From the highs to the lows, the 2023 NFL season had a lot of great memories. Most will say it wasn’t the best season, but we loved it. And Super Bowl 58.. one of the best? What else can we say.
2023 saw a lot of success from the backup quarterbacks when their starter counterparts went down with injuries. Other star quarterbacks like Lamar Jackson, Brock Purdy, and Patrick Mahomes had strong seasons as expected. However, other quarterbacks struggled and need to find new homes for the upcoming 2024 regular season.
Here are the final grades for all 32 NFL Team’s quarterbacks:
Arizona Cardinals: Kyler Murray: C-
Despite playing in only eight games, Kyler Murray did everything he could to help the Cardinals stay afloat, in the NFC West. Murray went 3-5 since he returned to action and put up some decent numbers, despite a lack of a supporting cast around him. The Cardinals need to supply Murray with more talented wide receivers and tight ends via free agency and the NFL Draft if they want to turn their luck around for a better 2024 season.
Atlanta Falcons: Desmond Ridder: D+
Desmond Ridder has had a very hit-or-miss season all year long. Ridder played decently in some games, but threw too many interceptions in other games, and was benched for Taylor Heinicke, a couple of times in the 2023 season. It would make sense for Ridder to become a backup quarterback, for a playoff-caliber or championship contender, so he can continue develop his game. If that does not happen, and the Falcons stick with Ridder, they’re going to have a rough 2024 season.
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Baltimore Ravens: Lamar Jackson: A-
Lamar Jackson had an MVP-like season and looked incredible on the field, in Todd Monken’s offense. Jackson threw 24 touchdowns against seven interceptions in the regular season. Jackson also led the Ravens in rushing with 821 yards on the ground. Jackson is on a mission to try and win a Super Bowl and hoist the Lombardi Trophy. Opposing defenses need to watch out.
Buffalo Bills: Josh Allen: C+
Josh Allen had another solid 2023 season, under his belt. Allen threw 29 touchdowns against 18 interceptions, and was a great runner with 15 rushing touchdowns and 524 yards. Despite the 18 interceptions, Allen is still one great quarterback.
Carolina Panthers: Bryce Young: F
It was a rough season for Bryce Young, as he struggled to do almost anything for the Panthers. Young had no offensive line protection and no Pro Bowl-like talent to work with. The Panthers need to sign and draft strong Pro Bowl-like wide receivers and tight ends for Young to work with, for a much better 2024 season.
Chicago Bears: Justin Fields: D+
It was a tough season for Justin Fields, as he tried to improve his performance and dealt with nagging injuries. Fields threw 16 touchdowns against nine interceptions, led the Bears rushing attack with 657 yards on the ground, and scored four rushing touchdowns. Fields can be a good quarterback, if he has a true winning roster around him.
Cincinnati Bengals: Jake Browning: C++
Jake Browning was thrust into the starting lineup after Joe Burrow’s season ended with wrist surgery. Browning played well, and was 4-3 during his time on the field, but couldn’t get the Bengals past divisional opponents until week 18 when the Bengals defeated the Cleveland Browns 31-14. Once Burrow returns fully healthy in 2024, Browning will resume backup duties, unless something happens during the season.
Cleveland Browns: Joe Flacco: B+
The Browns’ quarterback situation looked very bleak, with poor play from Deshaun Watson and PJ Walker. However, once Watson went down with season-ending shoulder surgery, the Browns signed Joe Flacco, who looked incredible. Flacco led the team with 1,616 passing yards, had a 4-1 record as a starter, and helped the Browns secure a playoff spot for the first time since the 2020 season. The Browns should bring Flacco back for the 2024 season or some other team might want to sign him and try to replicate what the Browns did this past season.
Dallas Cowboys: Dak Prescott: B+
Dak Prescott had a great 2023 season, with 4,516 passing yards, 36 touchdowns against nine interceptions, and led the Cowboys to first place in the NFC East. The only things missing from Prescott’s already impressive resume are more playoff wins. However, with offensive talent around Prescott like CeeDee Lamb, Tony Pollard, Brandin Cooks, and Jake Ferguson, Prescott could finally get the Cowboys over the hump and to the NFC Championship game and possibly more.
Denver Broncos: Russell Wilson: D+
Russell Wilson had a slightly better 2023 season than he did in 2022, but disagreements between Wilson and head coach Sean Payton muddied the water. Wilson did throw 26 touchdowns against nine interceptions. If the Broncos do part ways with Wilson in 2024, they need to find a new quarterback- as soon as possible.
