By: Jake Rajala

The Carolina Panthers team that has a coach (Matt Rhule) sizzling on the hot seat could make a significant jump with the addition of a talented quarterback at this point in late June. With that said, I’m going to simply untwine five quarterbacks that would formulate a perfect marriage with the Panthers.

Garnder Minshew

Minshew Mania would be an excellent value pick-up for the Panthers in my opinion. The Eagles would likely demand a fifth or sixth-round pick for him. I expect that the former Jaguars QB that has 41 career passing touchdowns to 12 interceptions would have a tremendous floor with the Panthers impressive weapons. I also don’t believe Baker is the right long-term QB, so Minshew would be an excellent bridge QB at the very least.

Teddy Bridgewater

It may not be deemed sexy for the Panthers to bring back Teddy Bridgewater after he led them to a 4-11 record in 2020. Nonetheless, there are a couple of great reasons for the Panthers to reunite with Teddy B. For 1. he has familiarity with the Panthers and 2. he is an upgrade over Sam Darnold. The Jets wisely brought back Joe Flacco (numerous times) and it may be a sharp decision for the Panthers to acquire the QB2 in Miami.

Tyrod Taylor

Tyrod Taylor, who might be at the awkward age of 32, is still one of the flat-out best backup quarterbacks in the NFL. Taylor would have been the starting QB for the Chargers if a medical procedure didn’t go haywire. He wasn’t as impressive as Davis Mills last season, but he was still in a lackluster situation. I would be intrigued to see the Panthers rushing offense with a healthy CMAC and Taylor.

Andy Dalton

Andy Dalton was frequently a rock star with the Cincinnati Bengals and then he down-spiraled into one of the biggest disappointments after his 2017 season. The Red Rifle still has underrated arm talent and he wouldn’t be as expensive as Baker (regardless of him in a Saints uniform). Perhaps the Panthers can reel in the QB that Kyle Shanahan gushed over in the 2021 off-season.

Kyle Allen

Kyle Allen really blossomed in Washington – after he had growing pains in Carolina (2018 and 2019). Allen received Bruce Wayne-like training and development with the Commanders and it may be time for him to return back to CAR as a wiser and more-talented passer. Allen, who stated that he basically doesn’t have a chance to start in Washington, may have a realistic opportunity at starting for the Panthers in 2022.

The post 5 QB targets for the Panthers right now appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Khari Demos

The Miami Dolphins always seem to be an intriguing place for evaluating quarterbacks. With the selection of former Alabama star Tua Tagovailoa in the 2020 NFL Draft, it looked like the Dolphins had found their next best thing under center since Dan Marino.

But after two seasons, the jury may still be out on Tua. By comparison to his fellow 2020 draft mates, Justin Herbert and Joe Burrow are considered to be in the elite QB club. Herbert was the 2020 NFL Rookie of the Year and followed that up with a Pro Bowl selection in 2021, while Burrow just led Cincinnati back to the Super Bowl for the first time since the 1988 season.

Meanwhile, for Tua, he’s had far more struggles and had similar numbers this season to players who may be considered lesser at the position.

But even with all the smoke and rumors about Tua, the Dolphins have brought in head coach Mike McDaniel, who similarly to owner Stephen Ross, has vowed to help get the best out of the southpaw QB. Just take a look at what the new HC said about Tua on Thursday at the NFL Scouting Combine:

“I’m really excited moving forward because the guy has some skills that I think are untapped. I think it’s important that you empower the quarterback with the rest of the players around him and the scheme you bring forth. So, I think his best days are in front of him. And that’s a really cool piece of the process to be part of as a coach.”

Tua’s subtle athletic ability should fit well in McDaniel’s zone-run, bootleg-based system. The 38-year-old coach comes from the Shanahan coaching tree, having worked under both Mike and Kyle throughout his career. The movement and misdirection should work well for Tua as he enters Year 3.

So who should Miami target to back him up? I like it when teams add players who have similar skillsets to their starters, as well as guys who may have played under a coach before or in a similar scheme.

Also to consider, Chris Streveler is the team’s only other QB under contract for 2022, as the Dolphins enter free agency with a league-high $61. 2 million in cap space, according to Spotrac. Plus, with Tua’s injury history that includes a fractured hip at ‘Bama, as well as missing four games this past season, Miami needs a viable backup just in case he misses anymore action.

With all things considered, here are three names the Dolphins should highly consider bringing to their QB room.

Tyrod Taylor

One of the more experienced QBs on the market, Taylor no question fits the same mold as a player like Tua. Not only does he have high-level athleticism for the position, running a lot of play-action and boot game will be similar to what he did while in Buffalo. His 1,575 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns helped the Bills finish as a top-five rushing team twice in his three years as a starter, including his 2015 season where he was a Pro Bowl alternate.

