The Los Angeles Chargers have decided to move on from long-time franchise quarterback Philip Rivers but the question is who will take over? With Super Bowl futures sitting at +1600, the lines seem to indicate that they might sign someone like Tom Brady. However, as of right now, Tyrod Taylor \u2013 the top quarterback on the roster \u2013 is favored to be the Week 1 starter. Who is the best bet to be in the saddle in Week 1, 2020?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is true that the Chargers ought to seek out other quarterbacks around the league, but Tyrod Taylor \u2013 as the backup to Philip Rivers and a player with several years of experience as an NFL starter \u2013 has a natural advantage as someone inside the Charger roster who has paid his dues and knows the team\u2019s offensive system. Los Angeles could do a lot worse than hand the keys to Taylor, who is a competent quarterback with the ability to move out of the pocket and make improvised plays. It isn\u2019t a sexy solution, but a perfectly reasonable one, given everything the Chargers are trying to do as an organization. The team has a quality defense and Taylor could certainly lead the Bolts to the playoffs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The work Teddy Bridgewater did with the New Orleans Saints when Drew Brees got injured in the 2019 season won a lot of respect around the league. Bridgewater made himself an attractive candidate to other teams who are searching for a new starting quarterback. The Chargers are one of several teams with very legitimate reason to consider Bridgewater as their new man under center. The question is how much of an upgrade is Bridgewater over Taylor? It might be marginal, so they might pass here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is possible that the Chargers could look for their next quarterback in the 2020 NFL Draft and it is true that Tagovailoa, given his recent injuries, might not be a top-10 pick. The Chargers could seek to land him in a draft-day deal or find other avenues. However, the Chargers are in a win-now position, not in a rebuild. Even if Tua is drafted by the Chargers, there\u2019s a change that Taylor starts the season as the starter, so this could be a longer shot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is much more natural and logical for the Chargers to seek a veteran quarterback than a new one. Brady could legitimately lead the Chargers to the Super Bowl if he is fully healthy and able to play close to his best for one more season. He would have good receivers to throw to \u2013 better than what he had in New England in 2019 \u2013 and the defense would be there to offer some good support. For Brady personally, he can land some massive endorsement deals by being in a bigger market too. If Brady leaves, this destination makes sense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If Winston is booted out of Tampa with the Buccaneers, he could go to Los Angeles and join the Chargers. In a spot like Los Angeles, he would have the resources to make a run at the playoffs and possibly find a jump-start to an inconsistent career which shows promise, but has been dogged by inconsistency. Winston and Philip Rivers could conceivably trade teams if this happens, which would be one of the more fascinating outcomes of the NFL offseason.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is a reasonable possibility, not a wild longshot. Mariota needed a change of scenery, and going to a team with a good defense will give him the margin for error he likely needs to settle into a comfortable situation where he can restore his career. The Chargers were sunk by a lot of Rivers\u2019 mistakes last year. Mariota has less upside but he\u2019s also not as mistake-prone, which could be an attractive feature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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