In today's nfl, how long do you stick with a QB?

[baysik]

simple question really... i've just been thinking. Are the developmental years gone (with the exception of Rodgers)?

if you were a decision maker in an NFL organization - be it HC or Owner, how long do you stick with a QB before you move on? What conditions make you change your decision?

What do you consider?
-Where he was drafted?
-the money he is worth contractually?
-his developmental future?
-his age?
-the supporting cast around him?
-your own coaching staff?


How many years would you stick with a vet of 5+ years?
How many years would you stick with a top 10 draft pick vs. a 2nd round QB?
How many years would you stick with a reclamation project (Alex Smith)?
How many years would you stick with a health hazard (Mike Vick)?


I feel like this question, answered differently, has claimed the lives of many NFL coaching careers. There's no one way to answer it, as obviously shown by the league. How do you approach this?

[vikingsrule]

I look at it from a year to year basis. If my QB is making the progression needed and my team is having success, I will be content with the position. If my QB is struggling and my team is finishing in the bottom 5-10, I will always consider taking a QB if that QB is the best value available. I dont care if I spent a first round pick on a QB already. If that first round QB is struggling and I am in position to draft a QB I potentially like even more, I pull the trigger. Chances are, one of the QBs can be traded in the future and between the two, I will have a QB myself.

Ideally I want the QB I originally draft to be that guy, but if he isnt, there is no reason to hang onto a guy too long simply because of draft status. The rookie wage scale tells us we no longer have to be occupied with salary.

So to answer the question, I would evaluate the QB position each year relative to the coming draft class until my QB is a proven top 10-15 QB who I feel comfortable growing with.

[baysik]

how confident would your approach be if your QB was underperforming and your metrics of analysis told you QB AND OL were problem areas? how do you draft now?

[vikingsrule]

[Tzimisce]

Big picture made up of little pictures. Too many variables.
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https://twitter.com/Zealotry_Metal

[neezy007]

With Alex Smith the 9ers stuck with his because they had to. The options at QB were never good and there was more pressing needs. With the coordinators he had it tough to say the least. Many people forget he didn't have much help from either WRs, Oline, or coaching, and he was hurt for basically 2 seasons. Now it seems like it is working out. I doubt many, or any, QB will ever have the opportunity to stick around as long as Smith has.
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[vikingsrule]

With the rookie wage scale in place, I no longer subscribe to the theory that because a team spent a first round pick on a QB that team cant touch the position with another early pick for another 3-4 years while that player develops.

I think that is a potentially dangerous way to build a team that can limit what you can do come draft day. Might even cost you the opportunity at getting an upgrade at the league's most valuable position.

[carnageehw]

3-4 years.
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[cpanthers178990]

Eli Manning could be the poster child for why teams should stick to their terrible young QBs.
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SuperCam Career stat track.
32 Games played
7920 Pass Yards
40 Pass TDs
29 Ints
1447 Rushing yards
22 Rushing TDs

[Malik]

QBs can play well into their late 30s so age matters little to me. I don't believe in sticking with bad decisions based on pride (high draft picks) or because of money. The only thing I care about is what they have done on the field and how much I can reasonable expect for them to get better. I factor in things like if there is any offensive help they've had or if the coordinator is terrible when figuring out how much better I can expect them to be.

[FourThreeMafia]

If the players was drafted top 10...3 years if they show very little or nothing...4 if they show some type of improvement each year.

If they are drafted first round...2 to 3...same rules apply.

Second round...1 to 2 years.

Beyond that, its up in the air and just depends on what they show, what other options at QB you have, and what options are avaiable.

If its a Jimmy Clausen/Cam Newton type situation, I fully endorse it. Clausen was drafted in the 2nd round but was laughably bad. Then they had a chance at a far more talented prospect and pulled the trigger.

Overall, if you drafted a QB top 10, you pretty much have to stick it out with them for at least 3 years based on the investment price.
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[GmenSeattle]

[neezy007]

Dang Mark Sanchez and Eli are kind of similar huh? The numbers are a little similar.
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[epicMustache]

[vikingsrule]