NFLs quarterback chaos got a little more clear with start of scouting combine

INDIANAPOLIS — If this, then that.If that, then this.

If this and that, then what?The NFL free agent quarterback picture crystallized ever so slightly Tuesday — if you believe that head coaches and general managers weren’t selling smokescreens at the scouting combine — but that only removed a few seats and drove up competition for others in the inevitable game of musical chairs that will start March 10.Which starting-caliber quarterbacks will be available? Which teams will be shopping hungry?The Steelers “ideally would like to keep one of” Justin Fields or Russell Wilson, and have had conversations with representatives for both free agents.But neither has re-signed yet and both could want to find out their market price.“Until that happens,” general manager Omar Khan said, “all options are on the table.”The Vikings still are considering placing a franchise tag on Sam Darnold, who is the only free agent quarterback expected to command in the neighborhood of $40 million per year on his new deal, league sources believe.

But, with 2024 first-round pick J.J.McCarthy ready to participate in the offseason program after missing all last season due to injury, Darnold could become expendable.“Sam is in a position where the NFL thinks he can play quarterback at a high level,” head coach Kevin O’Connell said.

“That’s a really good thing.”The Vikings let franchise stalwart Kirk Cousins walk away last season and replaced him with an unproven Darnold and rookie McCarthy, so general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah isn’t afraid to be bold.Perhaps as bold as moving forward with a depth chart of McCarthy and former Giants starter Daniel Jones, who also is a free agent after finishing last season with the Vikings.“When we did the [Darnold] move originally, we wanted to create optionality,” Adofo-Mensah said.“And part of the optionality was believing and betting on a guy who was young, talented — believing in our infrastructure to be able to do th...