NFL training camps are underway this week, and this year more than ever teams are rolling out new quarterbacks. Of course there are the flurry of rookie QBs who will likely see the field at some point: Trevor Lawrence (Jacksonville), Justin Fields (Chicago), Zach Wilson (New York Jets), Mac Jones (New England) and Trey Lance (San Francisco). But there was more movement than usual amongst veterans as well.
Are you all caught up with who is the signal caller where? If not, we've got you covered.
Los Angeles Rams - Matt Stafford: After 12 years, the former No. 1 overall pick is done in Detroit, leaving as the Lions' all-time leader in just about every passing category. He's now in Los Angeles with weapons all around him, a head coach in Sean McVay who can utilize Stafford's skill-set, and looking for a change in his postseason fortunes after he was 0-3 with Detroit. Of course, Stafford leaving the Motor City means the Lions have a new starting quarterback for the first time since 2008.
Detroit Lions - Jared Goff: And it's another former No. 1 overall pick in Goff. The 26-year-old led the Rams to a Super Bowl appearance in 2018 and has made a pair of Pro Bowls, but critics felt Goff's abilities were limited for a team with legitimate championship aspirations. So when the chance came to swap Goff for Stafford (at the cost of a couple first-round draft picks), LA pulled the trigger. He'll look to prove them wrong in a difficult NFC North.
Indianapolis Colts - Carson Wentz: Speaking of reclamation projects, the Carson Wentz saga in Philadelphia officially ended after a couple of very unusual seasons, capped by a 15-interception year in 2020. Now Wentz will be reunited with Frank Reich in Indianapolis. Together in Philly the QB and then-offensive coordinator nearly combined to make Wentz an MVP winner before injury cut his 2017 season short. Reich, now the head coach in Indy, hopes to rediscover the magic that had Wentz in the top-tiered QB discussion at one point, at the cost of a third-rounder and a conditional second.
Carolina Panthers - Sam Darnold: It was a terribly kept secret in the leadup to the draft that the Jets wanted BYU's Zach Wilson, which meant the end of the short Sam Darnold era. The former fourth overall pick in 2018, Darnold never lived up to the hype in New York, going 13-25 as a starter with 45 touchdowns to 39 interceptions. Many believe the talent is still there, and at 24 he's still young enough to resurrect his career as a starter, so the Panthers took a chance at the cost of second-, fourth- and sixth-round draft picks.
Denver Broncos - Teddy Bridgewater: With Darnold now starting in Carolina, it made Teddy Bridgewater expendable. The Panthers sent the 28-year-old to Denver, where there's no guarantee he'll start. It's one of the few true quarterback battles to watch as training camps open up, as Bridgewater will compete with the incumbent Drew Lock for the top spot. Neither put up eye-popping numbers in 2020 - Bridgewater threw 15 TDs to 11 picks in 15 games, while Lock tied Wentz for the league lead with 15 INTs in only 13 games.
Washington Football Team - Ryan Fitzpatrick: With Alex Smith retired and the other options being Taylor Heinicke and Kyle Allen, the WFT went to the free agent well and nabbed Ryan Fitzpatrick. It's the ninth team for the 38-year-old, who spent the prior two seasons with Miami as the starter before making way for Tua Tagovailoa midway through last year. And after being one play away from being replaced for seemingly forever, Fitzpatrick finally enters a season as the clear-cut No. 1 option under center.