Phillip Rivers won 123 games as an NFL quarterback (record 123-101) – the most wins in NFL history by a quarterback who did not appear in a Super Bowl. Perhaps this played a role in the mutual decision reported by the Los Angeles and Rivers Chargers to split before the 2020 off season. In the past six seasons, the Chargers have only played once the playoffs with Rivers at the helm. Rivers will be a free agent quarterback in a surprisingly robust market after the free agency officially launches on March 18.
While the best days of the Chargers franchise are probably behind him, Rivers still has a lot to offer. Anyone who ends up signing Rivers will get one of the most reliable and available quarters in the NFL. Rivers hasn’t missed a start since Week 1 of the 2006 season – his 224 straight game started is the longest active streak and second longest in NFL history (Brett Favre has made 297 consecutive starts) . Rivers is also sixth all-time near the end of his career, passing yards and touchdowns.
In 2019 Rivers launched the fourth highest number of rushing yards in a single season in his career and completed 66% of his passes with more touchdowns than interceptions. Rivers is now 38, but he was a Pro Bowl quarterback as recently as the 2018 NFL season, the last in a three-year series of consecutive Pro Bowl appearances.
As we move towards the start of the NFL free agency in mid-March, this will serve as a hub for all free agent updates related to Rivers. From the latest rumors to Rivers’ draft open market contract, the best landing spots and much more; as far as his free agency is concerned, we’ll have it all here.
Without further ado, let’s move on to Rivers news.
The best free agent landing sites for Rivers
Now that Rivers officially leaves the Chargers, it’s time to start speculating where he will play in the 2020 season (and beyond). Several teams make sense for Rivers in free agency given their quarterback situation and the list surrounding this position, but five teams stand out as being the best suited for him. Cody Benjamin broke down top five landing spots for Rivers, and although the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are most closely tied to Rivers so far, another team lands at # 1 on the list.
- Colts
- Buccaneers
- Bear
- Panthers
- Raiders
Projected market value for Rivers in free agency
At Spotrac, one of the main providers of information on contracts and the NFL salary cap, they projected the estimated free agent’s market value for Rivers. Based on several factors, including Rivers’ age and the quarterback market, Spotrac expects Rivers to have a current calculated market value (and this could change if, for example, Dak Prescott signs a long extension term) of $ 24,337,191 per year. They expect Rivers to receive a two-year, $ 48,674,382 agency contract. You can find all of the details of Rivers’ market value projection on Spotrac.
Screening report on rivers (advantages and disadvantages):
Benefits:
- Short and intermediate precision
- Rivers throws a “runner’s ball” – more streamlined: the placement of his throws allows his receiving options the most space to function after capture
- Rivers throws with excellent anticipation – especially for ball carriers (perhaps still the best in the NFL in this regard) and tight ends
- Rivers is always willing and not afraid to push the ball down the field (7.81 yards per attempt during a declining 2019 season) – even with a decrease in arm talent, Rivers wins the field by anticipating where defenders will not
The inconvenients:
- The turnover rate increased in 2019; especially in late game situations
- The touchdown rate dropped in 2019; Rivers’ 23 touchdowns were his lowest total since the 2007 season
- Overall efficiency has dropped; Rivers’ 88.5 quarterback was lowest since 2007 season
- Decrease the talent of the arms; Rivers can still make all shots, but his arm talent has taken a noticeable drop and he would be best placed to sign with a warm weather team (or a team that plays at home in a dome)
A surprise black horse could be in the mix for Rivers
Wednesday March 4: In an appearance on FS1’s “The Herd” with Colin Cowherd, FOX Sports’ Peter Schrager mentioned that a “crazy black horse” team he hears is involved in the potential signing of Rivers as an agent free. Given the popularity of the Rivers-Colts connection, we can rule out Indianapolis as any kind of “crazy” surprise.
