The 5 NFL Quarterbacks With the Most To Prove In 2017

By now most fans know who the heavy-hitter NFL quarterbacks will be in 2017 from Tom Brady, to Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees and Matt Ryan.

That’s fine and good but the more interesting stories will settle on those quarterbacks with everything to prove. The ones who know a bad performance this season might very well end their last opportunity to start games at the pro level. Often such situations can bring out the best and most unexpected performances from players. So who among the projected starters for this year have the most on the line?

Here are five names worth watching.

Tom Savage (Houston Texans)

Bill O’Brien and the rest of the coaching staff seem quite confident in Savage. He knows the system having developed in it for a few years. He’s got arm talent and showed flashes of good play in his brief opportunities. Thus far he hasn’t been able to put it all together. This is probably his biggest opportunity with no serious competition left on the roster. Houston might change that in the draft, but he should still be the starter. It’s his time now or will never be.

Mike Glennon (Chicago Bears)

Bears GM Ryan Pace made it clear that they signed Glennon in free agency to become the starter in 2017. His experience and trending up play has them believing he can help the team win. Rumors are still swirling that the team will still draft a quarterback, but that doesn’t change anything for this season. Glennon knows the next 16 games could determine how the rest of his NFL career plays out. Everything depends on how he plays and whether the team wins.

Blake Bortles (Jacksonville Jaguars)

It looked like Bortles was destined for Pro Bowls after his productive 2015 campaign. Then 2016 happened. Now people are back to wondering if the former 3rd overall pick will ever fulfill his potential. New Jacksonville Jaguars management don’t seem convinced just yet. In other words they made it clear if he wants to keep his job, he better earn it this season. This team is getting too talented to a point where they can’t afford quarterback to be their Achilles heel.

Carson Wentz (Philadelphia Eagles)

He had an okay rookie season but people have already begun to proclaim Carson Wentz the next MVP. There is no question he has the talent but he’s not getting the crown until he earns it. Wentz is running out of excuses. He’ll have much better weapons in 2017 thank to the arrival of Alshon Jeffery and Torrey Smith in free agency. He’s got experience now as well. Everything should start coming together for him. Otherwise Philadelphia will quickly show how much patience they have.

Jared Goff (Los Angeles Rams)

He’s a former #1 overall pick. That sort of pressure lingers for a long time, especially on a quarterback. Jared Goff did not play well last season, hampered for any number of reasons from bad scheming to limited weapons and poor protection. The Rams are aiming to fix these issues and they’ve revamped the coaching staff to help him develop. Even so it still falls on him to seize the reins. Otherwise that bust label is going to appear awfully fast.

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