Detroit Lions: Jared Goff: B+
Jared Goff had an excellent 2023 season in Detroit, as he helped the Lions capture the NFC North crown and their first playoff at home since 1994. Goff had 4,575 passing yards and threw 30 touchdowns against 12 interceptions. He had excellent chemistry with David Montgomery, Jahmyr Gibbs, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Sam LaPorta, respectively. Goff is ready to lead this team, not just in playoffs, but in years to come. Winning football games is officially back in the Motor City.
Green Bay Packers: Jordan Love: B
Jordan Love had a lot of expectations for the 2023 season, and he did everything he could to live up to what Aaron Rodgers left behind. Love helped the Packers earn second place in the NFC North, as well as return to the playoffs, for the first time since 2021. Love also threw 32 touchdowns against 11 interceptions. Love will continue to improve and help the Packers return to championship glory, for the 2024 season and beyond.
Houston Texans: C.J. Stroud: B+
C.J. Stroud had an outstanding rookie season, as the young phenom led the team to a surprise AFC South championship and a playoff berth, in year one, under new head coach DeMeco Ryans. Stroud threw 23 touchdowns against five interceptions, as he continues to improve and turn the Texans into the next winning franchise.
Indianapolis Colts: Gardner Minshew: C+
With Anthony Richardson recovering from shoulder surgery, Gardner Minshew did an outstanding job filling in for the rookie star quarterback. Minshew threw 15 touchdowns against nine interceptions. Even though Minshew is set to become a free agent in the 2024 offseason, any quarterback-needy team needs to sign Minshew, to a good deal, just in case their star quarterback goes down with an injury. The Colts should consider bringing Minshew back, so he can continue mentoring and backing up Richardson for 2024 and beyond.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Trevor Lawrence: C-
Trevor Lawrence had a decent season, but dealt with a sprained ankle late in the season. Lawrence threw 21 touchdowns against 14 interceptions, but needs to improve a bit more, as the Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans are both coming on the rise, in a very competitive AFC South.
Kansas City Chiefs: Patrick Mahomes: A
Patrick Mahomes had another great season, despite having a tough time with his wide receivers- outside of Travis Kelce. Mahomes threw 27 touchdowns against 14 interceptions and earned a nod to the Pro Bowl. All Mahomes needs in 2024 are more talented Pro Bowl-like wide receivers to work with, if the Chiefs offense wants to be truly scary for years to come.
Oh and lets not forget, he won Super Bowl 58. What else can we say about the mini GOAT!
Las Vegas Raiders: Aidan O’Connell: C-
Aidan O’Connell may be a backup, but did fairly well under Antonio Pierce’s leadership, although the Raiders did not making the playoffs. O’Connell threw 12 touchdowns against seven interceptions and scored a rushing touchdown. The Raiders might find a new quarterback to work with, due to Jimmy Garappolo not working out. They should keep O’Connell in the lineup, if he steps his game up, in 2024.
Los Angeles Chargers: Justin Herbert: C
Justin Herbert had a good season with the Chargers, but season-ending thumb surgery sidelined him, as Easton Stick took over to finish the season. Herbert threw 20 touchdowns against seven interceptions and scored three rushing touchdowns. Herbert and the Chargers need a new head coach to help the team return to glory, for a much better 2024 season.
Miami Dolphins: Tua Tagovailoa: B
Matthew Stafford played a lot better in the 2023 season, leaving his 2022 injuries behind. Stafford threw 24 touchdowns against 11 interceptions. He an excellent time working with Kyren Williams and Puka Nacua, who broke numerous rookie records. Stafford will be back in LA for 2024, as the Rams look to get better from here on out.
Miami Dolphins: Tua Tagovailoa: B
Tua Tagovailoa had a great 2023 season, earning his first Pro Bowl nod and threw 29 touchdowns against 14 interceptions. Tagovailoa also led the league in passing yards with 4,624 passing yards and became the first Dolphins quarterback to do so since Dan Marino back in 1992. It’s only upward for Tagovailoa, as the team looks to keep building on its success, in 2024.
Minnesota Vikings: Kirk Cousins: C-
Kirk Cousins was playing well, in the 2023 season, before he tore his Achilles. The Vikings had a quarterback carousel between Joshua Dobbs and Nick Mullens, as the team tried to stay afloat in the NFC North. Cousins is set to become a free agent in 2024. The team needs to either bring him back or find someone via free agency or the 2024 NFL Draft.
