The National Football League is a multi-billion dollar dog eat dog business with only 32 slots at the most important position at the highest level. For quarterbacks competing to win Super Bowl championships and achieve never ending glory, finding your way onto the roster as the team’s starter is only the first step.
Only a handful of men are tasked with the job, but even fewer are poised to maintain it at the highest level. Whether it be due to injury, poor performance, or some other reason, quarterbacks phase in and out of the lineup regularly.
With that, here are 10 starting quarterbacks in danger of losing their job.
10. Chicago Bears – Justin Fields
The Bears, through three weeks, look like the worst team in the league and it’s not particularly close. With Fields underperforming his expectations in year three, Chicago could look to move the former Ohio State Buckeye to the bench, if not trade him, to tank for the first pick in this year’s draft. With the grand prize of the University of Southern California’s quarterback Caleb Williams on the other side, it would be hard for the Bears to say no to ensuring he lands in Chicago.
9. Washington Commanders – Sam Howell
Howell is essentially a rookie after playing only one game last season (a commanding 26-6 victory over the Dallas Cowboys mind you). Though he’s looked serviceable, if not good through the start of the 2023 season, Howell leaves something to be desired on the field. He has yet to answer whether or not he can answer the call when the lights are the brightest.
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8. Minnesota Vikings – Kirk Cousins
The noon nightmare is the best quarterback in the league you don’t want on your team. As a consistent 4,000 yard, 30 touchdown threat, Cousins seems to shrink when the moments matter most. For a fully guaranteed contract in Minnesota, Cousins has been successful through the regular season but disappears come playoff time.
In the final year of his deal, Minnesota could look to offload his contract if either side has intentions to part ways. Plenty of teams would be glad to have Cousins until the playoffs roll around (hint, hint, New York, hint, hint).
7. Arizona Cardinals – Joshua Dobbs
Dobbs is a weird fit for the Cardinals. The former Steeler and Titan seemed to be a late addition during the offseason to a locker room waiting on Kyler Murray to return. Arizona drafted Houston quarterback Clayton Tune, a college gunslinging pocket passer, but really it seems things are lining up for Kyler to take his spot back when he returns from the PUP list, making Dobbs’ inclusion in Arizona a weird one.
6. Atlanta Falcons – Desmond Ridder
The former Cincinnati Bearcat hasn’t been the hero Atlanta wanted, but he’s been the quarterback they deserve. In his sophomore season, Ridder has been the hand-off expert in the ATL for an offense that values the ground game significantly more than the passing attack (just ask Kyle Pitts). Ridder’s been about as exciting as white bread, throwing for a whopping four touchdowns and one interception in his five starts for the Falcons. Safe to say, #9 is not the team’s franchise star.
5. Las Vegas Raiders – Jimmy Garoppolo
Jimmy G’s move to Las Vegas filled a Derek Carr sized void in the Raiders offense. However, both Garroppolo and the Raiders know he’s a bridge quarterback whose job is on the clock with younger, cheaper talent waiting on the wings.
During the preseason, the former Boilermaker Aiden O’Connell looked to be a seasoned veteran for a quarterback who’s never seen live action play at the highest level. If I had to put money on it, though, the Raiders are likely looking to find their guy through the draft, whether it be this season or next.
4. Tennessee Titans – Ryan Tannehill
Ryan Tannehill has been flat out awful in 2023. Through three weeks, Tannehill has only thrown one touchdown to three interceptions. All three of Tannehill’s turnovers were in one game, a week one loss to the New Orleans Saints who were at the bottom of the league in turnovers last season.
The Titans offense looks bad to put it lightly. Things are sure to change in the Music City, meaning Tannehill takes a backseat to either the kid from Liberty or the kid from Kentucky. Either way, Tannehill’s days in Tennessee are numbered if his performance doesn’t improve.
3. New England Patriots – Mac Jones
Speaking of flat out awful, Mac Jones has not been the created-in-a-lab Tom Brady clone that Pats fans were hoping for. Despite the fact that Hall of Fame head coach Bill Belicheck thinks he’s the guy, Jones’ performance on the field has sung a different tune. If he’s not careful, he could find himself riding the bench before long.
2. Denver Broncos – Russell Wilson
It’s clear that head coach Sean Payton’s tenure in Denver is going to outlast quarterback Russell Wilson’s. Since Wilson is clearly not Payton’s guy (in fact, Payton has been very outspoken against Wilson), it’s not outside the realm of possibility to see Wilson either traded or benched in favor of other options. Payton’s learning the ins and outs of a new team and a new system, and Wilson is a piece of the puzzle complicating matters further than they need to be.
1. New York Jets – Zach Wilson
Zach Wilson was never supposed to be the Jets’ starting quarterback this season. When future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers went down week one with an achilles tear, Wilson was thrust into the job without much notice. Since his place is to simply be the filler for Rodgers, it’s clear to see why his time is ticking.
Some around the league want that clock to tick faster, as the Jets have been encouraged to bring in another veteran. Speculation grows when you consider they just signed Trevor Simmean to their practice squad.