Last season also showed that Taylor can still play, even in a limited fashion. Even with what many considered arguably the worst roster in football with the Houston Texans, the Virginia Tech product had a strong showing in a Week 1 smackdown of the Jacksonville Jaguars, before going 10 for 11 in Week 2 against the Cleveland Browns before injuring his hamstring.

Once healthy, Taylor then helped Houston knock off the AFC’s eventual No. 1-seed in the Tennessee Titans in Week 11.

Similar to Tua, Taylor’s biggest issue seems to be health, as he’s missed action in three of the last four seasons. But that’s why he could make the perfect backup for Tua and something else to consider with Taylor is his recent history with young QBs.

Whether it was Herbert, Baker Mayfield, or Davis Mills last season, Taylor has been more mentor than impact player over the last few seasons. He did have his days in the sun leading Buffalo back to the playoffs in 2017, but his days as a starting QB are likely behind him.

But as a QB with a dual-threat skill set and prior experience as a starter in the NFL? That sounds like the perfect type of backup for a young signal-caller.

Colt McCoy

The former Texas Longhorn QB has had more downs than ups throughout his NFL career, but the 2021 campaign was his best yet, as he helped the Arizona Cardinals go 2-1 in a stretch without Kyler Murray. Even in a small sample size, his 101.4 passer rating, 54.5 QBR and 74.7% completion rate were some of the best marks of his career.

His best showing of the year came in a Week 11 win over Seattle. McCoy went 35 for 44 with 328 passing yards and two TDs.

So like Taylor, McCoy’s undersized stature (6-foot-1, 212 pounds) and movement ability would not only present similarly to Tua’s, but would also fit perfectly in McDaniel’s spin on the Shanahan system. The biggest issue here may be Arizona letting McCoy walk, as the Cardinals have noted how crucial it’ll be to bring him back for his 12th NFL season.

Marcus Mariota

This might be the zestiest name of the group for several reasons. First off, there’s still a lot of high hopes for a player that was selected No. 2 overall in the 2015 NFL Draft.

Another dual-threat player at QB, Mariota could also be a fit for McDaniel’s system with his ability to roll out and get the ball out in a West Coast scheme. The former Oregon Ducks QB rushed for over 300 yards on three occasions as a Tennessee Titan.

But over the last three seasons, the 28-year-old has not put much tread on his tires, as he’s only played in 18 games since 2019 (including six starts). Things did not end well for the 2014 Heisman Trophy Winner in Nashville, so he had to find a different role in a different place, eventually landing with Las Vegas to back up Derek Carr.

Mariota did not see much action during his time with the Raiders, but he drew a ton of buzz for his performance against the Dolphins late in the 2020 season after Carr bowed out due to injury.

I think one other very underrated factor here is Mariota and Tua’s relationship. As two Hawaiian born signal callers, it has been stated how much the Dolphins’ starting QB has looked up to Mariota over the years, so there’d be a natural, mutual respect if he were to come to Miami.

So that may give the Dolphins an upper hand in terms of signing Mariota. But what could be the biggest roadblock for this deal is his desire to return to the starting QB ranks in the league. Here’s what he said during training camp last year in an interview with the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Adam Hill.

“Absolutely,” Mariota said when asked if he keeps an eye on other QB situations throughout the NFL. “It is my goal (to be a starter), so I do keep tabs on what’s going on. For us as players, it’s kind of important to see what the landscape is. That being said, I enjoy this team. It’s a great organization to play for.”

That may be the biggest issue here for Miami. But if the Dolphins are able to convince Mariota to mentor a player in Tua that he’s mentored since the latter was in fourth grade, they could have a great QB insurance policy on their hands down in South Beach.

The post 3 veteran QBs the Dolphins should target this offseason appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Jake Rajala

The former Buffalo Bills Pro Bowl quarterback Tyrod Taylor enters free agency in 2022. Taylor surprisingly has a winning record of 26-25-1 in his career and he has unique rushing ability combined with modest arm strength.

Taylor started for the Bills in 2017 and led his squad to an 8-6 record. The dual-threat QB threw for 2,799 passing yards, 14 touchdowns, and only ousted four interceptions. The former sixth-round draft pick also rushed for 427 yards and four touchdowns in 2017. He also helped the Bills mafia make the playoffs in 2017 for the first time in 17 years. Unfortunately, Taylor was knocked out of the playoff game from an injury (concussion) and the Bills lost 10-3 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Nathan Peterman, also not known as Nick Foles, couldn’t step in and lead the Bills to victory.

