This 2020 NFL offseason will be defined by one position.
"More names at QB that are pending free agents than I can remember," one general manager said. "I bet there will be some interesting movement at the position."
Tom Brady is one of at least eight quarterback free agents with extensive starter's experience. And that's not counting Cam Newton, whose future is uncertain because of health issues.
We asked league execs and coaches to make predictions about that position and what else is next for the NFL this year. From officiating to surprise playoff teams, nothing is out of bounds:
The Saints will go all-in on Taysom Hill in 2020
Sean Payton opting to build his offense around a third-string quarterback with 13 career regular-season passing attempts would qualify as the boldest move of the offseason. But Drew Brees' pending free agency leaves the Saints to ponder all options -- especially cheaper ones.
But this isn't a typical third-stringer. Hill has shown the athleticism to handle every function of the Saints' offense, from bull-rushing for first downs to outrunning corners for red zone touchdown catches to 55-yard bombs out of the pocket. His efforts nearly took down Minnesota in the wild-card loss, rushing for 50 yards on four carries with two catches for 25 yards and a touchdown. His 50-yard completion to Deonte Harris traveled nearly 60 yards in the air.
He's 6-foot-2 and 220 pounds of gadgetry at a time the game is enjoying the reemergence of mobile quarterbacks.
Sean Payton said he likes the "perfect world" scenario of bringing back all three of the Saints' quarterbacks. But he also knows that "we don't live in one." He also said he can't speak for Drew Brees, but he's obviously still playing at a high level as he approaches his 41st birthday.
Is that enough to replace one of the game's best ever in Drew Brees, who just came off a career-best 116.3 passer rating? Perhaps not. But Brees is coming off a two-year, $50 million contract and -- despite remarkable consistency the past few years -- looked a step slow in the loss to Minnesota. As a restricted free agent, Hill would cost a maximum of $4.667 million for a first-round tender, according to projections from Over The Cap.
"Wouldn't come as a total shock to see Sean Payton move forward with Taysom Hill as the starting QB," one NFC exec said. "Sean always has been intrigued by athletic quarterbacks and how to utilize them. Taysom is a talented guy."
With Brees still among the league's best, and free agent Teddy Bridgewater going 5-0 as a fill-in starter, this move would be a wild bet on untapped potential -- and also a nod to where the game is going.
The thought of Payton drawing up chaotic misdirection with Hill and Alvin Kamara on a full-time basis should excite New Orleans fans.
Tom Brady will go back to New England ... with help
The stage is set for the most important free-agent quarterback since Peyton Manning to hop out of black Suburbans and into the offices of various team headquarters as media frantically track his flights.
The notion that Brady could be a Charger, a Raider, a Cowboy feels closer than ever.
But asking several execs and coaches elicits the response: Just can't imagine him going the Joe Montana route and leaving the team he has helped win six Super Bowls.
"He'll stay with the Patriots -- with a better supporting cast on offense," one exec said.
That's a must. Brady clearly needs help, most notably a field-stretching tight end up the seam and at least one outside receiver with size to work the sideline. That frees up Julian Edelman to work the slot. Rob Gronkowski is still working out and hasn't filed retirement papers. Maybe someone can sway a return.
The numbers illustrate: Brady completed 59.3% of his passes to wide receivers in the regular season, his lowest since 2004. He went 7-of-20 passing (35%) targeting wide receivers in the wild-card loss to Tennessee, his worst in a playoff game. He was 4-of-15 to wide receivers other than Edelman (3-of-5).
New England could give Brady a three-year deal to get him to his desired retirement age of 45 while including voidable years for salary-cap purposes.
But that doesn't address the wild card: Two decades of the Patriot Way might have worn him down. Even the best need to feel wanted.
"I don't know that that's the case there anymore," one AFC scout said. "Both sides might want a change."
The Redskins will make the playoffs
Most seasons feature at least one bad team from the previous year that catches a rhythm the next and sneaks into the wild-card round.
One exec believes Washington will be that team in the NFC.
"The front seven has talent and is going to be so much better," the exec said. "And coaching will make a big difference."
That front seven can add Ohio State pass-rusher Chase Young with the No. 2 overall pick, and first-round rookie Dwayne Haskins showed signs of promise late in the season. New coach Ron Rivera will give Washington an adult in the room.
This roster is not void of ability, and Rivera is generally an above-.500 coach when he has at least marginal talent. Maybe Washington's remade training staff can entice Trent Williams to return and fortify the offensive line. Terry McLaurin and Derrius Guice (if healthy) are quality young playmaking pieces.
