I agree, I was just trying to temper expectations for those folks that think this team is a QB away from relevancy. My point was more that even if we draft the next Herbert this team is still likely in a 2-3yr rebuild assuming they have an abnormally high hit rate on the rest of their picks. Whoever they draft at 3 is still throwing to largely journeyman WRs behind an average at best OL. The lack of draft investment on offense the last 4-5yrs is coming home to roost unfortunately. Even if they hit on every pick they are still in a talent deficit with the rest of the AFC East for starters.
Absolutely, one just needs to look around the league to see this:
In 2020, the Eagles drafted Hurts and basically benched him all year.
They went 4-11-1. In 2021, they went and got his buddy Davonta Smith at #10 overall and got Landon Dickerson at #34 overall. They got better, and finished at 9-8.
Then in 2022, they went out and traded for AJ Brown, filled out the rest of their team in free agency, etc. and went 13-3 and went to the Super Bowl.
In 2020, the Dolphins drafted Tua and he played split duties with Fitzy, they went 10-6...They also drafted Robert Hunt in the 2nd, and Austin Jackson at #18 overall (neither of which have been all pros or anything, but the OLine was shored up)
In 2021, Tua got his head beaten in, but they did go and draft Waddle at #6 and Liam Eichenberg at #34 (another offensive lineman). They went 9-8
In 2022, they went and got Tyreek. They had no picks in the 1st 2 rounds of the draft, but their skill position players and offensive line was set around their young QB. Again, Tua got hurt, but he was 8-5 in the games he started. Also McDaniels' first season.
In 2023, they got 11-6.
In 2019, the Bengals went 2-14.
In 2020, they drafted Burrow at #1, he got hurt, and they went 4-11-1. They also drafted Tee Higgins #33 overall.
In 2021, they went and drafted Chase at #5 overall. And they went 10-7 and made it to the Super Bowl.
In 2022, they went 12-4
There is a method to the madness here folks, but all of the methods that work require finding a QB. Period. The other options have you ending up where the Seahawks are, NFL purgatory. You find your QB, develop him and put talent around him.
If your QB blows, you just take another bite at the apple the next year or the year after, while you build the roster.