Written by Joel Corey at CBS Sports.com
Quarterback stability is highly coveted in the NFL because it’s a vital ingredient for sustained success. Some of the NFL’s most significant transactions occur in an effort to get the position settled.
The 49ers made an unexpected move at the Oct. 31 trading deadline by acquiring Jimmy Garoppolo, whose rookie contract expires after the season, from the Patriots for a 2018 second-round pick. Garoppolo has yet to make his 49ers debut because he has been focused on learning the offense. There isn’t a set timetable for Garoppolo to play. Garoppolo is a prime candidate for a franchise tag, which is expected to be in the neighborhood of $23 million to $24 million, if a new deal isn’t in place by early March.
Demand is usually much greater than the supply of desirable quarterbacks typically available in the offseason, but 2018 might be one of the rare instances where this isn’t the case.
Here’s a look at the passers who could be on the quarterback carousel in the offseason:
Brees recently reiterated his desire to finish his career in New Orleans although he is going to play out his contract, a one-year extension for $24.25 million signed early last season. The Saints no longer have to rely on Brees’ passing for success because of one of the NFL’s most potent rushing attacks and a perpetually weak pass defense that has been fixed. Brees is on pace to throw for under 4,500 yards for the first time since 2009. The 38-year-old demonstrated that he is still capable of winning games with his arm in an improbable Week 11 come-from-behind overtime victory against the Redskins.
Brees’ contract was structured with 2018 through 2020 contract years that automatically void on March 14, the last day of the 2017 league year. This voiding date eliminates the possibility of Brees being given a franchise tag since it is after the designation period ends March 6. If an extension isn’t worked out between the end of the season and the voiding date, the Saints will have an $18 million salary cap charge in 2018 regardless of where Brees plays next year because of the proration from the $30 million signing bonus he received with his 2016 extension.
It might make sense for Brees and the Saints to go year-to-year since Father Time is undefeated. The 2018 money could be converted into a real contract where the voiding of the 2019 and ’20 contract years is delayed until the last day of the 2018 league year in March 2019.
There isn’t anything in Brees’ history to suggest that he would give the Saints a hometown discount. His current contract made him the NFL’s second highest-paid player by average yearly salary when signed. Regaining that place in the league’s salary hierarchy would likely mean a one-year deal for 2018 in the neighborhood of $26.5 million.
Expected to contend for the NFC East title, the Giants appear to be destined for a top-five pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. Wholesale changes (front office, coaching, personnel) might be on the horizon. Manning spending his entire career with the Giants could be in jeopardy because of the disappointing season. Landing a high pick would put the Giants in position to find Manning’s successor. The Giants can’t deal Manning to another team without his permission since he has a no-trade clause in his contract, which runs through the 2019 season. The Jaguars have been most frequently mentioned as a potential destination for Manning because his former head coach Tom Coughlin is Jacksonville’s executive vice president of football operations.
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