Who is it- Jones or Leonard as 2026 starter?

[ChoppedWood]

We know barring some crazy unexpected out of thin air surprise, the starter next year is either DJ or RL.

Let's assume DJ recovery goes well and he is on target to be a go for TC (given what we see on a traditional curve- he could be ready but would probably be what- 85% to start camp and would probably not really reach 100% until several games in).

So, air it out, why is one the choice over the other? I think this has to be a serious question now. They are very similar QB's- which I think is why we took Leonard to begin with to allow us to keep playing the same game if there was an injury (why we didn't stick to that- that's an answer which will forever be buried in Shane's closet...).

Both are smart obviously given their college backgrounds. Both are mobile (DJ clearly won't be as much as he was for the majority of next year). Both seem to be well versed in the system. Leonard has at no point seemed lost and struggling to understand what is happening and what to do. Both appear to be hard workers who you won't have to worry about them not doing the work necessary to constantly get better.

The question to me is whether or not what we saw from RL working in the pocket, is a mirage? He showed me more from the pocket today than I saw at Duke and ND combined. But it was only one game. Can he keep doing that? To me that is the only real question because barring that, I give him the ball over an older and a rehabbing QB.

Incredible this is a real topic, but it absolutely is.