Who will become the new face of the NFL in the post-Patriots dynasty era?
The New England Patriots dynasty isn’t dead yet - but the foundation appears to be crumbling.
The tumult that began with a scathing ESPN report about the growing friction between head coach Bill Belichick and iconic quarterback Tom Brady continued with the team’s Super Bowl loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, and has carried deep into the offseason.
Brady was absent from Monday’s start of organized team activities, along with All-Pro tight end Rob Gronkowski, who is also reportedly disenfranchised with the team. Attendance for this camp is voluntary, but it’s rare for elite quarterbacks to intentionally skip out on any offseason practices.
Brady, the five-time Super Bowl champion and arguably the greatest quarterback in history, has been the face of the NFL for more than a decade. The hunch here is that he and the Patriots will be fine come September and gear up for another Super Bowl run - but what about beyond 2018?
Brady, who turns 41 next month, realistically only has two or three years before he walks off into the sunset, leaving behind records that’ll be nearly impossible to trump.
Here’s a look at who could become the face of the league when the Patriots dynasty officially folds:
QB Carson Wentz, Philadelphia Eagles
Wentz attacks with his right arm and elusive legs the way Aaron Rodgers does, but his charming, charismatic, everyman appeal differs from the “Joe Cool” QBs like Rodgers, Brady, Brett Favre, and other all-time greats.
A recent breakdown of NFL player merchandise sold by state showed that Brady led sales in 10 states, the most of any NFL player, but Wentz was close behind with nine. The data collected by the NFL also revealed that Wentz led all NFL players in overall merchandise sold, ahead of "Tom Terrific."
Wentz was cruising toward an MVP last year in his second season before tearing his knee, only to have Nick Foles take over and improbably lead the Eagles to their first Super Bowl.
If he can stay healthy and win some rings, Wentz could easily fill Brady’s void as the league’s household name. He plays in the country’s most passionate football city, a top-five media market, and he’s more personable and less Hollywood than Brady.
RB Saquon Barkley, New York Giants
Not since Emmitt Smith sliced through defenses in the early-to-mid 90s en route to becoming the NFL’s all-time rushing leader has the face of the league been more known for carrying the ball than throwing, but Barkley has all the elements to be the league’s top ticket if he fulfills his reputation.
With his quickness to the edges, eye-popping athleticism, and ability to line up in the slot and run precise routes with reliable hands, Barkley is the perfect weapon for the modern pass-first NFL offense. Meanwhile, Pat Shurmur is the ideal coach to get Barkley isolated in space and let the magic come naturally.
The NFL is experiencing a running back renaissance, and Barkley’s combination of charm, squeaky-clean character, and talent make him the top candidate to sweep the national fan base off its feet – more so than rivals Ezekiel Elliott, Todd Gurley, David Johnson, and Leonard Fournette.
Throw in the bright lights and media coverage that come with starring in the New York and major metropolitan area, and it’s easy to see how a few seasons of 2,000 all-purpose yards and a couple of Super Bowl rings could vault Barkley to the top of the NFL’s totem pole.
DL J.J. Watt, Houston Texans
With an otherworldly 69 sacks over a four-year span between 2012-15, Watt was already on his way to becoming the league’s most dominant defensive force since Lawrence Taylor and Reggie White jockeyed for that title 30 years ago.
Unfortunately for Watt, injuries have relegated him to just eight games and 1.5 sacks over the past two seasons, but he has still managed to capture the nation through his charitable activism in the aftermath of two tragedies. Watt raised more than $37 million in donations to support victims of Hurricane Harvey and also footed the bill for the funerals of students who died in the Sante Fe High School shooting.
With the exception of his AFC South rivals, Watt will be the superstar most NFL fans will be pulling for to revert to All-Pro form and raise the talented Texans defense to another level.
It’s not easy for a defensive player to be the face of the league, especially a cornerback or inside linebacker. There’s a reason why 30 years have passed since L.T. and Reggie ruled the roost. But if there’s a pass-rusher who has the stats, personality, and platform to do it, Watt’s the one.
QB Jimmy Garoppolo, San Francisco 49ers
After being acquired by the 49ers in a deal with the Patriots, Garoppolo eventually moved into the starting role and won all of his five starts – a significant statistic not just because of the promise and potential he showed for his new team, but also because it kept alive his undefeated streak as a starter since his senior season at Eastern Illinois.
Garoppolo was 2-0 as the Patriots starter in his three seasons before moving onto the Bay Area, where he improved his professional record to 7-0. His last loss as a starter was Dec. 14, 2013, in the FCS quarterfinals.
He’s an accurate, athletic quarterback paired with a head coach in Kyle Shanahan who is known for maximizing the talents of precise, mobile quarterbacks. This could be the league’s next iconic head coach-quarterback pairing if Garoppolo and Shanahan can win some rings together.
QB DeShaun Watson, Houston Texans
More so than Russell Wilson, Watson's combination of eye-popping athleticism and slick passing acumen make him a dark horse to be standing atop the league as its most popular figure if he can lead the Texans to their first Super Bowl title.
Watson was smashing NFL rookie quarterback records last year. On top of that, he led all QBs in rushing yards and tied for the most touchdowns passes through seven games before tearing his ACL in practice. His legacy began in college, when he dethroned mighty Alabama in the national title game, leading Clemson to a national championship.
Why hand this title to Watson over Wilson when the latter already has a ring and is arguably already the game’s most exciting player? Because the Seahawks are rebuilding - and NFL pundits wonder if Wilson can withstand the punishment he’s taken the past few years behind Seattle’s turnstile offensive line. Watson is just getting started, and if the rest of his career is anything like his rookie season, watch out NFL.
Geoff Mosher is an award-winning sports reporter, radio host, and TV personality with more than 20 years of experience covering all major sports and leagues. He also hosts regularly on 97.5 The Fanatic in Philadelphia and is co-host of "The Sports Shop" on Facebook.
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