Quarterbacks are one of the central driving forces of the NFL. That’s why so much attention is paid each year to which signalers belong to the game’s exquisite elite. However, the backup job cannot be overlooked in the QB discussion.
We only have to look at two current NFC contenders – the Eagles and the 49ers – to see how important a strong number 2 can be. Philadelphia famously won its first Lombardi Trophy in 2017 when Nick Foles replaced the injured Carson Wentz and defeated Tom Brady in the big game. Then, just last season, San Francisco made it to the NFC title game — coincidentally against the Eagles — thanks in large part to Brock Purdy bringing in an unlikely attitude from the bench.
Which teams have the best insurance plans today? Here’s how we would stack all 32 backups through 2023:
32. Sean Clifford (Packers)
The fifth-round rookie from Penn State is expected to be the top backup for restarter Jordan Love, even if he’s a little older at 25. In college, he presented numbers but was criticized for inconsistent fundamentals.
The former second-rounder is technically competing with Baker Mayfield to replace the retired Tom Brady as Tampa Bay’s starter, but he’s only thrown nine NFL passes and isn’t exactly set up to improvise from the bag.
30. Stetson Bennett (Rams)
The small and so-so fourth-rounder from Georgia is already reportedly ahead of Brett Rypien to become Matthew Stafford’s No. 2. His confidence and passing experience could help Sean McVay’s system.
29. Zach Wilson (Jets)
With Aaron Rodgers finally benched in town, the former No. 2 overall winner still has enticing off-script tools at his disposal. But the Jets increasingly tried to hide him as a passer during their two injury-ridden years as a starter, affecting his reliability.
28. Brian Hoyer (Raiders)
As he’s already 38 years old, you wouldn’t want him to be in the starting XI for more than a game or two at this point. In fact, it’s been six years since he started multiple games. The regular of the ex-Patriots knows the system of Josh McDaniels at least in detail.
27. PJ Walker (Bears)
The former XFL star weathered a Panthers regime change in 2022 and showed composure during a difficult six-game spell as a substitute. However, he’s always struggled with accuracy at the NFL level, making him an interesting choice as a new replacement for Justin Fields.
26. Malik Willis (Titans)
The Liberty product was so listless as a rookie, filling in for injured Ryan Tannehill in 2022, that Tennessee traded for second-rounder Will Levis this year. But he also had a bad set-up and still has top-notch volatility.
25. Easton Stick (Chargers)
By the start of fifth grade, Stick only threw a single NFL pass. But the former NDSU title winner has always had a respect for pocket movements and leadership, and he drew positive balance in the spring when he succeeded the late Chase Daniel.
24. Nate Sudfeld (Lions)
Sudfeld is just ahead of rehab rookie Hendon Hooker and brings experience from benching with the Eagles and 49ers. Indeed, if not for Brock Purdy’s strong rookie summer, he would have been San Francisco’s No. 3 in 2022.
23. Trevor Siemian (Bengal)
On his seventh team in seven years, the former Broncos 2021 starter threw 11 touchdowns on just three picks in four starts for the Saints. However, his debut with the Bears a year ago was marred by injuries, and he has never completed 60% of his throws in a season.
The 14-year-old vet is more of a top-15 backup thanks to his good starts at several spots, but as he’s 37th and has multiple injuries behind him, he’s not sure he’ll stay below middle throughout Arizona’s regular QB1 Kyler Murray is enduring his own rehab.
21. Blaine Gabbert (Chiefs)
After four years in Tampa Bay, including three as a replacement for Tom Brady, former Jaguar starter Chad Henne is replacing Patrick Mahomes as veteran underwriter. He hasn’t seen much action in years but he knows the game and should benefit from a new line-up.
20. Kyle Allen (Bills)
He didn’t make it to stay as a starter for the struggling Texans in 2022, but the former undrafted reserve performed better than expected, despite poor conditions in previous stints with Washington and the Panthers. He should be enjoying Buffalo and resting behind Josh Allen.
The former Broncos starter was a gunslinger for better or worse and, thanks to Geno Smith’s breakthrough, didn’t stand a chance of qualifying for his Seattle debut. If you need someone who can hurl it anywhere on the field, they still have the arm to do it.
18. Nick Mullens (Vikings)
BYU rookie Jaren Hall probably offers more potential with his athletic profile, but Mullens has already proven his ability to handle an emergency, particularly in 16 individual (and brave) starts as a backup for the 49ers from 2017-2020.
17. Joshua Dobbs (Browns)
What the former Steelers contender lacks in experience – he’s only played in eight games – he makes up for in shrewdness and underestimated volatility. When he was abruptly pushed into a brief starting appearance with the Titans in late 2022, he performed better than expected.
16. CJ Beathard (Jaguars)
Trevor Lawrence’s No. 2 for the past two years, endured injury-plagued 49ers lineups early in his career, notably throwing six touchdowns and zero picks in six appearances in 2020. Kyle Shanahan has always spoken highly of his vision.
