The 2020 NFL season is almost here, but it feels like forever. With the recent spike of the weather, I’d thought to bring back a segment I did last year with the Top Ten Quarterbacks Facing the Most Pressure. Sweating bullets is an understatement because being an NFL quarterback is a very stressful position. The game relies on you to get the job done, and often times your job will be on the line. Here are those ten individuals for the 2020 season.
10.) Jarrett Sitdham
In my mind, I don’t think anyone expects the Patriots to be who they were in years prior with Tom Brady leaving for Tampa Bay. However, the fans will likely jump all over Jarrett if he struggles early. I see that happening considering New England doesn’t have a lot of weapons to work with. They will most likely go with a run first offense while hammering teams on the defense. He’s only made a handful of throws in NFL games (not pregames) too so that will also play a factor.
9.) Drew Lock
Like I said in my early rankings article, I really like this kid. I think that Denver has finally found their franchise quarterback, and will hopefully look to good things in the future. However, he has to be sweating a little bit here as Denver has gone all in on him drafting him two stud receivers to compliment Courtland Sutton in Jerry Jeudy and KJ Hamler. It will also be his first full starting season as Joe Flacco was starting last year. I think it will be a great year for him, but it’s going to be a nervous one for him as well.
8.) Kyler Murray
Murray did a great job in his first year as the Arizona Cardinals quarterback. However, now with the addition of wideout DeAndre Hopkins, the Cardinals are expected to go higher than last year. You now have to prove to the fans that you can take the Cardinals to the playoffs. Having Hopkins can help, but also hurt Murray depending on how you look at it. The pressure will certainly be on for the mobile quarterback to make big things happen in 2020.
7.) Ben Roethlisberger
Roethlisberger is coming off a bad elbow injury last season to which he only saw about one and a half games on the field. However, now he seems revamped, healthy, and ready to go. He shouldn’t be nervous because he’s a veteran, but you know Pittsburgh is dying to have things go back to the ways of triumph. You wonder if the Pittsburgh crowd will get to him if he screws up. Personally, I don’t think so, and I think he will be ready to go. However, it is hard to overlook that with certain attitude problems he’s had over the years.
6.) Ryan Tannehill
Tannehill was a shining star replacing Marcus Mariota last year. Along with himself, Derrick Henry, and A.J. Brown, the Titans went to the AFC Championship game almost beating the Kansas City Chiefs. Now Tannehill was given a big money deal. A four-year extension worth $118 million including $62 million fully guaranteed. Tannehill had a great year, but can he stay consistent and produce like he did last season? We have seen what big money does to quarterbacks so the pressure is on.
5.) Mitch Trubisky
Many will find Trubisky here a little weird, but make no mistake he is under extreme heat after last season. He just didn’t match up with how he did in 2018, and in 2020 his job in is indeed on the line. They brought over Nick Foles from Jacksonville to compete for the starting job. As of right now he is the starting quarterback, but he is the only quarterback in danger of losing his starting job this year. We already know howhe does under pressure to begin with, but now he has a whole other person to consider in Foles.
4.) Dak Prescott
You guys know the whole Prescott vs Jones scenario so I won’t waste too much time on that. The pressure will come if Jerry Jones agrees with Prescott and his agent and gives him his money. However, then he will have to prove himself in big games, and like I said with Tannehill money being given to quarterbacks and asking them to produce the same if not more is always risky. Look at Jared Goff and Carson Wentz for instance. Both paid a lot of money and both of them aren’t producing in different ways.
3.) Joe Burrow
Burrow should feel pressure for two reasons. One, he is the only rookie starting quarterback out of this year’s draft class. Two, he is on the Bengals. Those two alone should have a quarterback of his caliber sweating a little bit. He’s got plenty of weapons to work with, but the fans already think he is the real deal for Cincinnati. Those expectations are high and will have a worrying effect I have for Burrow.
2.) Baker Mayfield
Mayfield is still under a lot of pressure pertaining to last season. He was number one last year and now he only drops down a spot. Why? It is because he is getting another new coach to learn from as well as a new playbook. I would argue that if Baker doesn’t do well this year, he will likely be replaced in the following draft. I like the kid just not who he plays for. He has to prove himself this season and you better believe he’ll be sweating with his job on the line.
1.) Lamar Jackson
Jackson took the world by storm last year as he shined in the Ravens offense. I am not completely worried about his athletic ability, but he and the Ravens should be a bit nervous. The reason? The Ravens ran a specific scheme plan last year, and if you think teams aren’t prepared for it this year then you’re nuts. The pressure will be on Jackson and the Ravens to produce just as well as last season.
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