Mandatory minicamps have wrapped across the NFL, and players are on their own until it’s time for training camp. Per usual, most teams are entering the season with veteran quarterbacks projected to take the majority of snaps during the season. However, there are always a few outliers, and some teams will be throwing young quarterbacks into the fire, where they’ll have to learn on the job. Here are three young gunslingers we’re looking forward to seeing take the field this season.
J.J McCarthy
The Minnesota Vikings turned to Sam Darnold last year after J.J. McCarthy missed what should’ve been his rookie season with a knee injury he suffered in the preseason. Darnold signed with the Seattle Seahawks this season, paving the way for the McCarthy era in Minnesota. McCarthy’s presumed top target, Justin Jefferson, has spoken highly of his new quarterback, who won the national championship in his final season as a Michigan Wolverine. It’ll be interesting to see if McCarthy can win at the top level of the sport as well.
Drake Maye
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Drake Maye isn’t a rookie, as he’s entering his second season with the New England Patriots, but this will be his first time being the Week One starter as a professional. Maye will have a new head coach in his second season in the league, as the Patriots brought in Mike Vrabel in the hopes that the franchise will be able to restore some of the culture from the Brady-Belichick era, when Vrabel was on the Patriots as a player. Maye has all the intangibles to be a star in the league. It’ll be interesting to see if he can put it all together.
Cam Ward
It goes without saying that we’re looking forward to seeing the number one overall pick in this year’s NFL draft. Now a member of the Tenneessse Titans, Cam Ward is technically in competition with the incumbent starter Will Levis. However, the assumption is that Ward will have the job by the time Week One rolls around. There’s no sample size to go off for Ward as a pro, but it’ll be interesting to see if he’ll be able to electrify defenses the same way he did as a Miami Hurricane.
About Qwame Skinner
Qwame Skinner has loved both writing and sports his entire life. In addition to his sports coverage at Comeback Media, Qwame writes novels, and his debut; The First Casualty, an adult fantasy, is out now.