Solely 9 NFL beginning quarterbacks performed in all 17 regular-season video games in 2023, per The Florida Times Union, so it is vital to have a succesful backup or two on a roster.
Heading into the 2024 season, some groups have good backup QB plans (Pittsburgh Steelers, Tennessee Titans) whereas others are flirting with catastrophe (Buffalo Payments, Los Angeles Chargers).
We requested Yardbarker’s NFL writers to guage the backup QB conditions for all 16 AFC groups, assigning every a ranking from “1” (terrific) to “5” (horrible).
AFC East
BUFFALO BILLS | Backups: Mitchell Trubisky, Ben DiNucci | Ranking: 5 | If two-time Professional Bowler Josh Allen misses prolonged time, Buffalo would possibly as nicely begin prepping for 2025. Accidents are already wrecking Buffalo’s QB room. After shedding third-string quarterback Shane Buechele to a major neck harm, Trubisky — who has disillusioned in preseason — left Saturday’s 9-3 win over the Steelers with a knee harm.
MIAMI DOLPHINS | Backups: Mike White, Skylar Thompson | Ranking: 4 | White and Thompson have proven flashes when given alternatives as starters, however their preseason performances have raised issues that Miami would possibly want so as to add one other backup quarterback behind starter Tua Tagovailoa. In two preseason video games, White has accomplished 15-of-34 passes for 142 yards, whereas Thompson has thrown for 156 yards, one landing and one interception and accomplished 47% of his passes.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS | Backups: Drake Maye, Bailey Zappe, Joe Milton III | Ranking: 3 | Veteran Jacoby Brissett is taken into account the front-runner to be the Week 1 starter, however HC Jerod Mayo has left the door open for first-round rookie Maye to safe the job. Nonetheless, it is a matter of time earlier than Maye begins and Brissett serves because the second-string QB, which is not the worst scenario for the Patriots as a result of the journeyman has proved to be a serviceable backup over 48 profession begins.
NEW YORK JETS | Backups: Tyrod Taylor, Jordan Travis, Andrew Peasley | Ranking: 3 | Travis and Peasley are nothing greater than developmental tasks, however Taylor may maintain the Jets afloat if beginning QB Aaron Rodgers misses time with an harm. Taylor, a one-time Professional Bowler, was arguably the perfect quarterback for the Giants in 2023, throwing for 1,103 yards, 4 touchdowns and two interceptions in 5 video games as a starter. — Colum Dell
AFC West
DENVER BRONCOS | Backups: Jarrett Stidham, Zach Wilson | Ranking: 4 | Rookie Bo Nix — who has posted a powerful 121.5 passer ranking in two preseason video games — will most likely win the beginning QB job. Stidham went 1-1 in two regular-season begins with Denver in 2023 and is a greater backup possibility than former Jets dud Wilson. In three seasons with New York, Wilson threw extra interceptions (25) than TD passes TDs (23) and posted an terrible 73.2 passer ranking.
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS | Backups: Carson Wentz, Chris Oladokun, Ian E-book | Ranking: 2 | Dropping QB Patrick Mahomes could be devastating for the Chiefs, nevertheless it seems they’re ready for the worst-case state of affairs. Former Professional Bowler Wentz has regarded reliable by two preseason video games, finishing 9-of-14 passes for 57 yards and one TD.
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS | Backups: Aidan O’Connell, Carter Bradley, Nathan Peterman | Ranking: 3 | O’Connell misplaced the beginning job to Minshew II however needs to be a serviceable backup. In O’Connell’s rookie season in 2023, he went 5-5 in 10 regular-season begins, finishing 62.1 p.c of his passes for 12 TDs and 7 picks.
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS | Backups: Easton Stick, Max Duggan, Luis Perez | Ranking: 5 | If star QB Justin Herbert suffers a season-ending harm, the Chargers would most likely be doomed. By means of two preseason video games, Stick, Duggan and Perez have didn’t throw for a TD. — Clark Dalton
AFC North
BALTIMORE RAVENS | Backups: Josh Johnson, Devin Leary, Emory Jones | Ranking: 4 | One of many Ravens’ extra underrated losses this offseason was former Professional Bowl quarterback Tyler Huntley, who joined the Browns in free company. Huntley by no means lit up the scoreboard (eight TD passes, seven interceptions in 20 video games), however journeyman Josh Johnson and sixth-round rookie Devin Leary do not encourage confidence ought to starter Lamar Jackson miss time.
CINCINNATI BENGALS | Backups: Jake Browning, Logan Woodside, Rocky Lombardi | Ranking: 2 | When quarterback Joe Burrow suffered his season-ending wrist harm final 12 months, the Bengals’ playoff hopes had been all however misplaced. Nevertheless, Browning introduced them again, passing for 1,936 yards and 12 touchdowns in 9 video games. Cincinnati nonetheless got here up wanting the postseason, however Browning performed with confidence.
CLEVELAND BROWNS | Backups: Jameis Winston, Tyler Huntley, Dorian Thompson-Robinson | Ranking: 2 | The Browns had 5 totally different beginning quarterbacks final season, in order that they signed succesful veterans in Winston and Huntley to stop that from taking place once more. Starter Deshaun Watson has performed in simply 12 video games the previous two years resulting from accidents and suspension, so it’s not laborious to think about one or each backups enjoying sooner or later this season.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS | Backups: Justin Fields, Kyle Allen, John Rhys Plumlee | Ranking: 1 | The QB competitors winner remains to be undecided, however for this train, we’ll award Russell Wilson the starter’s job as a result of he has pole place. That may imply Pittsburgh has the No. 11 general choose in 2021 NFL Draft (Fields) and an skilled, six-year veteran (Allen) as its backups. That’s fairly the improve over Kenny Pickett, Mitchell Trubisky and Mason Rudolph from a season in the past. — Aaron Becker
AFC South
HOUSTON TEXANS | Backups: Davis Mills, Case Keenum | Ranking: 2 | Between Mills and Keenum, the pair have 92 NFL begins, providing the Texans loads of expertise behind second-year quarterback C.J. Stroud. Whereas nobody has secured the No. 2 job, the Texans ought to really feel comfy with both possibility.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS | Backups: Joe Flacco, Sam Ehlinger | Ranking: 3 | Flacco, a 39-year-old former Tremendous Bowl MVP, was serviceable with the Cleveland Browns in 2023 (4-1) final season, however he’s on the again finish of an extended profession. Ehlinger is way youthful (25), however he hasn’t proven a lot, going 0-3 in his solely begins as a professional. If both wants to hold the load ought to starter Anthony Richardson miss time, the Colts could possibly be in bother.
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS | Backups: Mac Jones, C.J. Beathard | Ranking: 2 | If it is expertise the Jaguars are searching for behind starter Trevor Lawrence, they’ve it in Jones and Beathard, who’ve proved able to successful a recreation right here or there over 9 mixed NFL seasons. Jones, a former Professional Bowler, might have the benefit for the No. 2 spot (73.5% completion share, 308 passing yards in preseason), which may make Beathard commerce bait.
TENNESSEE TITANS | Backups: Mason Rudolph, Malik Willis | Ranking: 2 | Rudolph is as strong as a backup will get, going 8-4-1 with 19 touchdowns and a 63.5 completion share over 13 profession begins in 4 seasons with the Steelers. The Titans ought to really feel good having him fill the identical position behind second-year quarterback Will Levis. In coaching camp and the preseason, Rudolph has outplayed 2022 third-round choose Willis. — Mike Santa Barbara
