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Hey, who's the new guy? In Week 1 in the NFL, there was a pretty good chance it was the starting quarterback.
A total of 15 NFL teams had different weeks in 2017. How unusual is that? Only once in the year 1999, when 16 teams had had a different week.
Amazingly, of this year's 15 new starters, only one was a rookie – the Jets' Sam Darnold. The turnover at the time of the past 12 months has had a significant impact on the position of the CEO and the position of the CEO, and they are likely to remain unsettled in many places.
So we thought we'd take a look at the 15 new Week 1 starters and their situations, just to see how it all happened.
How he got here: After Washington moved on to Alex Smith, Cousins made it to the free-market agent and signed a fully guaranteed three-year, $ 84 million contract with the Vikings.
Expectations: HIGH. The Vikings have their sights set on this year's Super Bowl, and they and their fans are hoping Cousins were the missing piece. He's got a lot of pressure in the entire league.
Job security outlook: Guaranteed means guaranteed. As long as Cousins stays healthy, it's impossible to imagine a scenario in which he gets benched. And even if they hypothetically wanted to get rid of him, who's going to trade for that contract?
How he got here: The Jets traded three second-round picks to the Colts to move up from No. 6 to No. 3 in the draft and select the USC quarterback form. He then beat out 2017 starter Josh McCown and Teddy Bridgewater (who got traded) for the starting job in camp.
Expectations: HIGH. The Jets have been looking for a franchise quarterback since Joe Namath left town. Fans are desperate for Darnold to live up to his early Monday dazzling position (16-for-21, 198 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT).
Job security outlook: They could always go back to McCown, but the veteran backup seems to relish the mentor role. Darnold would have to struggle to see the bench this year.
How he got here: The 49ers traded a second-round pick to the Patriots for Garoppolo at last year's trade deadline. After learning the offense, he became the starter in early December and opened up the world by leading the Niners to a 5-0 record in their final five games.
With Week 1 behind us, our expert NFL stack up teams 1-32 and highlight the most eye-catching debut performances.
James Conner is good, but he does not alter opponents' game plans the way Le'Veon Bell does. More: rookie debuts that mattered.
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Expectations: HIGH. Going 5-0 in December, and the Niners hope and believe Garoppolo is the long-term answer for them at the position. A tough opening to the Vikings and their tough defense puts a bit of a damper on things, but the expectation is that he will bounce back.
Job security outlook: The Niners signed Garoppolo to a five-year, $ 137.5 million contract this offseason, guaranteeing $ 48.7 million, including $ 7.5 million of its $ 17.2 million 2019 salary. They theoretically Could it's going to be $ 50 million for just one year's work. This job is for at least two years, and – they hope – much longer.
How he got here: After a year of lost QB play bouncing from Trevor Siemian to Paxton Lynch to Brock Osweiler, the Broncos signed Keenum to a two-year, $ 36 million free-agent contract with $ 25 million guaranteed.
Expectations: HIGH. By comparison, Keenum is seen by Broncos coaches and fans of low-key savior.
Job security outlook: Guaranteeing $ 25 million means he's the guy for this year, at least. Only $ 7 million of his $ 18 million 2019 salary is guaranteed, so he's a flop in 2018, the Broncos can move on. At this point, though, only Chad Kelly is a candidate for the long-term solution.
How he got here: Luck missed the whole year, Jacoby Brissett, last year's fill-in.
Expectations: HIGH. Luck was one of the best quarterbacks in the league during the healthy early portion of his career. The Colts believe their offensive is better than any he has ever had before.
Job security outlook: Brissett is no threat, and Luck is signed through 2021.
2:18
Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon discuss which quarterback had the most impressive start to the season on their new team.
How he got here: The Chiefs pulled off a tough trick with Mahomes, who was in the lead in the first round in 2017. That's because of the way Alex Smith played and won (especially early). But they traded away Smith in the offseason because they felt like they were ready, and they got him started.
Expectations: HIGH. The Chiefs and their fans are not interested in a take-a-step-back-season, and Mahomes' dazzling arm strength and athletic ability and their long-term expectations.
Job security outlook: As long as Mahomes plays well, the job is his. But again, the Chiefs are interested in contending. If Mahomes struggles terribly, you are in favor of doing so, he could not have done it for Chad Henne for a week or so. No sign of that at this point, but you never know.
How he got here: The Bears' 2017 first-round pick became their starting quarterback in Week 5, after Mike Glennon was unable to take over the job.
Expectations: HIGH. The Bears traded up from No. 3 to No. 2 in the 2017 draft to make sure they got Trubisky, so the pressure is on him for the long-term answer for the franchise. And the addition of Matt Nagy Trubisky can fulfill his expectations.
