OK so who had this on their 2024 NFL Bingo card?

[Beck Water]

Class of 2018 has 4 QB starting in the playoffS, Mayfield, Darnold, Allen, and Jackson

1st, 3rd, 7th and 32nd pick

 

In 2018, when this was a highly regarded QB draft class coming out, people would not have been surprised (though many might have picked the “wrong Josh”

but

In the intervening years, it certainly looked like pick #1 and #3 were busts

[BuffaloBillyG]

3 minutes ago, Beck Water said:

Class of 2018 has 4 QB starting in the playoffS, Mayfield, Darnold, Allen, and Jackson

1st, 3rd, 7th and 32nd pick

 

In 2018, when this was a highly regarded QB draft class coming out, people would not have been surprised (though many might have picked the “wrong Josh”

but

In the intervening years, it certainly looked like pick #1 and #3 were busts

To me, the bigger shock is that the top 2 (Darnold and Baker) that were considered more pro ready and polished had to travel to a combined 8 teams to find success while the two looked at as largely flawed blossomed on their first team and have had the same HC their whole career. 

 

Oh and that at one time the Panthers had both Baker and Darnold and couldn't win with them.

 

Says a lot about how important coaching can be.

Edited January 6 by BuffaloBillyG

[eSJayDee]

For their rookie years, I think Mayfield looked the best & being the 1st overall was justified.  Likewise, Darnold showed signs of talent though very much played "rookie like".

[GunnerBill]

I never thought Mayfield was a bust. I think, and always thought, the Browns made a mistake moving off him. Baker can play. He isn't a superstar but he is a good starting Quarterback. I have to say I did think Darnold was a bust. Not necessarily just after the Jets but after a promising start when he flamed out with Carolina I thought that was him done. Huge credit to him. He got his chance this year and he seized it. 

[BillsPride12]

This draft class is now looking very impressive.  Will be remembered as an all-time QB class.  Incredible we ended up with the best guy of the bunch

[HOUSE]

Josh Rosen will be back and you will all be very sorry

[bmur66]

The Jets set Darnold back a couple years.

[JohnNord]

52 minutes ago, Beck Water said:

Class of 2018 has 4 QB starting in the playoffS, Mayfield, Darnold, Allen, and Jackson

1st, 3rd, 7th and 32nd pick

 

In 2018, when this was a highly regarded QB draft class coming out, people would not have been surprised (though many might have picked the “wrong Josh”

but

In the intervening years, it certainly looked like pick #1 and #3 were busts

The narrative of this class has changed.  Allen and Jackson had the most question marks pre-draft and ended up as the best out of this class.   
 

Baker and Darnold have gone from franchise QB to a QB bust back to franchise QB.

 

And then there’s Josh Rosen who most Bills fans wanted that was a complete and utter bust.  
 

Assuming that Darnold sticks in Minnesota, overall this was a really strong QB class

[djp14150]

challengers are ….
 

2020– Burrow, Tua, Hebert, Love in 1st round, Hurtz  in 2nd

 

2024– Williams, Daniels, Maye, Penix, McCarthy, Nix

 

 

 

[Ridgewaycynic2013]

20 minutes ago, HOUSE said:

Josh Rosen will be back and you will all be very sorry

Yeah, the NFL will hire him and his Wharton MBA, to figure out new ways to gouge the average fan out of $ and hope. 🙁

[Albany,n.y.]

38 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

I never thought Mayfield was a bust. I think, and always thought, the Browns made a mistake moving off him. Baker can play. He isn't a superstar but he is a good starting Quarterback. I have to say I did think Darnold was a bust. Not necessarily just after the Jets but after a promising start when he flamed out with Carolina I thought that was him done. Huge credit to him. He got his chance this year and he seized it. 

Darnold had a lot of injuries during his time in both New Jersey & Carolina.  This is his 1st fully healthy season as a starter.  

[Don Otreply]

19 minutes ago, bmur66 said:

The Jets set Darnold back a couple years.

The jets set everyone back a couple years, 

[MPL]

To this day, I still don't understand why Baker Mayfield isn't the Browns QB. 

[bobobonators]

1 hour ago, BuffaloBillyG said:

To me, the bigger shock is that the top 2 (Darnold and Baker) that were considered more pro ready and polished had to travel to a combined 8 teams to find success while the two looked at as largely flawed blossomed on their first team and have had the same HC their whole career. 

 

Oh and that at one time the Panthers had both Baker and Darnold and couldn't win with them.

 

Says a lot about how important coaching can be.

Coaching and GMs many times can make the difference. 

[Drew21PA]

Knew Cleveland made a mistake letting Baker go

 

dudes good - proud to say I knew he would be good -

 

congrats Bake!!!!

[Seventeen]

1 hour ago, HOUSE said:

Josh Rosen will be back and you will all be very sorry

 

Still have nightmares about the Broncos picking Josh and us stuck with Rosen.

[LEBills]

Carolina had both Baker and Darnold on their roster at the same time lol

 

Being a good QB is a combination of talent and being in a good organization

[Old Coot]

3 hours ago, BuffaloBillyG said:

Oh and that at one time the Panthers had both Baker and Darnold and couldn't win with them.

 

Says a lot about how important coaching can be.

Sometimes a change of scenery can do wonders for your mental well-being; cf. Geno Smith and Goff, too

[eball]

2 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

I never thought Mayfield was a bust. I think, and always thought, the Browns made a mistake moving off him. Baker can play. He isn't a superstar but he is a good starting Quarterback. I have to say I did think Darnold was a bust. Not necessarily just after the Jets but after a promising start when he flamed out with Carolina I thought that was him done. Huge credit to him. He got his chance this year and he seized it. 

Darnold is still flawed. Holds the ball, feels the pressure. But he has played incredibly well this year and shown he can be coached. 
 

 

[Mikie2times]

2 hours ago, MPL said:

To this day, I still don't understand why Baker Mayfield isn't the Browns QB. 

He was getting to the end of his deal and to move forward with him the Browns would need to commit some serious money. It was very similar to the Tua situation from my view. The concern being a commitment of franchise type money to him might be a huge mistake. To me it’s one of the worst situations for a team to be in. Miami paid, Dallas paid, did it work out? Meh….
 

He played hurt the year this was all going down and really declined. Which I imagine gave the Browns even more confidence in not investing franchise money. 
 

I think what they said to themselves was I would rather pay an excessive amount for being sure than what amounts to a franchise deal and not be sure. In theory I would agree with this approach, but the problem is you can rarely be certain. 
 

As many know they ended up missing completely and here we are. Baker is still the best Cleveland QB in several decades. He now gets to enjoy some nice weather and be with a professional franchise. Not a bad deal for him.