Running Man: Quarterbacks on rise

By Joey Schwindt
Sports Writer

We are three weeks into the 2024-25 NFL season and a lot of surprises have taken place across the league. A notable position that has seen the most surprises so far is the quarterback position.

A flurry of quarterbacks that have had a fair share of setbacks or down seasons in previous years have really stepped up and shocked the entire league. Meanwhile, some of the more prominent stars got off to slow starts.

Here’s the two QBs that have stood out the most to me personally when it comes to exceeding expectations going into the season.

Derek Carr, New Orleans Saints: Carr had a rocky season last year in his first stint with the Saints, when he finished middle of the pack in most stat categories and failed to help New Orleans reach the playoffs with a 7-10 record.

Whatever Carr has done in the offseason paid off well as he is taking the league by storm the first few weeks with 585 yards passing and six touchdowns while throwing only two interceptions. He has an 80.8 quarterback rating, which is second in the league.

This hot start got the Saints off to a 2-1 record to begin the season and puts them amongst the top offensive teams in the league. 

Sam Darnold, Minnesota Vikings: Unlike the previously mentioned Carr, Darnold isn’t just starting his first year with a new team; but is starting for the first time in two seasons. Last year, Darnold spent the year as backup to Brock Purdy on the San Francisco 49ers.

His young career has been filled with negative media criticisms and doubts up until this point. In Darnold’s first few games as a Viking, he leads the league in passing touchdowns with eight, along with 657 yards passing and just two interceptions.

Darnold is also fifth in the league in QB rating with a 73.1 score while he led Minnesota to an impressive 3-0 start.