The NFL will dump pass-interference review
The first year of reviewable pass interference led to confusion from fans and frustration from coaches who simply gave up. Coaches failed on 20 of 21 challenges during one early-season stretch.
It was no secret that league owners never wanted the review in the first place. They basically passed it at the NFL owners meetings to appease angry coaches in the aftermath of the blown no-call against the Saints in the NFC title game.
Now it has reached a boiling point.
"They have to do something -- either get rid of it or alter it," one AFC exec said. "But there's no clean way of changing it."
That exec offers to expand the automatic review time at the end of each half from two minutes to four minutes, or to encourage officials to set clearer standards on holds.
An AFC coordinator said he could see the league taking it out of the coach's hands, with the New York office having the sole ability to challenge calls. Surely that would go well.
"It's amazing that you have officials who can review plays, and you have New York looking at these things, and they still can't get it right," a separate AFC exec said.
Philip Rivers will sign with the Colts
With Indy looking to add quarterback competition for Jacoby Brissett in 2020, multiple league execs say the Colts could turn to Rivers, who threw 92 touchdown passes from 2013 to 2015 with Frank Reich as his quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator. Current Indy coordinator Nick Sirianni was also an assistant on that Chargers staff.
"He's not mobile and his arm strength looked questionable at times, but he's still a year removed from an MVP-type season. And the Colts have a window," one exec said.
But here's the other side: Adding Rivers, whose contract is up in L.A., might not align with the personality of general manager Chris Ballard, who covets young talent he can mold. He could opt for a QB in the draft. And the team hasn't totally given up on Brissett, who started hot in 2019.
Indy has $93,628,216 in 2020 cap space, more than enough for two veteran-quarterback contracts. Ballard said at his end-of-year news conference that he wished he bolstered the team's depth with all that space in 2019.
Lamar Jackson will keep doing Lamar Jackson things
Most evaluators are convinced that running quarterbacks slow eventually. It might take 10 years or it might take two, but injuries or durability or defensive scheme always end the party.
The consensus is that won't happen in 2020 -- not even close. The Ravens haven't lost a game since September, and Jackson's MVP-caliber season is far from the only reason.
"I believe the versatility keeps expanding in those types of offenses that allows them to do so many different things in how they go about attacking the defense," one AFC coach said. "Situationally and on possession downs, they have so many different looks they can throw at you, and when the quarterback is the best athlete on the field, it's just really hard to stop in the open field. You have to win up front, but Baltimore is really stout there."
The Ravens already have the multilayered running game with Jackson, Mark Ingram and Gus Edwards, and this offseason they can add outside receiving help opposite Marquise Brown. Offensive coordinator Greg Roman has a good chance to return to Baltimore in 2020.
Ryan Tannehill will earn a massive contract extension -- before Dak Prescott
Tannehill's market climbs with every Titans win, and his league-high 117.5 passer rating makes him an attractive free agent.
But a Tannehill deal with Tennessee is considered easier to finalize than Prescott's because of where both quarterbacks stood with their teams a year ago.
Prescott aimed to become the league's highest-paid quarterback, and since the Cowboys haven't been willing to give him that honor, both parties seem destined for the franchise tag.
"I wouldn't be surprised to see Tannehill and Tennessee come to an agreement before free agency," one NFC exec said. "They have a good thing going, and the money shouldn't be outrageous. They can work something out."
Maybe something in the three-year range, with the money well over $20 million annually. It's doubtful he would take much less.
Marcus Mariota will sign with the Bears, and Jameis Winston will go back to the Bucs (with competition)
Their futures were much brighter five years ago.
"Former No. 1 and No. 2 picks who might face life as backups -- that's one of the biggest stories of the year," an AFC exec said about Winston and Mariota.
Mariota has lived that life for about three months, and Winston remains a beautiful disaster in Tampa, becoming the NFL's only member of the 30-30 club for touchdowns and interceptions.
The consensus among NFL people: Mariota has a home somewhere that needs competition and a potential bridge starter, and Winston gets one more year in Tampa.
"I could see Chicago [for Mariota]," one exec said. "Ryan Pace wants to stick with Mitch [Trubisky], and this way Mariota can start games but isn't a total replacement, leaving room for Trubisky to regain his confidence and play well."
Mariota fits Trubisky's style of play as a former read-pass option maven.
As for Winston, many are expecting Tampa Bay to franchise tag him, giving him another chance at $26.7 million without committing long-term money in case he flails again.
But there's good quarterback depth in the draft, and Bruce Arians knows it.