The ESPN article itself is a great read and their top 10 list is very good. I'm iffy on Drake Maye. He's not a finished product, I expect his production to decline and we'll find out what he's really made of this year. Caleb Williams at #10 ahead of their honorable mentions is also debatable. After an almost mythical season last year, I think the Bears have a lot to be concerned about. The hype and pressure on Williams (and their entire team) is going to be wild. It screams "regression" to me. https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id...top-10-quarterbacks-2026-execs-coaches-scouts
Let's hope it works. I'd love to see him prove them all wrong for the Texans' sake. I want to enjoy this season.
Without comparing to CJ, so please don’t come for me on that and homerism BS. I do not understand the love for Herbert. Stats are whatever, he’s not winning more games than others, he’s been ABYSMAL in playoffs, even throwing 4 INTs in one half which some here would say is grounds for giving up on and bringing in the backup. He doesn’t put the team on his back, he’s sucks when his OL is bad, and he crumbles in big games.. but he continues to get ranked high after a great rookie year. But go off.
I don't want to pile on the young man because I need him to be good this year, but IMO, I don't question his athletic ability, I AM starting to question his football IQ, in his rookie year when he didn't have to call protection he was great and the more "ownership" he takes of the offense, the worse he seems to get. I am not calling him dumb, but maybe he processes to slow and let's be honest, you have to make choices in mili seconds. I am rooting for him to have a bounce back year because the alternative scares the beJesus out of me. No way I pay him $50-$60 (like its my money LOL) based on the past 2 years, which he was OK in the regular season, but was just horrible in the last 2 games, and if I am being honest, the recency bias is negative. By the way , why doesn't Herbert get the same treatment, he sucks a$$ in the playoffs............I will be curious how he does this year with Mike McDaniel as his OC, that makes me jealous as hell that we didnt go after him
I know there was talk before last season that CJ would have more freedom in making changes at the line. But, I’m not sure how much of that was actually rolled out. Furthermore, when the offensive line is widely considered the worst in pro football I’m not sure making a change at the line by the QB will be terribly successful. What I’m saying is if you have a poor running game and your blockers can’t block it’s really hard to tell who is at fault here because everything is just so bad. I’m concerned just like everyone else when it comes to CJ. But, can we fix all the problems on offense to give the QB, whoever it is, a fighting chance? I know we once again this season have rearranged the deck chairs on offense. I’m really hoping we see some real improvement from everyone involved.
Is CJ dumb? Can he read a defense? Can he make adjustments? All valid questions. The dumb one, not really. Sure, lousy test taker. But he did enough to show he is not a lump on the field. But I think part of the reason for the terrible starts after the 1st series is they just don't have time to adjust before the snap. They take took long so by the time they get to the line, no time to adjust. Scripted plays allow more time at the line so they can adjust protection, etc. But plays coming from the sidelines take too long. So, is it all CJ's fault? Why are they taking so long? CJ talk too slow? CJ not understanding the plays? Or maybe, just maybe, especially in 2025, new coach who is also a rookie OC, didn't have everything together, yet. Yes, nothing I just said would excuse the lump from the 4 int game. They are brain freeze moments and that's on him. He needs to prove he is better than that. Again, not blaming anyone. They, (OC and QB), needs to be on the same page, that is all. And let's hope a 2nd year OC and 4th year QB will get thing done. A working running game, allowing working play action, forcing other defense to play honest against potential runs, will help.
The issue with CJ is he isn’t a great athlete that can make plays when things don’t go his way. He has to win with reads, processing and his arm talent. True QB skillset. The question is, will her get there. Hope so