New England Patriots: Bailey Zappe: D-
Bailey Zappe and Mac Jones did not have good seasons with the Patriots, as they struggled to stay afloat. Both Jones and Zappe threw more interceptions than touchdowns. It is likely, Jones is not coming back to Foxborough, MA in 2024. Zappe on the other hand, might have success with the Patriots moving forward, if new head coach Jerod Mayo provides Zappe with the tools he needs to be a franchise quarterback, moving forward.
New Orleans Saints: Derek Carr: C+
Derek Carr’s 2023 season in New Orleans was a mixed bag, as he dealt with nagging shoulder injuries. He did throw 25 touchdowns against eight interceptions while the Saints also gave Jameis Winston and Taysom Hill some solid playing time. Winston is set to become a free agent in 2024 and may not come back to the Saints. Hill is a great backup quarterback, but the Saints need another backup quarterback in the lineup, if anything serious happens to Carr in 2024.
New York Giants: Tyrod Taylor: D+
When Daniel Jones went down with a torn ACL injury, the Giants saw quite a quarterback carousel with Tyrod Taylor and Tommy DeVito filling in when Taylor was hurt. Taylor threw for 1,351 yards, threw five touchdowns against three interceptions when on the field. However, when Jones does return, the Giants need to fix their offensive line, if they want to have a somewhat more successful 2024 season.
New York Jets: Zach Wilson: D
It was quite a tough season for Wilson, who did everything he could to keep the Jets afloat, as Aaron Rodgers recovered from his Achilles surgery. Wilson threw eight touchdowns against seven interceptions, on the season, as his time in New York is likely done after this season when Rodgers comes back in 2024. The Jets should keep Wilson around for one more season as a backup to Rodgers, but they also need to think about the future for when Rodgers retires. They should look to potentially draft his successor, similar to what the Green Bay Packers did with Jordan Love.
Philadelphia Eagles: Jalen Hurts: C+
Jalen Hurts started the 2023 season very strong, but the Eagles’ offense struggled in the latter half of the season, and didn’t win the NFC East. Hurts did throw 23 touchdowns against 15 interceptions and scored 15 rushing touchdowns. Hurts will have a stronger 2024 season, as he tries to bring back the NFC East crown, to the city of “Brotherly Love.”
Pittsburgh Steelers: Kenny Pickett: C+
Kenny Pickett’s season was a mixed bag, as he battled an ankle sprain that sidelined him for a couple weeks, during the last stretch of the regular season. Mitch Trubisky and Mason Rudolph took the backup roles, as Rudolph helped the team punch their ticket to a wildcard spot in the very end. Rudolph is set to become a free agent in 2024, as the team should try to find another suitable backup to help Pickett out when he returns to the starting duty next season.
San Francisco 49ers: Brock Purdy: A
Brock Purdy is no longer Mr. Irrelevant, as he has brought relevancy back to the 49ers by securing the one-seed to the NFC playoffs. Purdy threw 31 touchdowns against 11 interceptions. He was also named to his first, of hopefully many, Pro Bowls. The only downfall losing a heartbreaker to Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs in Super Bowl 58.
Seattle Seahawks: Geno Smith: C+
Geno Smith continued to play well in the Pacific Northwest, but wasn’t named to the Pro Bowl like he was in 2022. Smith threw 20 touchdowns against nine interceptions and scored a rushing touchdown. Smith will be back for the 2024 season, as he looks to continue playing well and lead the team to a potential playoff berth.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Baker Mayfield: B-
Mayfield had a great 2023 season, as he truly felt at home with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He helped the team win the NFC South and reach the playoffs. Mayfield threw 28 touchdowns against 10 interceptions and scored a rushing touchdown. He rebounded from his disastrous 2022 season after his stops with the Carolina Panthers and Los Angeles Rams. Mayfield is set to become a free agent, and it is not known whether the Buccaneers will bring him back for 2024.
Tennessee Titans: Will Levis: D+
After Ryan Tannehill broke his foot in the team’s week six matchup with the Baltimore Ravens, Will Levis took the helm, and did whatever he could to salvage the season. Levis threw eight touchdowns against four interceptions, as the team looks to move forward with him. Tannehill is set to become a free agent in 2024 and it’s unlikely the Titans are bringing him back. The Titans need to fix the offensive line for Levis so he can make strong plays with the offensive talent around him.
Washington Commanders: Sam Howell: F
Sam Howell had a disastrous season in Washington. He is just not the answer at quarterback for the team moving forward. Howell threw 21 touchdowns against 21 interceptions as everything fell apart around the young signal caller. The Commanders need to find a new quarterback via free agency or the 2024 draft and move Howell to backup duties, moving forward.
