Every training camp and NFL preseason, the national spotlight inevitably shines on any quarterback competition that may be underway. The most important position in sports is also the most intriguing due to the ripple effects that the decision has on the rest of the league.
The most intriguing QB competitions of 2015
This year, as many as four teams will have open competitions for the starting quarterback job.
Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports
This year, there could be as many as four major QB competitions. In some cases, the team in question has several potentially competent starters but no standout option. In other cases, the front office recently invested a high draft pick in a signal caller, but he may require more seasoning before he’s ready to start.
Interestingly, there does not appear to be an open quarterback competition within the NFC. Even the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who used the No. 1 overall pick on Florida State's Jameis Winston, have essentially declared their intentions for the 2015 season.
So what are the QB battles worth monitoring during the comings months? Let’s take a look.
At 9-7, the Buffalo Bills finished just one game out of the playoffs, prolonging a postseason drought that extends back to 2000. The defense wasn't the issue -- the Bills led the NFL in sacks (54) and fewest touchdowns allowed (16).
Rather, the offense remained stagnant despite the addition of wide receiver Sammy Watkins. The Bills took the first month of the season to figure out that EJ Manuel wasn't cutting it at quarterback, eventually switching to journeyman Kyle Orton. Orton proved a steady, if unspectacular option, but now he's gone.
Armed with a new coaching staff, Buffalo must now determine whether Manuel has made the necessary improvements heading into his third season. If he hasn't, the team could instead turn to Matt Cassel, an established signal caller capable of avoiding the big mistake. Like Orton, Cassel won't add much in the way of big plays, but a defensive-minded coach like Rex Ryan may favor his consistency over the higher ceiling Manuel offers.
The wild card in this competition is Tyrod Taylor, the former backup to Joe Flacco in Baltimore. Taylor possesses superior athleticism and has spent the past four years developing at his own pace. If he can flash big-play potential while avoiding turnovers, the coaching staff could call his name for Week 1.
Before the draft, the Browns did just about all they could to suggest Johnny Manziel was no longer in their plans. However, the team brought in only Josh McCown and Thad Lewis this offseason, a less-than-stellar combination. As a result, if Manziel demonstrates an improved work ethic and comfort level with Cleveland's playbook, he can reinsert himself into the starting quarterback conversation.
At the same time, McCown is only two years removed from completing over 66 percent of his passes for 1,829 yards, 13 touchdowns and just one interception. That efficiency occurred with the Chicago Bears during the Marc Trestman era, a period where the Bears provided their quarterback with adequate protection and a bevy of offensive weapons around him. Cleveland doesn't have the receivers to match, but its offensive line is probably better. The group gave up the fifth-fewest pressures in 2014, according to Pro Football Focus, and it could improve with a healthy Alex Mack and first-round pick Cameron Erving.
McCown doesn’t need to play exceptionally to secure the starting job. Rather, a solid showing over the length of the preseason could convince head coach Mike Pettine to choose the veteran over last year’s first-round pick.
There is no official competition for the Jets' starting quarterback job, with offensive coordinator Chan Gailey naming Geno Smith the starter last week. But it would be naive to assume that Smith's hold on the job is secure given the way his first two seasons have unfolded.
After joining the Jets as the 39th overall pick in 2013, Smith has completed less than 58 percent of his passes for 5,571 yards, 25 touchdowns and an eye-popping 34 interceptions. His record as a starter is a suboptimal 11-18. Smith demonstrated some improved play near the end of 2014, but it wasn't enough to keep the team from trading a draft pick for journeyman Ryan Fitzpatrick.
And with a full training camp and preseason to impress the coaches, Fitzpatrick may indeed earn the starting nod come Week 1. Just two weeks before a leg injury ended his 2014 season, Fitzpatrick threw for over 350 yards and six touchdowns in a game against the Tennessee Titans. He completed nearly 73 percent of his passes during that contest. He won't have to provide that level of performance to change the minds of the coaching staff, but he'll have to consistently and decisively outplay Smith in order to take hold of the starting job.
Tennessee Titans
After months of speculation that the Titans would trade the No. 2 overall selection in this year's draft, the team ultimately decided to stick to its board and take Oregon signal caller Marcus Mariota.
Such a move normally signals a change at starting quarterback, and the team has given every indication that Mariota will be the man come September. However, if Mariota struggles to adjust to head coach Ken Whisenhunt’s traditional pro-style offense, the possibility exists that the team could turn to somebody else.
That somebody would most likely be second-year passer Zach Mettenberger. A sixth-round selection a year ago, Mettenberger possess the stature and skill set often associated with Whisenhunt quarterbacks. Though he lacks Mariota's athleticism and upside, Mettenberger could be better prepared to run the Titans' offense at the start of the season.
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