From the 10th pick in the 2018 NFL Draft to the subject of trade rumors in ’19. Which five NFL teams could benefit by dealing for quarterback Josh Rosen?
This past season, the Arizona Cardinals became the first team since the 1977 Tampa Bay Buccaneers to finish last in the league in total offense, rushing yards per game and passing yards per contest.
Led by first-time NFL head coach Steve Wilks, the club ranked dead last in the league with 225 points and the team’s offensive unit reached the end zone just 24 times. The Cards, who fired offensive coordinator Mike McCoy after seven games, also let go of Wilks following a 3-13 showing.
Rookie quarterback Josh Rosen played in 14 contests and was in the starting lineup for 13 of those games. He hit on 55.2 percent of his passes for 2,278 yards and 11 scores. But he threw 14 interceptions, lost five of his 10 fumbles and was sacked 45 times. Obviously, it would be incredibly unfair to judge him off one year on a team lacking a lot of talent and with problems on the offensive line.
Now the 10th overall selection in last year’s draft and the quarterback numerous people felt was the most “NFL ready” may be ready to move on. Rosen has been the speculation of trade rumors this offseason, due more to the fact that the Cardinals’ new head coach Kliff Kingsbury and there is strong interest in 2018 Heisman Trophy winning signal-caller Kyler Murray. All told, this is less about Rosen and more about a change in philosophy for a team that owns the first overall pick on April 25.
It’s start over time in the desert for both the team and perhaps the former UCLA standout. So which five clubs would be wise to make a deal for Josh Rosen?
5. Los Angeles Chargers
He was the fourth overall selection in the 2004 NFL Draft by the New York Giants and then saw his rights dealt to the Chargers in one of the bigger trades of this century. Philip Rivers took over as the Bolts’ starting quarterback two years later and hasn’t missed a game or a start since. His career numbers are sensational, even though team success has eluded the franchise. But these Los Angeles Chargers do come off a 12-4 season and reached the playoffs for the first time since 2013.
General manager Tom Telseco has built a talented and deep team, one that overcame numerous injuries and absences a year ago to win a dozen games. This offseason, the Chargers signed Tyrod Taylor to be the team’s newest backup quaretrback. But could the club use one of its seven draft choices (1 in each round), or even a player to secure Rosen’s services and give the Bolts the eventual successor to Rivers?