The cool story of Taylor leading the Bills to the AFC playoff gauntlet was short-lived as Taylor was traded to the Cleveland Browns in the 2018 offseason. The new Browns QB had flashed with the Browns in 2018 and went 1-1 in two starts for the Browns team. He had an impressive performance against the stingy New Orleans Saints. Taylor made a special throw on 4th and 5 with 1:24 left on the game clock, as he launched a 47-yard touchdown pass to Antonio Callaway. The problem was that a near career performance by Taylor in a very competitive game was neglected by the Browns field goal kicker Zane Gonzalez, who missed four field goals.

Taylor went to the Los Angeles Chargers in 2019 with hopes of learning the force behind Phillip Rivers. In 2020, Taylor had expectations to be the starting QB for the Chargers, but a Chargers doctor accidentally punctured Taylor’s lung. The story of Justin Herbert began as he replaced Taylor and never looked back.

The former Chargers QB would join the Houston Texans on a one-year deal in the 2021 offseason. It was clear that Taylor wanted a good opportunity to start for an NFL team and he saw that path with the Texans. Although, Taylor struggled to be a quality QB for the dreadful Texans squad. He went 2-4 as a starter, threw five touchdowns and five interceptions, accumulated 966 passing yards, and ran for 151 yards. The unique tale of Taylor has come to an interesting point in the 2022 offseason. He should have opportunities to start for a team in 2022, but the question is: which team will give the 32-year-old QB a chance? Well, here are a few potential suitors for the veteran QB.

Chicago Bears

I expect the second-year QB Justin Fields to compete with one or two other veteran signal-callers for the starting job this offseason. They have Nick Foles under contract, but they could cut ties with the expensive, underperforming 2023 free agent this offseason.

The Bears shouldn’t break the bank for a free agent QB, but it would make sense if they acquire a cheaper QB with starting potential. Taylor would be a good value deal for the Bears and he holds a similar skillset to Justin Fields. The Bears wouldn’t have to really alter the scheme if they switch from Fields to Taylor (or vice versa).

New York Jets

The New York Jets wouldn’t overly excite Justin Fields from a talent perspective, but he would have a good opportunity to start in the Big Apple. The Jets were so desperate for a veteran QB in 2021 that they traded for the washed-up QB Joe Flacco to return to New York.

Zach Wilson is certainly unproven, as he threw for 9 touchdowns, 11 interceptions, and recorded a 69.7 passer rating in 2021. The Jets likely won’t attract Mitchell Trubisky or Jameis Winston, but they could find a diamond in the rough with Tyrod Taylor. The former Texans QB may not be thrilled to enter a similar rebuilding situation that he was in with the Texans, but the Jets (fifth in cap space) could tempt Taylor to make plays in a Jets uniform on a lucrative deal.

Arizona Cardinals

It appears there’s a real chance that Kyler Murray is traded from Arizona Cardinals this offseason. If the disgruntled Murray is traded from the Cards, I believe Taylor and Kliff Kingsbury are the perfect duo. I wouldn’t foresee the Cardinals getting one of the top QBs in round one in the 2022 draft. They could trade away Murray and receive a QB in return. Although, I don’t expect the Cards to wind up receiving a QB like Russell Wilson, Deshaun Watson, or Aaron Rodgers in a Kyler Murray trade.

The Cardinals could look to get a rookie QB, but I would expect the talented Cardinals to target a veteran QB that can help them return to the playoffs. Taylor would be an exciting fit for the Cardinals scheme, as he can make a lot of plays with his legs. Even if the Cardinals picked up Tua Tagovailoa in a trade or signed Jacoby Brissett in free agency, I believe that Taylor would still be very interested in signing a deal to compete for the starting gig in Arizona.

Carolina Panthers

I believe that the Carolina Panthers will target a QB in round one this offseason. I also believe they won’t break the bank for a free agent QB, as they still have the young Sam Darnold in the building. They could be fascinated about bringing in a free agent QB on a nice value deal. Tyrod Taylor may want to make a lot of money this offseason, but he could be intrigued about taking a smaller contract to potentially start in Carolina.

Taylor has a real chance to start over Sam Darnold (9 touchdowns, 13 interceptions) and a rookie QB in 2022. He would have serious firepower at his disposal with Christian McCaffrey, Robby Anderson, and DJ Moore. The two sides would be an ideal fit, but I wouldn’t expect Carolina to be his favorite destination in 2022.

Washington Commanders

The Washington Commanders tried the Fitzmagic experiment in 2021 and it failed. The Commanders need to have their focus on drafting a QB early to compete with Taylor Heinicke/Tyrod Taylor 2.0 this offseason. Similar to CAR, the Commanders don’t have the dire need to break the bank for a QB in free agency. Nonetheless, they could use more security and talent at their QB position.

