• Ryan Poles has to yet to select a QB.

  • Ryan Poles has a great opportunity to select one this year with a (great) prospect in Caleb Williams.

  • The current QB is heading into year 4, this is so crucial yet many just look over it. One of the most effective roster management strategies is a cheap QB. The window for success nearly relies on year 4. Year 5 Fields will be a cap hit of approximately 23m. Not to mention this decision also has to be made this offseason.

  • There’s too much risk for Poles to rely on Fields making a once in a blue moon development. If Fields doesn’t (magically) become pretty damn good in 2024-25, Poles career will be over and he would have never selected a QB. In the scenario where we (somehow) pick up the 5th year on Fields and let’s make a fair assumption that Fields isn’t great for the next 2 years, Poles is done. You simply can’t be underwhelming (to say the least) from 2022-2025 and expect to retain your job and also select a QB.

  • Lastly the QBs in 2025 are foreseeably awful, with Drew Allar being the top prospect.

TL;DR as to why we’re selecting a QB

  • restart QB clock, this is essential to building a successful (short & long term) window - better chance of winning.

  • Poles buys more time as a GM.

  • Poles career is now relied on his selection, he’s not going to risk his life’s work and career on the shoulders of Justin Fields.

  • You have a better chance of having a “good” QB.

  • In the strong likelihood that Fields isn’t pretty good in 2024, your options in 2025 are limited - to say the least.

Here comes the cold hard truth

Fields isn’t good. He’s below average. Can’t go through progressions, can’t throw, can’t read a defense, can’t protect the ball, lacks consistency, etc.

We’re talking about a 3rd year QB who for a career gets sacked 3.5x a game, with 75%+ of them being after 4+ seconds, averages a turnover a game, has more turnovers than touchdowns, has a 61% completion, and averages 162yd/game. He’s had only 1 game (in 3yrs) where he’s thrown for 300+ yards. In 2022, Fields only eclipsed 200+ yards TWICE, (208 for one of the games). These are just awful numbers. Nearly ever rookie QB has gotten 200+ twice including our very own Bagent. We are talking about a guy who has gone into the half with under 50 passing yards 11 times.

With teams licking their lips for an opportunity to draft a prospect in the likes of Caleb Williams (or even Maye), we have a good portion, if not a majority of our fanbase wanting to not even select a QB. It’s just illogical.

Ryan Poles will 100% be selecting a QB. Stop coping, we all wanted Fields to be great or at the least good, but accept the reality that he simply isn’t good enough.

  • thebarbarain@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    11 months ago

    I love how random redditors tell us their idea like it’s fact when there’s still a good deal of season left. So you’re telling me, if Justin averages 300yd/game til end of season with a 3:1 turnover ratio were taking Caleb for sure?

    • BPAfreeWaters@alien.topBEnglish
      1·
      11 months ago

      Right, because theres every reason to think fields who has exactly 1 300 yard game is going to do that.

    • theskyalreadyfell217@alien.topBEnglish
      1·
      11 months ago

      Just like he was supposed to do against the Vikings. Eventually there is not going to be enough games left for people to keep saying this.

  • yrasto@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    11 months ago

    Agree with your point. I just hope that Poles has the foresight to bring in a coach who knows what he’s doing instead of Flus & Getsy. Fields has his issues but the coaching needs to be addressed as well.

    • MonsignorHalas@alien.topBEnglish
      1·
      11 months ago

      It is very likely that Flus stays and Getsy goes. It QB turnover is the plan then it makes sense to go secure a new OC.

    • H3artbr0k3nkid@alien.topOPBEnglish
      1·
      11 months ago

      Agreed. I think we’re an attractive destination and I think the #1/Caleb makes us a lot more attractive.

      I think we get Harbaugh

  • theskyalreadyfell217@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    11 months ago

    You should also add in that they know the likely hood of drafting in the top 5, top 3, or let alone 1st overall is also extremely unlikely in the 2025 draft. Hell, this year we have a good chance of our pick being out of the top five.

    They will understand that and not want to risk having to send a big package to get the QB they want. Not to mention the pick might not even be available.

    Hell, another point to that may even be that they thought Stroud was the guy and are kicking themselves because they seem him clearly outperforming Fields.

    • OkBoomer6919@alien.topBEnglish
      1·
      11 months ago

      Drafting 1st overall again is likely to never happen again in our lifetimes. Last season was the first time in franchise history. It won’t happen again. It’s now or never.

  • josevictor21@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    11 months ago

    Imagine the pressure that Poles will have on his job after letting 2 generational QBs pass on the board for two straight years? He’ll need to make the team contender to the SB, otherwise it’ll be difficult to handle that.