Five Quarterbacks Who Will Dictate How the Upcoming NFL Season Plays Out

Team success is widely dictated by the performance of starting quarterbacks. While there have been exceptions, most of the recent NFL Super Bowl winners were led by elite QBs who shined in the biggest moments. This upcoming NFL season is interesting because there are several teams that have solid rosters that could be real contenders, but some level of uncertainty around their QB is holding them back.

On all betting sites in Canada, you can wager on which team will win the Super Bowl. But there are some teams gamblers are still tentative to wager on because of the perceived risk at the game’s most important position. Let’s look at five QBs whose performance, positive or negative, could completely transform the upcoming NFL season.

Aaron Rodgers

The New York Jets pushed their chips into the middle of the table by acquiring Aaron Rodgers this offseason. He is an NFL legend, a Super Bowl champion, and a 4x league MVP. The Jets add him to what was a competitive roster that was taken down by poor play at QB last year. It sounds like a match made in heaven, but Rodgers is 39 and had his worst season in years last year. If he plays at a high level, the Jets have the skill-position talent and defence to be a real contender. But if Rodgers shows his age, the team won’t be able to emerge from an elite division.

 Kenny Pickett

 Kenny Pickett is only a second-year player, but the Steelers seem like they have the ingredients in place to start winning, so the pressure is on. Pickett struggled at times in his rookie year but picked it up toward the end of the season. Now, he’s expected to open things up for a Steelers offence that has excellent weapons and what should be an improved offensive line. Add a stacked defence led by T.J. Watt, and the Steelers could be a legitimate AFC contender if Pickett shows significant growth.

Deshaun Watson

Adding Deshaun Watson amidst his major, unforgivable scandal showed that the Browns were prioritizing winning above all else. After serving an 11-game suspension, Watson arrived and played very poorly. Not what the team was hoping for when they traded for the embattled QB. However, when Watson is on, he is unquestionably one of the top talents in the league. In his most recent year as a full-time starter, he led the league in passing yards. If he can reach that level again for the Browns, they’re a legit playoff threat. If not, it is back to the drawing board. 

The 49ers Starter 

The San Francisco 49ers might have the most talented roster in the NFL outside of the QB position. They have elite receivers, one of the league’s best defences, top-tier running backs, and an amazing tight end. But QB is a question. Brock Purdy played incredibly as a seventh-round rookie and should be the starter this year. But he is coming off a serious UCL tear and will have to show his performance was no fluke. If it isn’t Purdy, it’ll be the oft-injured Trey Lance or Sam Darnold, who needs a real career restart.

Jared Goff 

A strange thing is happening this year. The Detroit Lions are entering an NFL season with real expectations. The Lions are the favourite to win their division, and Goff’s performance last year is a big reason why. He was lights out at the back half of the year. If the 3x Pro Bowler can sustain that level of play, there’s nothing stopping the Lions in a weak division. If he turns back into the player he was in his last two years in Los Angeles, th