From Baker Mayfield to bland: Ranking NFL QBs we'd want to see as TV broadcasters after Tom Brady

Joe Rivera

•
From Baker Mayfield to bland: Ranking NFL QBs we'd want to see as TV broadcasters after Tom Brady image

Lights, camera, play action.

NFL quarterbacks are cashing in more than ever both on the field and off of it. While passers are making record deals for their on-field production, production trucks may value them just a bit more. Recent TV deals for color analysts prove as much.

Troy Aikman and Tony Romo both struck gold with big-time contracts for their respective networks, making a reported $18 million per year for their football insights on Sundays.

Tom Brady is next in line, reportedly signing a massive $375 million contract with Fox, to be paid out over 10 years whenever his on-field career is done.

IYER: 12 reasons why Tom Brady is a perfect fit as Fox Sports' future top NFL analyst

Brady, though, isn't going to be the last passer of the current crop of NFL quarterbacks to end up in the broadcast booth. So, of the 32 current passers, here's how we think they would fare in front of a mic:

Appointment viewing

While there's some question about exactly how many eyeballs a color analyst brings to a broadcast, these guys would fit for good analysis, good quotes or good entertainment.

Baker Mayfield, Browns (for now)

Passionate, fiery and charismatic. That, coupled with his loose-cannon personality would make for fun broadcasts. Remember when he grabbed his crotch and exchanged "pleasantries" with the Kansas football team? Good times.

Jameis Winston, Saints

Fan-favorite passer. Former No. 1 overall pick. Guaranteed to be the first broadcaster to eat a W on live TV.

Jimmy Garoppolo, 49ers

If you want your significant other to get more into football, then have them take a nice, long look at the jawline of the impossibly handsome Jimmy GQ. It also doesn't hurt that Garoppolo is a laid-back dude with Super Bowl experience.

Russell Wilson, Broncos

Wilson seems like he was grown out of a test tube for a second career in TV. He's already one of the NFL's most personable players, something that would translate well to a broadcast booth. "Mr. Unliiiiimiiited," indeed.

Joe Burrow, Bengals

Burrow exudes cool, and would instantly have the best nickname of any broadcast in football history. Well, any one of the 15 that he has.

Dak Prescott, Cowboys

All 15 people who watched "Hard Knocks" last year know that Prescott has a lot of personality, at least more than what you see in press conferences. Plus, the whole Dallas connection would draw some eyeballs.

Lamar Jackson, Ravens

Rookie of the Year, MVP and future highest-paid QB in the league? Not bad for a running back color commentator.

Matthew Stafford, Rams

I mean, how many times does Matthew Stafford have to prove people wrong? Being out in LA has already brought out the best in Stafford. He'd be a great addition to the booth, too.

IYER: Ranking NFL's lead announcing teams for 2022

Good, but likely B-team material

These guys would probably play it straight, but also feel like mayonnaise is too spicy for them.

Derek Carr 1-10 getty-ftr

Derek Carr, Raiders

Carr is a super passionate guy and has more than enough football acumen to help see the game differently than most. Does he have the personality to keep viewers engaged, though?

"Derek, what did you see on that play?"

Carr:

Josh Allen, Bills

If nothing else, it would be entertaining to see the height difference between Allen and whoever his play-by-play partner would be. Get the milk crate ready.

Jared Goff, Lions

Ryan Gosling's long-lost twin would probably make networks drool. For however much Goff gets ripped by critics, though, he was a No. 1 overall pick for a reason. Guy knows ball.

Matt Ryan, Colts

Sticking Matt Ryan in a tier below some of the elite QBs seems a bit too on the nose, but he's still got more than enough personality and football IQ to carry a broadcast.

Marcus Mariota, Falcons

Ryan's Falcons replacement would bring a unique perspective to booth, given his unique path in the NFL. From No. 2 overall pick to franchise starter to gadget backup, he'd offer a look that other QBs in this spot couldn't.

Drew Lock, Seahawks

Lock is an entertaining guy, if nothing else. He knows Young Jeezy, so that should help pull the younger demographic in.

Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins

Tua is a charming dude with a made-for-TV face … but imagine having to deal with Dolphins fans every week, saying he's the best color commentator in the business. 

