There have been multiple legendary NFL quarterbacks who have come out publicly to talk about the way that young quarterbacks today are being developed in their early careers in college and the pros. Earlier last week, GOAT Tom Brady had plenty to say about how the league is ruining the development of young quarterbacks in college and their early careers by not developing them properly.
Now, another legend Drew Brees has come out as well, and specifically given some key advice to Texas’ young star Arch Manning. However, the advice that he is giving can be applied across the board to young quarterbacks who want to have sustained success in the NFL.
Drew Brees On The State of Affairs In College Football
When it comes to Manning, he has not had tons of on-the-field experience so far in his college career, but Brees thinks that can be a good thing. While Manning is set to be the backup for Texas this season behind Quinn Ewers, many young stars in his position would transfer to another good school to be a starter.
As Manning was a five-star recruit, in addition to having such a storied family in football, it would be very easy for him to get a starting role at another school. Manning decided to stay with Texas, however, and both Brady and Brees think that that is a great decision.
Brees, who is one of the best quarterbacks of all time, recently commented on Manning’s career, as well as many other topics surrounding the state of college football, and what young players need to do to have sustained success throughout their careers:
“The best thing for Arch Manning to do is to spend five years at the University of Texas,” Brees said to The Athletic.
Brees went on to explain that NIL and the transfer portal are not good for these young quarterbacks. The position of quarterback is all about development, and continuous development. All the best that we have ever seen in the league have been able to adapt and grow in their game. Brees believes that this new dynamic of college football is drastically taking away from these players’ development:
“It’s not good for the game. It’s not good for it. It really takes away the purity of what it should be about, which is building these programs, right? And giving these young men who enter at age 18 the opportunity to grow, to develop,” he said.
Arch Manning Is Doing It Right According To The Legends
Brees, like Brady, thinks that Arch is doing the right thing by staying at Texas, even as the backup, to grow and develop under one system, as that would be the best way for him to grow into an NFL quarterback. The SEC provides the most NFL players and for him to stay put and be coached by some of the best in a single system will be the most similar to the league experience.
Brees wants Manning to stay all five years so that he can come into the league as a bonified star:
“That’d be the best thing for him is just stay there, lock in, learn, grow, develop, become an incredible leader for that team, and make a run at some national championships,” Brees said.
“Then, he will be the most prepared going into the NFL at that point.”
The legendary New Orleans Saints quarterback specifically states that he thinks quarterbacks in college need at least 50 “high-quality starts” to be fully league-ready:
“That’s what’s needed for these guys. They need to be in positions where they’re locked in, they’re being coached hard. They have to struggle. They have to persevere and they have to just get experience,” said the Super Bowl winner.
Brady had a lot to say about this dynamic in college football as well, and how the beginning of these young players’ NFL careers is also not guiding them to long-term success.
WOW: TOM BRADY SHREDS THE MODERN DAY #NFL FOR RUINING YOUNG QUARTERBACKS & not developing them pic.twitter.com/FsZba97R28
“I didn’t start my first year. ITHINK ITS A TRAGEDY THAT WE ARE FORCING THESE ROOKIES TO PLAY EARLY, because we dumbed the game down to allow them to play.”…
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) August 20, 2024
While we have arguably the most talent in league history at the quarterback position, we do not see sustained greatness from anyone outside of Patrick Mahomes. While Mahome is the exception to the rule, he is an anomaly in the position.
We used to see sustained excellence for many quarterbacks, but now it seems like players rely on talent more than the system they are in.
Related: NFL Legend Tom Brady Rips League Over ‘Tragic’ Treatment of Rookie Quarterbacks
