Teams often push all of their chips to the middle of the table when they select a young quarterback in the NFL draft. By giving up resources to acquire a top QB prospect, the cupboard is frequently left bare from a talent standpoint, leaving their new signal caller to pick up the slack. This practice hinders development and eventually forces quarterbacks in the developmental stages of their careers to pick up bad habits in an attempt to better protect themselves.
Young quarterbacks playing on teams with a dearth of talent on offense tend to drop their eyes and stare at the rush, leave the pocket prematurely, force throws to the lone target who has an opportunity to get open, or take the checkdown when bigger plays are there to be made. While it is true that talent gets better by playing the actual game, teams do a disservice to young quarterbacks by thrusting them into the lineup with sub-optimal surrounding talent. The offensive line plays a key role in determining the eventual success or failure of a quarterback, but putting points on the board will forever be the name of the game.
The Cincinnati Bengals bet on talent on the flanks when building their offense around Joe Burrow. They’ve had difficulty protecting Burrow, but I submit to football fans that taking Ja’Marr Chase over Penei Sewell in the 2021 NFL Draft isn’t the reason the Bengals have had trouble keeping Burrow upright.