On night one of the 2022 NFL draft, Jon Robinson decided to alter the trajectory of the Philadelphia Eagles franchise. The problem? Robinson was the general manager of the Tennessee Titans. Was the operative word. Robinson traded wide receiver A.J. Brown to the Eagles, a player that ignited dramatic improvement in Jalen Hurts and led to a Super Bowl run. It also led to Robinson’s dismissal.
The Eagles followed a model becoming popular around the league. The Cowboys paired Dak Prescott and Amari Cooper. The Cardinals traded for DeAndre Hopkins to support Kyler Murray. The Bills connected Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs. The Dolphins adding Tyreek Hill to Tua Tagovailoa. The Jaguars acquired Calvin Ridley for Trevor Lawrence.
Dramatic improvement has followed every situation. They combine for a proven path to success.
Following the trade for D.J. Moore, Justin Fields is next to follow this ascension.
Before The Arrival
These young quarterbacks are a wide swath of talent. Murray and Lawrence were top overall picks in their draft, while Prescott swung down to a fourth-round selection. Murray and Hopkins were paired early, following Murray’s rookie season, giving a small picture of life before. But Prescott, Allen, Hurts, and Tagovailoa all added impact receivers after their second season.
All struggled to varying degrees, particularly in their second season:
| Quarterback | Cmp% | TD | TD% | Int | Int% | Y/A | AY/A | Y/C | Y/G | Rate | QBR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tua Tagovailoa | 67.8 | 16 | 4.1 | 10 | 2.6 | 6.8 | 6.5 | 10.1 | 204.1 | 90.1 | 49.7 |
| Jalen Hurts | 61.3 | 16 | 3.7 | 9 | 2.1 | 7.3 | 7.1 | 11.9 | 209.6 | 87.2 | 48.5 |
| Josh Allen | 58.8 | 20 | 4.3 | 9 | 2 | 6.7 | 6.7 | 11.4 | 193.1 | 85.3 | 49.4 |
| Dak Prescott | 62.9 | 22 | 4.5 | 13 | 2.7 | 6.8 | 6.5 | 10.8 | 207.8 | 86.6 | 69.9 |
The picture is clear. Players struggled with completion percentage. They relied on athleticism. Posted passer ratings under the league average. In short, a player the football hive mind would label as “can’t pass.” In short, the consensus opinion of Justin Fields.
But comparing the average to Fields’ second season creates a picture.