Entering a new season, teams plan for and need a contingency plan in case their QB1 goes down with injury or illness. Having a solid secondary option waiting in the wing for his opportunity is important to pressing on through adversity.
With that, these are the ten best backup quarterbacks entering the 2023 season.
10. Sam Darnold
The former first round pick has spent five years between the Jets and Panthers. The young quarterback had his best season, despite injury, in the time he played. With the Jets, Darnold played under two head coaches in three seasons, one of which happened to be Adam Gase.
In Carolina, Darnold spent his time split between two head coaches — Matt Rhule and Steve Wilks. After signing with San Francisco, Kyle Shanahan will easily be remembered as the best head coach Darnold has played under thus far.
Going 4-2 as a starter under Wilks with a 7-3 touchdown to interception ratio, Darnold showed flashes that he can be a productive signal caller in the right system. While he still has work to do in terms of completion percentage and turnover prevention, Darnold is still listed as the QB2 behind Brock Purdy per training camp reports.
Under Shanahan, Darnold could have the potential to blossom into the quarterback that New York thought he was when drafting him with the third pick in 2018.
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9. Gardner Minshew
Minshew Madness swept the world when the rookie quarterback came into the league swinging in 2019. After putting up a 3,200 yard season in 14 games his rookie year in Jacksonville and a 2,200 yard season in year two, Minshew joined the Eagles where he served as Jalen Hurts’ backup.
The former East Carolina University legend enters the Colts locker room as the QB3 on the roster. The expectations placed upon him aren’t too lofty, but when his name has been called, Minshew has always been ready. Expect Indianapolis to be no different.
8. Mitchell Trubisky
Another former first round signal caller who found himself backing up for another team, Trubisky seems to have found a home behind Kenny Pickett in Pittsburgh. Drafted by the Bears, Trubisky started the length of his rookie deal for Chicago, but when the team did not re-sign him, he took his talents to Buffalo to back up Josh Allen.
Trubisky had three solid seasons in Chicago but has been limited in his opportunities since. When his name was called by the Steelers last season, Trubisky put up 1,200 yards and four touchdowns to five interceptions in five games started with a completion percentage of 65%.
7. Bailey Zappe
When starting quarterback Mac Jones went down with injury last season and head coach Bill Belichick called on the name of his rookie quarterback from Western Kentucky, no one in New England could have expected that Bailey Zappe would be fighting for the starting spot for the rest of the season. Zappe was one of last season’s biggest surprises, putting up 781 yards and five touchdowns on 70.7% completion in four games played.
The best is yet to come for Zappe, who showed his potential as a one year starter at Western Kentucky. In his one season at WKU, Zappe put up 5,967 yards, a whopping 62 touchdowns to 11 interceptions, and a QBR of 168.9. Despite the college being in a mid-tier group of five program in Conference USA, Zappe showed he can play with the big dogs in New England.
6. Tyler Huntley
The one time Pro Bowler has stepped up every time his name has been called in Baltimore. Through three seasons, Huntley has backed up starting quarterback Lamar Jackson.
Good seasons at Utah put him in a prime position to be the hero in Baltimore after a series of injuries kept Jackson sidelined, but thus far Huntley has room for improvement after a lacklustre playoff performance.
Hopefully, another year under a familiar system will elevate this field general from good to great, especially if Jackson can’t stay healthy.
5. Davis Mills
Much like Trubisky in Chicago, Mills has been a serviceable starter, but the team is looking to go from good to great with the selection of former Buckeye C.J. Stroud second overall in 2023.
The 2021 draft class saw eight quarterbacks go in the first three rounds, the last of which was Mills with the 67th overall pick. After year one, Mills looked and produced like he could be the best quarterback in the class and only improved year two. With 5,782 career yards and 33 touchdowns to 25 interceptions, Mills could be the face of a franchise with some fine tuning.
4. Taylor Heinicke
Heinicke has spent stints in Houston, Carolina, and Washington where he has always fought for a starting role. Every stop in his career, Heinicke has found himself in situations that have allowed him to prove himself.
His best season, 2021 in Washington, he threw for 3,419 yards and threw 20 touchdowns to 15 interceptions on 65% completion. The sixth year signal caller enters the 2023 season as the backup in Atlanta behind Desmond Ridder where he will once again have the opportunity to compete for a starting role behind the sophomore Cincinnati product.
3. Jameis Winston
Former Heisman winner and first overall pick Jameis Winston is one of the most polarizing quarterbacks in the league. After five seasons in Tampa Bay, Winston joined the Saints where he split time starting and backing up future Hall of Famer Drew Brees before losing his job to quarterback Andy Dalton. At his peak, Winston was able to throw for 5,100 yards and 33 touchdowns, but the season was paired with 30 interceptions.
Since then, Winston has spent time behind the league’s number two all-time passer and got lasik surgery on his eyes. Injuries set Winston back with New Orleans which led head coach Dennis Allen to giving Dalton the starting gig. If he can stay healthy and limit his turnovers, Winston’s best days could still be in front of him.
2. Jacoby Brissett
Since his days behind Tom Brady, Brissett has started more games than he’s sat. Now, on the Commanders, Brissett has the opportunity to mentor and coach young quarterback Sam Howell while waiting in the wing to take over when needed. Like others before him, Brissett has been serviceable as a starter, but is not the guy to take your team to the next level.
In his last seven seasons, Brissett has throw for over 10,000 yards and 48 touchdowns to 23 interceptions. Despite three seasons as a full time starter, Brissett has only thrown for more than 3,000 yards once. In Washington, however, Brissett has the opportunity to step up when his name is called.
1. Andy Dalton
Dalton is the best bench rider the league has to offer. After eight seasons as the Bengals’ starter, Dalton spent single seasons in Dallas, Chicago, and New Orleans. He has been asked to be a starter at all three stops, but never full time.
Last season, Dalton threw 18 touchdowns and nine interceptions with 2,871 yards, a 66.7% completion percentage, and a 50.7 QBR in 14 games as New Orleans’ starting quarterback. Dalton will now backup first overall pick Bryce Young in Carolina, where it’s unlikely he sees time on the field aside from injury or blowouts.
