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Redskins: Predicting the results of the 2018 NFL quarterback carousel

By Jacob Camenker

ARLINGTON, TX - NOVEMBER 30: Kirk Cousins #8 of the Washington Redskins passes the ball in the first half of a football game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on November 30, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX - NOVEMBER 30: Kirk Cousins #8 of the Washington Redskins passes the ball in the first half of a football game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on November 30, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /
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JACKSONVILLE, FL – JANUARY 07: Quarterback Tyrod Taylor #5 of the Buffalo Bills warms up before the start of the Bills AFC Wild Card Playoff game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Field on January 7, 2018 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)
JACKSONVILLE, FL – JANUARY 07: Quarterback Tyrod Taylor #5 of the Buffalo Bills warms up before the start of the Bills AFC Wild Card Playoff game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Field on January 7, 2018 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images) /

Denver Broncos: Tyrod Taylor and Sam Darnold

This is another place that Cousins could land, but the Broncos would have to create cap space in order to do that. Right now, they project to have $26 million in open space. That could end up being close to enough, but keep in mind that they also have to set aside some cash for other player signings and draft picks. For that reason, they may have to bow out of the Cousins sweepstakes as they won’t be able to afford all their talent if they get him.

Instead, the Broncos settle on a middling option in the short term and a prospect with immense upside in the long term. The tag team of Tyrod Taylor and Sam Darnold would allow the Broncos to be competitive in the coming years, as their defense is still at the level of a contender.

For those furrowing the brow about the Broncos bringing in Taylor as their quarterback, consider this. The three starters that the Broncos used in 2017 combined for the following numbers. They completed 58.6 percent of their passes for 3,668 yards, 19 touchdowns, and a whopping 22 interceptions. Comparatively, Taylor, in 15 games, completed 62.6 percent of his passes for 2,799 yards, 14 touchdowns, and just four interceptions. On paper, Taylor’s numbers appear to be better, as he is far less prone to mistakes.

On any defensive based football team, the team needs two things from the offense. They have to be able to run the ball and they have to avoid turnovers. In the short term, Taylor could manage the Broncos offense and work as a game manager. He will allow them to move methodically on offense and will hopefully open things up for C.J. Anderson too. Additionally, his mobility will be a plus.

Taylor’s one weakness, as evidenced from his playoff performance, will be his downfield passing ability. Taylor just doesn’t have great downfield accuracy, as his arm strength is decent, but his ability to throw touch passes isn’t great. Often, he tries to float balls downfield. That said, in Denver, he will get a chance to throw to a better receiving corps than what he had in Buffalo. Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders are both superior to the Bills squad that featured a banged-up Kelvin Benjamin and rookie Zay Jones in 2017.

Also, Taylor would just be holding down the fort until Darnold is ready. Considering that the Broncos have a top five pick, they really should use it on a quarterback, unless they do get Cousins. Darnold has a lot of upside, but he could stand to improve his accuracy, ball security, and confidence for a year after having a mediocre final season at USC. In fairness to him, he did lose his top receiver, JuJu Smith-Schuster, to the draft and also lost a few linemen. Perhaps that contributed to his regression.

Darnold would likely get a chance to start as soon as the coaching staff thinks he’s ready. Taylor could start until then and afford them an opportunity to make the postseason. That seems like the best course of action for John Elway.

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