Aikman Take: The State Of NFL Quarterbacks

TL;DR

Troy Aikman believes the NFL QB position is thriving, citing young stars like Mahomes and Drake May while praising the return to power running games.

Key Points

• 1.Aikman is optimistic about the current QB landscape. He points to Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, and second-year player Drake May of New England as evidence the league is in great hands.
• 2.The NFL is shifting back toward balanced offenses after years of pass-heavy spread sets. Rule changes favoring receivers — triggered by Patriots-Colts battles involving Brady and Manning — created the passing boom, but teams like the 49ers, Rams, and Bears are returning to power running and play-action.
• 3.Aikman nearly became a bust before Norv Turner arrived. His first two years in Dallas featured the worst offense in football; Turner's arrival in year three turned the same roster into a top-10 offense, then top-five the next two years, producing two Super Bowls.
• 4.Great coaching matters more than raw talent for QB development. Aikman credits Norv Turner — his Hall of Fame presenter — for unlocking his career, comparing it to Sam Darnold's recent renaissance under strong coaching.
• 5.Pro-day workouts are nearly useless for evaluating QB prospects. Aikman argues that by draft time arm strength and athleticism are given; what truly determines success are intangibles like leadership, work ethic, and football intelligence — qualities that are hard to scout in a non-competitive setting.