Job security outlook: Same with any highly drafted, highly regarded young quarterback. He's going to get every chance to hold onto the job, and the coaching staff will be patient with youthful mistakes and growing breads. But Chase Daniel has a good chance to get a good fight.
How he got here: Watson became the Texans' starter during their Week 1 game last year, supplanting Tom Savage, and holding the job until his season-ending knee injury in November.
Expectations: HIGH. The 2017 first-round pick was the talk of the league during his dazzling, pre-injury stretch last year. From Weeks 3 to 8, only Aaron Rodgers had a higher rating than Watson, who led the league with 19 touchdowns in that time.
Job security outlook: Second year of a rookie deal, Watson is the guy for now and for the future.
Alex Smith, Washington
How he got here: K-Cousins Gold, The United States of America, Washington for the week of the Super Bowl and the long-term deal they never wanted to give to Cousins.
Expectations: MEDIUM-HIGH. Smith is coming off his best year, and there are some people in Washington who believe he could be an upgrade over Cousins. But they do not deliver, they'll wish they'd signed Cousins when they had the chance.
Job security outlook: It's only Colt McCoy behind him, and Smith's deal came out with $ 55 million in full guarantees, including all of his $ 15 million 2019 salary.
1:05
ESPN Jets reporter Rich Cimini explains how the locker room reacted to Sam Darnold's debut in their win against the Lions.
How he got here: Tannehill has been in Miami since 2012, when he was the Dolphins' first-round pick. But he's an ACL in training camp in 2017, and the team signed Jay Cutler out of retirement to start for them last year.
Expectations: MEDIUM. A career passer rating of 86.5. A QBR over 50.0 in only one of its five NFL seasons. Coach Adam Gase is high on Tannehill's potential, but Dolphins fans still want him to prove it.
Job security outlook: Short term, Tannehill is safe. Brock Osweiler is no real threat to usurp him. And they did not draft a replacement. But if Tannehill flops this year, it could get in trouble and the team can get out of the QB's contract and save big.
How he got here: The Browns acquired Taylor in a trade with Buffalo and anointed him the starter even after picking Baker Mayfield with the No. 1 overall pick in the draft.
Expectations: MEDIUM. The Browns believe in Taylor, but fans are skeptical based on his past performance and the Ugly Ugly in Sunday's opener.
Job security outlook: Hue Jackson insists he is not interested in making a change anytime soon, but we know how this goes, and we do not know how long Jackson is going to be in charge of the decision. Seeing Beyond 2018, the best case for Taylor is that he plays well and cashes in a free agent next spring. Mayfield is the future in Cleveland.
How he got here: Minnesota, Bradford became a free agent and signed a two-year, $ 40 million contract with the Cardinals.
Expectations: LOW. By this point in his career, Bradford is known as a quarterback who struggles to stay healthy. If he does stay healthy, he'll be more than helpful and very good. But the group Arizona has a name for it, it's a rebuilding group, and anything.
Job security outlook: Bradford's contract came with $ 15 million in guarantees, which they will have decided on. And after selecting Josh Rosen in the first round of this year's draft, Arizona is clearly looking at Rosen as the future of the franchise.
How he got here: Jameis Winston serves a three-game suspension under the personal conduct policy of the season.
Expectations: LOW. Honestly, Fitzpatrick has already exceeded expectations with a stunning performance in Sunday's season-opening victory over the Saints. In their most honest moments, Bucs fans were probably expecting to go 0-3 while Winston was out. Anything Fitzpatrick does in his next two games is gravy.
Job security outlook: Obviously, the overwhelming likelihood is that Winston gets the job back after his suspension, especially since they have a long-term decision to make the next offseason. But if Fitzpatrick plays two more games like his first and the Bucs are 3-0, they're going to be tempted to not make any changes.
How he got here: Folks who have been hired by Carson Wentz for more than a month, and he has taken over the game, leading the Eagles to a Super Bowl title and being named the game's MVP. He started this season as the starter because Wentz's recovery is not yet complete.
Expectations: LOW. The Eagles showed in their opener that they can win even when they are not playing at his best, and let's be honest – he's playing with house money here, right? Gonna be a long time before Philadelphia.
Job security outlook: Once Wentz is medically cleared, the job is again, and Foles understands that.
How he got here: The Bills traded Tyrod Taylor and signed AJ McCarron in the offseason, drafted Josh Allen in April and traded McCarron at the end of camp. Peterman is the last man standing, and the team decided Allen was not ready to start the opener.
Expectations: LOW. You throw five interceptions in the first half of your first start, as Peterman did last year, no one expects much of anything.
Job security outlook: He already got benched for Allen in Week 1 and may not start this week.
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