Instead, a surprise team could include the Raiders, as they are probably looking to make a splash in their first season in Vegas and they were lukewarm in their assessment of the quarterback from the current Derek Carr franchise. The Tennessee Titans could also be a surprise candidate for the dark horse – if they believe a quarterback upgrade will lead them from AFC championship losers to Super Bowl winners in a single season. Of course, that would imply that they believe that Rivers is an upgrade from Ryan Tannehill, or that signing it for its long-term asking price is impossible to obtain. What about the Carolina Panthers? They’ve just traded Rivers’ former blind pass protector (left forward Russell Okung) and they haven’t exactly guaranteed that Cam Newton is in their future plans.
Numerous reports link Rivers to Colts
Wednesday February 26: It’s Combine Week and it means that the team’s executives and scouts have gathered in Indianapolis for the NFL 2020 Scout Harvest. As usual with a gathering of this size, rumors and buzz have circulated. In particular, two reports surfaced on Wednesday suggesting that the Colts had an interest in signing Rivers for self-service. Cody Benajmin provided more on the last between Rivers and Indianapolis.
Melvin Gordon predicts where Rivers will sign
Thursday February 13: During their five seasons playing together, Rivers and attacking midfielder Melvin Gordon have developed strong relationships both on and off the field. As speculation about where Rivers will sign in March during the 2020 NFL free agency period continues to grow, Gordon has weighed in with his own prediction on where the former 2004 first-round pick will fit for the 2020 season. Gordon made sure to clarify that this was just his opinion, but his supporting logic is solid from an Xs perspective and Os.
Chargers GM explains the decision
Tuesday, February 11: “Once we saw the direction it was headed, it was in the foreground of my mind”, Telesco told Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated. “I mean, he is an icon for the organization and he has done so much here. I wanted to make sure that everything was done with the utmost respect and class. It can be very difficult for all of us to be head coaches, GM, players. It was the thought on my mind. “
Bryan DeArdo has more on why Telesco and the Chargers organization decided to leave Rivers.
Rivers provides calendar on how long he plans to play
Tuesday, February 11: Rivers will not be playing in the NFL forever, but as he told Sam Farmer of the LA Times, he still has “emotional fire and passion”. Anyone who signs it in March will receive this, and more. Tyler Sullivan provided more information on how long Rivers plans to play and how he feels about the mutual decision to leave the Chargers franchise.
#ThankYouPhilip becomes a Twitter trend
Monday February 10: Just minutes after the announcement of Los Angeles’ decision to leave Rivers this mutually off-season, fans and players of the Chargers went on Twitter and on social media to commemorate his passage with the franchise. Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen has a long-standing relationship and relationship with Rivers on and off the field, and was especially saddened by the news. Within minutes, #ThankYouPhilip started the trend. Shanna McCarriston a more about the reaction fans and players on social media.
Chargers and Rivers agree to separate
Monday February 10: While it is realistic to assume that a free agent departure from a team where a player has spent 16 seasons as the face of this franchise would come with baggage, the Chargers and Rivers are calling for a mutual departure – at least publicly. On February 10, just eight days after the Super Bowl, the two sides agreed to end speculation about Los Angeles’s connection to Rivers at the next free agency 2020 by officially announcing that the veteran quarterback will leave the franchise. in March. Jordan Dajani a more about the mutual agreement announced.
Early buzz connects Rivers to Tampa Bay
Monday January 20: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are set to enter the 2020 off season with quarterback Jameis Winston ready to strike at free will. According to Jason La Canfora, a CBS Sports NFL insider, who reported in November that Rivers and the Chargers would probably split up, there is “a lot of buzz” about Tampa Bay as a potential landing location for Rivers, which is intriguing for several reasons.
La Canfora has broken down how the quarter market could shake up this off-season, what he heard about Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians’ interest in Rivers, and why the union between him and Rivers makes so much sense.
Rivers Moves Family to Florida
Sunday January 19: Shortly after the end of the 2019 regular season, Rivers and his family made the decision to return closer to home – from San Diego to Florida.
“What that means for football has to be determined, but it was time for us to get closer to home,” Rivers wrote in a recent text exchange with ESPN.
John Breech broke down why, based on what we know about Rivers’ family, his decision to move them to Florida could have a major impact on his next free agency.
