By Sean Gannon

February 21, 2020

Sadly, for Phillip Rivers and Chargers faithful after sixteen great seasons the organization parted ways with their franchise quarterback to get a young guy of the future. Rivers is 38 and will be turning 39 in December and is coming off of one of his worst seasons played. While the yards were great (4,615) his touchdowns (23) was the third lowest in his career and his interceptions (20) were the third highest of his long career along a QBR of 88.5 was also his third worst in his career. What I’m saying is Rivers didn’t have the same year he used to always have with the Chargers. We see like many quarterbacks before him, age beginning to creep up for Rivers hindering his performance which leads us to why I’m writing this, what will happen to Phillip Rivers?

There is no doubt in my mind that Rivers believes he can still go under center toss another 4,000 yards and lead a team to playoffs and a Superbowl win, but the problem with Rivers at this moment, is the teams that are “in need” of quarterback (Indianapolis, Miami to name a few) are both in positions to draft someone young. They don’t need to sign a 38-year-old coming off a rather underwhelming season, for what could be a high price because of what Rivers has done in his career. I can’t picture either of these teams, which have relatively young rosters, to spend money on an older guy and wait to draft someone who is young and mobile next year. And I know a lot of people say that with Indianapolis’s offensive line Rivers can toss it with ease, but people felt that way about Brissett last year, and look what happened. The offensive line can’t do it all at all times. Yes, Rivers is better than Brissett, but Rivers didn’t have the same arm that we have seen for so long. His ability to move away from tacklers and rollout passing has diminished as his age increased and in this league a quarterback has to be able to move around the pocket, Rivers doesn’t offer that for you. Rivers as your quarterback makes your offense more one dimensional with heavy straight drop back passing, allowing defenses to drop more into coverage or dial up the blitz knowing he can not move around. Defenses would begin to have an easier time stopping the Colts offense.

I’m not sure what the future holds for Rivers but honestly, I don’t know if a team will sign him. He got released at a point in both the NFL where most teams have found their guy or are willing to stay with their guy for one more year before they look to the draft or free agency. You add that in with his age and lack of performance last year it makes it harder for teams to be willing to take that risk. Rivers is a great quarterback and has hall of fame argument behind his name, but the timing of his release is not benefitting him. It doesn’t look like he is retiring as of today. I wouldn’t be surprised if over the summer a retirement is announced by Rivers because his phone isn’t ringing with teams wanting him.