They likely wouldn’t offer Taylor a fancy deal, but he could be interested in joining them for a couple of reasons. The Commanders have talent surrounding the QB with Terry McLaurin, playmakers on defense with Chase Young and Montez Sweat, and he could have a good chance of beating Taylor Heinicke and a potential rookie in a QB competition. Ron Rivera brought in a free agent QB last offseason, but it could have been the wrong guy. They can bring a free agent QB with more juice and motivation in Taylor this offseason.

Honorable mention

San Francisco 49ers

Kyle Shanahan is expected to move forward with Trey Lance as the starting QB and it seems clear that Jimmy G will be traded this offseason. Lance has high expectations to start for SF, but he is far from a proven NFL QB. Shanny will likely add a proven veteran QB that’s cheaper than Garoppolo to be in the same QB room as the North Dakota State product. Taylor and Lance also carry a similar skillset, so that has to intrigue the 49ers genius head coach. I expect Taylor to have a harder time beating out Lance than a QB like Darnold or Heinicke, but he could love the idea of playing with Kyle Shanahan and even having a chance of starting for the 49ers at some point in the near future.

The post Best potential landing spots for Tyrod Taylor in 2022 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By Zach Kurt

There is always a week of overreaction in the first week of the season and as smart fantasy managers, you should take advantage of the overreactions. There are also a lot of panic trades (products of the overreactions) in the first few weeks of the season. PAY ATTENTION TO INJURIES and if someone had Ryan Fitzpatrick as a starting QB in Superflex, then sell high on a mediocre QB. Also, watch for the players dropped on waivers! Paying attention to the overreactions, waiver wire transactions, and injuries allow you to sell high and make a profit from these specific individuals. 

Antonio Brown had an absolutely monster game and has been one of the best to ever play the game. However, I do believe he is the 3rd target in this offense and is just a 1-year rental. Brown is 33 years old, he has a troublesome past and this is likely Brady’s last year. Not a lot of WR’s are fantasy relevant at 34 years old. I just saw Brown get traded for a 1st and a 2nd in dynasty. This is an absolute overpay which is why you can sell high because he is AB. People are buying into the narrative of him being vintage AB. Sell, Sell, Sell!

We have seen the Sam Darnold Robby Anderson connection before and it was not lucrative. Robby was an absolute PPR machine last year. He filled a role on that team that was missing due to CMC’s absence. Now CMC is back, D.J. Moore is the WR1, and Terrace Marshall had double the amount of targets in comparison to Robby’s targets. Robby had one monster 12 point play but besides that one play he put up a goose egg. If you are going to sell Robby do it as fast as you can. He is the #4 option on this offense and that is just not something I want as well as it seemed to work this week..

The leader of the texans backfield has arrived. Mark Ingram had a lot of volume on Sunday. He accumulated  25+ carries as well as a score on the ground. In a crowded backfield, he seemed to get the edge. However, this will more than likely be the only team they beat this year. This is why they had such a run-heavy game script. Ingram may be the “lead back” but all 3 backs had a TD and all had decent involvement. To me this means it is going to be split up every game and Ingram will be used in positive game scripts Like I said above this may be the only team that they have a positive game script against. I would sell as high as you can although for a 31-year-old RB on a very bad team you aren’t likely to get a huge return.

Gronk looked like vintage Gronk against a very bad team this week. However, I don’t believe he is in prime Gronk form. Everyone in fantasy absolutely loved Gronk he was similar to Kelce just more TD-heavy! He is a 1-year asset and is the 4th target on the team. A crowded WR room and a crowded TE room for Gronk screams sell him on nostalgia. This isn’t 2016 as much fun as that would be!

Tyrod Taylor has gotten replaced every season over the past couple of years. It could happen again this year. Now I like Tyrod as a player but there is nothing special about him. Tyrod is a mobile QB that can throw the ball accurately enough to pass as a starter in the NFL. the Texans drafted David Mills and with my projection of the Texans being one of the worse teams in the NFL I believe he will assume the starting role at some point this season. I say that because at some point they will be knocked out of playoff contention and they need to see what they have in mills before they grab a high capital QB in the 2022 draft! Go find the guy that just lost Fitzpatrick and offer him a “Steal” on Tyrod.

Now I don’t expect you to get an absolute bounty for any of these players. I do expect many of these players to lose value over the course of the season. They all have great opportunities to sell on. Don’t forget to pay close attention to those transactions and injuries.. It is a way to take your league by storm and sell high. As always send those trade offers because DYNASTY NEVER RESTS!

The post Dynasty sells after Week 1 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.