15. Cooper Rush (Cowboys)
After four years without appearances in Dallas, Rush went 5-1 overall in 2021-2022 in place of the injured Dak Prescott. Despite being a straight-forward pocket passer, he showed he was willing to look down the pitch and feed his playmakers.
14. Mike White (Dolphins)
The numbers for the sixth-year reserve aren’t exactly rosy: eight TDs and 12 INTs with a 2-5 record as starters. But he showed plenty of toughness, briefly boosting the Jets while replacing Zach Wilson in 2021-2022. Miami is betting on this Moxie considering he’s the most experienced underwriter behind one of the league’s biggest medical troubles with starter Tua Tagovailoa.
13. Bailey Zappe (Patriots)
The 2022 fourth-rounder wasn’t perfect off the bench as a rookie, but he also briefly showed more life than battered starter Mac Jones, bringing more pride and efficiency to a battered offense. If Jones struggles again, he could end up back in the lineup.
12. Tyrod Taylor (giants)
The former Bills star hasn’t been an efficient multigame starter in more than half a decade, and lately he’s been struggling to stay sane. But he makes it all work, and his 53 career starts plus one playoff run give him a real advantage in experience.
11. Davis Mills (Texans)
Technically, Mills was battling for the top spot with rookie CJ Stroud and found himself in a near-impossible situation in his first two seasons as he worked with a makeshift offensive to rebuild. The fluctuations hit him at the wrong time, but he’s still tall and has a strong arm.
10. Jarrett Stidham (Broncos)
The former fourth-rounder never caught on as Tom Brady’s successor in New England but came to life in a brief stint replacing Derek Carr in 2022, showing confidence in the movement. Sean Payton really likes him as a well-paid backup planner for Russell Wilson.
9. Mitch Trubisky (Steelers)
The former Bears starter is just a little too off-putting in sticky situations to sustain a full-time job, but he’s a fine athlete who can use a good supporting cast on occasion, making him a rock-solid contingency plan behind Kenny Pickett at Pittsburgh .
8. Jameis Winston (Saints)
Injuries and turnovers have put a temporary halt to his time as QB1, but Winston still possesses incorrigible size and arm talent. If he’s healthy, as he’s shown in his first six months under Sean Payton, he can lead the ball for a winning team.
7. Gardner Minshew (Colts)
His previously underestimated track record as a starter took a minor hit in 2022 when he went 2-0 up for the injured Jalen Hurts, but Minshew never lacks stamina and downfield touch. He could still go up in Indy as a bridge to rookie Anthony Richardson.
6. Marcus Mariota (Eagles)
Whether in Tennessee, Las Vegas or Atlanta, Mariota was never really consistent in the air and therefore needed strong ground support. But his own legs remain a great weapon and he will be even more comfortable behind Jalen Hurts in Philly.
5. Taylor Heinicke (Falcons)
Heinicke is still popular in Washington for his bold leadership, but his high-spirited mentality lends itself well to choppy transitions. But like longtime journeyman Ryan Fitzpatrick, he’s perfect as long as he comes off the bench and delivers energy like a relief pitcher.
4. Jacoby Brissett (Commanders)
Brissett, who will line up behind young Sam Howell in 2023, has been a bit too conservative in the past and prone to early picks to make it as QB1. But he was also calm and collected in several major emergency locations such as Indy and Cleveland.
3. Tyler Huntley (Ravens)
An unlikely Pro Bowl pick to replace Lamar Jackson in 2022, Huntley has thrown more INTs (7) than TDs (5) in just 15 career games, but with 25 and above-average dual threat characteristics, he’s already established himself as capable proved to point a way to the playoffs.
2. Andy Dalton (Panthers)
Dalton has long been a role model for “just good enough” starting QBs, and has endured backup stops that have been fine (Dallas), bad (Chicago), and surprisingly strong (New Orleans). However, at 35 he still has a solid flair and there is no more accomplished No. 2 veteran when you consider his 162 career starts and five winning seasons as a top player. Carolina couldn’t have done better finding a respected, experienced voice behind No. 1 Bryce Young.
1. Trey Lance / Sam Darnold (49ers)
Both veterans are technically in contention for the Day 1 seed alongside 2022 star rookie Brock Purdy. Purdy is the supposed front runner when recovering from elbow surgery, leaving either Lance or Darnold to fill the backup job. The former is more of an unknown, having only started four times in two years through injury, but given his natural athleticism and rushing ability, his level of performance is relatively high. Darnold, meanwhile, has been weak in 55 career starts, albeit in rebuilding organizations, and reckons he can flaunt his own arm in a more QB-friendly system. There’s probably no QB room with more simultaneous question marks and collective upside than this one, and yet we’re confident that whoever holds No. 2 will make waves in some way.