1:1 QB Swaps That Make TOO Much Sense

Sure, there’d be some additional compensation involved, but Let’s make these happen.

I’m not being a GM here. These are not fair trades. If these were to actually happen, we’d need to get down to brass tax.

That said, I think you’ll sense a theme here pretty quickly. There are a lot of teams with different QB situations right now, all of whom are going in vastly different directions. Sure, the change at signal caller probably won’t completely change the outcome for these teams, but it can certainly provide a dramatic shift. For one team, it might even deliver a Super Bowl.

So sit back, relax, and enjoy these perfect, flawless, undeniably-good-for-both-side swaps that will completely fix the NFL overnight.

1. Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers for San Francisco 49ers QB Trey Lance

Starting off with a banger, just hear me out. The Trey Lance experience has not gone well for San Francisco. I’m as big of a Lance believer as you’ll come across, but as he now enters year three with nothing to show for his time, the writing is on the wall that the team and Lance missed their window. Plus, there’s Brock Purdy now, who by all accounts is the best NFL QB to ever live. That said, the 49ers are cursed at QB. There’s no other way around it. And while I like Purdy, he’s not Rodgers. By bringing in Rodgers, the 49ers can silence the QB debate while also allowing plenty of room for Purdy to grow (and learn) behind Rodgers. Nothing wrong with waiting a little longer for the Purdy magic while hopefully winning the Super Bowl with Rodgers in the mean time.

Meanwhile, over in Wisconsin, you now have a Trey Lance vs Jordan Love QB battle to land on the best option for your franchise over the next decade. That would be two of the most dynamic and exciting QB prospects to enter the league in the last five years in the same room, and the loser you can either hold on to or trade for more assets. And best of all, you’re moving on from Aaron Rodgers. Truly, everybody wins.

2. Minnesota Vikings QB Kirk Cousins for Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray

Is your brain breaking yet? Tell me this doesn’t make sense. The Cardinals are an absolute dumpster fire of a franchise right now. Their GM quit/resigned. Their coach fled to Southeast Asia indefinitely. Their QB needs a video game clause in his record breaking contract. He’s also two feet tall and injury prone. But otherwise, things are good. The franchise is desperately in need of a reset, but their recent commitment to Kyler makes it very hard to do so. Soooo. Trade him! To Minnesota! Where they already have the best wide receiver in the league, an offensive minded head coach, a solid offensive line, and a VERY winnable division for the immediate future. Oh yeah, did I mention Kyler would be playing in a dome? With a great running game? It’s perfect for him, and it would give the Vikings a legitimate chance at contending in a much weaker conference as far as elite QB play goes. They’d easily enter a new level of contention, competing closer with the Eagles and 49ers.

A little further south, Arizona gets a competent QB to keep the ship afloat while they transition into a new chapter of their franchise, under the new leadership of Jonathan Gannon. Kirk will eventually become a FA, and everyone gets to leave happy. No more Kyler Murray contract, and nothing but blue skies ahead. It is Arizona, after all. Plus, doesn’t Kirk Cousins in AZ just make too much sense? That seems like where he’ll end up anyway.

3. Detroit Lions QB Jared Goff for Las Vegas Raiders QB Derek Carr

Nowwww we’re talking. This is some real degenerate shit. But again, stick with me. Starting in Detroit, this team is READY to compete. The offensive line is legit! Amon Ra St. Brown is a monster! The defense is questionable but frisky, and filled with fun players. Dare I say a playoff appearance feels like it’s right around the corner? The only problem: Jared Goff has a ceiling. And that ceiling is relatively low. Ben Johnson and his offensive staff have done a great job at maximizing Goff, but there’s no denying Carr is just a better QB. I don’t think Carr is taking this team to the Super Bowl, but I do think he makes them a lot more competitive than Goff does. And to the Kyler point previously, it’s a weak division. If the Carr-led Lions could finish first in the NFC North, all it would take is a little luck (and maybe a key injury or two to other teams) to make a surprising playoff run. This was the team that no one wanted to play at the end of the year, and I think Carr elevates them even more.

Anddddd that brings us to Las Vegas. To be clear, I’d expect them to draft a QB this year and hopefully develop someone for the long term. Especially in the world where they don’t land Aaron Rodgers. But Goff is a great stop gap in the meantime, and he would be more than competent enough to keep Davante Adams happy (and fed) while the Raiders push towards another .500 season. Once the Raiders feel like their guy is ready, they can move on from Goff and hopefully expedite the rebuild. That said, in a division with Mahomes and Herbert looking down the barrel for the next forever, I wouldn’t be in a rush to make any more win-now moves if I’m the Raiders.

4. Los Angeles Rams QB Matthew Stafford for New York Jets QB Zach Wilson

I mean, I’m just on a roll at this point. I’ll start in LA. The Rams gave up their entire future to win a Super Bowl. They did it. Yay. Now, Sean McVay is ready to retire. The offensive line can’t protect Stafford. They can’t afford their team. It’s a whole mess. But you know what? That’s okay! You won the damn Super Bowl. It’s all worth it. But what could reenergize McVay? How about singlehandedly turning around the biggest draft bust in recent memory at the QB position! Does Zach Wilson not scream Sean McVay/belongs in LA? He looks like he was born and raised in Orange County. They’re perfect for one another. McVay could try to maximize Wilson’s skillset and rebuild his confidence, while also giving himself a project that’s both challenging and interesting to reinvigorate his love of the game. Wilson gets his much needed fresh start, and if he fails, no one will care. He’s already a failure at this point. How much worse can it get?

Then, in New York, things are heating up. If the line can stay healthy, that’s a real front to protect Stafford. The run game is legit, the receivers are legit, and the defense is LEGIT. I don’t think it would be crazy to say that team would actually be in contention to win the AFC East if Stafford can stay healthy. And again, in the world where they’re not getting Rodgers, can they really do better than Stafford? I still believe Stafford is better than Carr, and I think he would raise the floor of that team a lot. Are they a Super Bowl team in the super deep AFC? Probably not. But again, an injury here or there…who knows.

5. Tennessee Titans QB Malik Willis for Miami Dolphins QB Teddy Bridgewater

I won’t spend as much time on this, since these are backups, but I just like it. Tua is one concussion away from being a crash test dummy, and there’s absolutely no way anyone can confidently bet on his health. Malik Willis would be a way more interesting and dynamic backup than Bridgewater, and his skill set compliments the Tyreek/Waddle pairing well. McDaniel could even come up with some Willis specific packages where he’s able to actually use his legs, something Tennessee somehow was never able to do.

For the Titans, you get another version of Ryan Tannehill to back up Ryan Tannehill. Vrabel clearly has a disdain for Willis, and getting another veteran back-up in the building would be right up his alley. Plus, no matter how boring they are, the Titans just refuse to be bad. If they had Bridgewater instead of Josh Dobbs, they might’ve even made the playoffs over the Jaguars. I think Vrabel makes this trade yesterday.