QB Gardner Minshew is worth more than a late-round pick

Quarterbacks are a hot commodity in the NFL. They are the players that have the biggest impact on the football field and a really good one can elevate everyone around him. The problem is that there aren’t enough signal-callers to meet the demand, so when a team has an extra one like the Jacksonville Jaguars do with Gardner Minshew II, he becomes the subject of trade talks.

Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report recently drew up a list of trade rumors in the NFL ahead of training camp and discussed Minshew’s current situation. He says that the Washington State product’s days as a starter in Jacksonville are over with the arrival of Trevor Lawrence. Knox then cites Jeremy Fowler of ESPN and mentions that the Jaguars would take a late-round pick for the third-year quarterback.

Knox believes that a fifth or sixth-round pick in exchange for Minshew is too low even though Lawrence is set to start in Week 1. He adds that “there’s a lot of value in having a Plan B”, and brings up the fact that the Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow to a knee injury. Knox notes the Jags have another backup quarterback in C.J. Beathard but says Minshew may be the better option of the two and thinks this Jacksonville team may be better off keeping Minshew.

"Jacksonville may ultimately decide to move the 2019 sixth-round selection closer to or during the regular season, but he’s on a rookie deal and is too valuable of a depth piece to be dealt for a late Day 3 pick."

If the Jaguars want to trade Gardner Minshew they need to raise the price.

Minshew is far from an elite quarterback but he’s got starting experience and may not have reached his ceiling yet. It’s understandable that he wants to compete for a starting job, that’s just who he is but that won’t happen in Jacksonville. He would need to be traded or wait until his rookie deal expires to have a legitimate opportunity. There are a few teams that could currently use him but the Jaguars shouldn’t set for a late-round pick. He’s simply worth more than that.

A first-round pick may be too much but if teams are really interested in Minshew, the Jags should ask for a second or third-round pick. You could argue that kind of asking price is too high but if Jacksonville is going to part ways with their quarterback insurance, they need to be compensated well for it.

The only path Minshew has to start for the Jaguars is if Lawrence misses time with injuries. Some teams can afford or prefer their rookie quarterbacks to sit and learn from the bench. However, every situation is different and this year’s top draft pick will benefit more from starting in Week 1. He will experience growing pains, just like most players that are adjusting to the NFL but once he takes the field, the coaching staff won’t go back to Minshew.

Gardner Minshew is still young and may have a bright future ahead. Nevertheless, he will have to wait to get another shot at a starting job. He’s too valuable for the Jaguars as a backup.