Boom-or-bust potential

These guys will either make you tune in or tune out on the couch:

Aaron Rodgers, Packers

Rodgers probably would bring a Mr. Rogers-like influence on the broadcast booth, in that you would immediately want to take a nap after hearing him break down a Cover 3 Cloud defense. It's all fun and games until Rodgers brings up panchakarma cleanses in the third quarter.

Tom Brady, Buccaneers

There's something awfully mechanical about Brady, even his post-Patriots "trying to be more human" years. We'll see how Fox's high-paid experiment goes come the end of his career. Y'know, whenever that is.

Jalen Hurts, Eagles

Hurts has all the intangibles that make up a locker-room leader, but how that would translate to the broadcast booth is something of a mystery. But, hey, if we can get good quotes like this one, then he might be great in the booth:

Kyler Murray, Cardinals

A quarterback built for the modern NFL would have a lot of modern NFL takes. Murray's demeanor, though, might not jell well for a national broadcasts. He's pretty good in commercials, though.

Zach Wilson, Jets

Perfectly in line with his draft stock, Wilson is a boom-or-bust TV guy. No denying he has the teeth and face for television, but it feels more like he'd be on MTV's "Real World" than an NFL broadcast. 

Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs

Mahomes' talent is undeniable. He's already one of the best passers the league has ever seen. There's no denying that he would break down a game in depth. But imagine having to listen to Mahomes' "froggy" voice for three hours. 'Nuff said.

Justin Herbert, Chargers

Herbert is one of the NFL's top passers and he's entering Year 3, but his reserved personality might be better suited for audiobooks and podcasts discussing maritime law.

Likely calling Jaguars vs. Lions at 1 p.m.

There's no denying that the least talented broadcast teams get the least desirable games. Here are the dudes who will likely end up on the third-string broadcast teams:

(Getty Images)

Sam Darnold, Panthers

If Darnold doesn't beat out Matt Corral for Panthers QB1 job this offseason, then he might have to start honing his broadcast skills for his post-NFL career.

Mac Jones, Patriots

Jones has more personality than some think — as evidenced by his Griddy in the 2022 Pro Bowl — but the "Aw, shucks" stuff only goes so far. Though, it might be fun to hear some tell-all stories about Bill Belichick and Nick Saban.

Davis Mills, Texans

Mills surprised a lot of people with his rookie season. A Stanford grad would probably be well-spoken on a broadcast. Unfortunately, people would be more interested in the length of his neck than his analysis.

Mitchell Trubisky, Steelers

Mitchell Trubisky would be the second-ever Nickelodeon's Valuable Player to make a jump to the booth, behind Tom Brady. (Man, that guy really does do everything.)

Kirk Cousins, Vikings

A network would endlessly plug Cousins' famed "You like that?" every week. The Kirk Cousins "I Like That" Play of the Game. The Kirk Cousins "They Like That" Keys to the game. Spare us. Please. I feel guilty for putting this out into the ether. 

The game is better on mute

If you get to the TV on a Sunday afternoon, crack open a beer and see one of these dudes on the call, it might be time to fire up Netflix and spend your afternoon binge-watching "Ozark" instead.

Daniel-Jones-Getty-FTR-120121

Daniel Jones, Giants

The Giants passer is entering a make-or-break year for the Giants. If it doesn't work out, he may be able to play Eli Manning on the "ManningCast" documentary (coming in 2040 to ESPN Super Secret Plus, the paid streaming app inside the paid streaming app).

Ryan Tannehill, Titans

Tannehill might not be the worst on the list — none of these guys probably are — but Tannehill is as milquetoast as it gets. That's no fault of his own.

Carson Wentz, Commanders

There's a good chance that Wentz would be traded from Fox to CBS after a season of middling returns.

Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars

Remember when Trevor Lawrence admitted that football wasn't his life? Imagine him in the broadcast booth. We want gamers, damn it!

Joe Rivera

Joe Rivera Photo

Joe Rivera is in his seventh year with The Sporting News, handling NFL, MLB and some things pro wrestling. A proud-ish Rutgers University graduate, Rivera combines a new-school flair with an old-school soul. He loves dingers, wrestling, comic books, movies, music and really bad puns. He is also a card-carrying BBWAA member and teaches Multimedia Sports Reporting at his alma mater.

You can find him and tweet him @JoeRiveraSN, if you're into that sort of thing.