Five quarterbacks likely to lead the NFL in interceptions in 2018
Who are the five quarterbacks we would pick as the most likely to lead the NFL in interceptions in 2018? Here are some predictions…
We will spend a lot of time this offseason talking about possible breakout players in the NFL, but what about players who may be a bit more turnover prone?
Though some quarterbacks on this list will be getting a trial by fire in their rookie NFL seasons, some are just gunslingers in the NFL that will take a three-touchdown, three-interception game if it means their team still wins.
Here are five players I could see being likely to lead the NFL in interceptions in 2018…
5. Sam Darnold, Jets
Darnold was known for turning the ball over at much too high a rate while at USC, though he seemed to struggle a bit more with fumbles than interceptions. With that said, Darnold is a risk-taker at the quarterback position and he may try to keep more plays alive than he should.
If the Jets decide to throw him to the wolves this season, it wouldn’t be out of the question to see him throw between 15-20 interceptions.
4. Josh Allen, Bills
Unlike Darnold, Allen’s issue with interceptions could be more of an accuracy issue than anything else. While Allen will make jaw-dropping throws, there are times he will let the ball sail or throw behind receivers.
I would probably put this as ‘Bills starting quarterback’ because if A.J. McCarron is the starter, I could easily see him leading the NFL in interceptions as well. The Bills’ offensive line lost arguably its two best players in Cordy Glenn and Richie Incognito this offseason, so there might be some added pressure factored in here as well.
3. Philip Rivers, Chargers
It’s been a really strange trend, but Philip Rivers has really struggled with interceptions in even-numbered years since 2010. Here are his totals:
2010: 15
2012: 15
2014: 18
2016: 21
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It’s an even-numbered year, and based on Rivers’ pattern here, I’d fully expect him to throw 24 interceptions. All kidding aside, this is a really strange trend and worth keeping an eye on. In 2016 and 2014, Rivers led the league in INTs.
2. Andrew Luck, Colts
If Luck is able to play this season, I can see him being a candidate to lead the NFL in interceptions for sure.
Luck hasn’t necessarily had a ‘problem’ with interceptions in the past, but if he throws a high volume of passes, he might try to play hero ball a little more than he should.
His career high in this category is 18, which came in his rookie season, but Luck has thrown at least 13 interceptions in three of his five NFL seasons.
1. Eli Manning, Giants
Three times in Manning’s career, he’s thrown at least 20 interceptions in a season.
That includes a whopping 25 back in 2010, and 27 in 2013.
How do you throw 27 interceptions in a single season? That’s incredible to me.
DeShone Kizer threw a miserable 22 last season with Cleveland, but Eli’s 27 is a staggering number.
Thankfully for him, that was five years ago, but Manning averages an interception a game (or more) for his career. He’s a safe bet to lead the league in INTs.