first round, typically are pressured to start early.  A 6th rounder like Brady?  not so much.  But pressure or no, NFL coaches are going to start the guy they think will give them the best chance to win.  In each of those instances, for whatever reason, those coaches did not think the rookies were ready to start.

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