Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
- Justin Fields, Chicago Bears
Fields in Weeks 1-6: 91.6 passer rating, 40 rushing yards per game, -0.054 expected points added (EPA) per play and a 1-5 record. Fields in Weeks 11-14: 92.1 passer rating, 72 rushing yards per game, 0.072 EPA/play and a 2-1 record.
The Bears could claim the second guy there as a franchise quarterback. The first guy would be moving on to greener pastures. If the third-year quarterback can continue to live up to his potential, he’ll either boost his trade stock or give Chicago a tough decision with the first overall pick the Carolina Panthers are almost certain to send north.
- Sam Howell, Washington Commanders
Howell’s ability to spray good and bad performances across his game log makes it feel as though he’s working on a Jackson Pollack-inspired career. In reality, he’s just a wildly unstable passer capable of impressive highs and the baritone lows you’d expect from a second-year fifth-round draft pick.
Things have been bleak over his last three games (all Washington losses): one touchdown against five interceptions, a 64.1 passer rating and a -0.118 EPA/play that ranks 27th best out of 33 qualified quarterbacks. Those highs may buy him another year as QB1, but what will almost certainly be a new head coaching staff may opt to bring in its own passer to press him for snaps.
- Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh Steelers
The only good thing about Pickett’s late-season injury is that it’s showing Steelers fans how much worse things could be. Pickett’s game is flawed and his lack of accuracy and inability to quickly cycle through reads is a bonafide problem. But he’ll occasionally stare down wideouts and deliver a perfect, un-defendable back shoulder strike in a clutch moment anyway to provide the difference between victory and defeat.
He’s done that enough to make drafting his replacement difficult — but if a proven veteran starter is available this offseason, Pittsburgh would be interested. Especially if it provides the cover to move on from Mitch Trubisky’s modest-but-frustrating contract.
- Will Levis, Tennessee Titans
Tennessee is almost certainly done with pending free agent Ryan Tannehill, leaving Levis the inside track for the starting job. He has impressed in flashes in his 2023 audition, but as a whole the rookie has been an underwhelming presence for a team short on playmakers. He deserves the opportunity to try his luck with an offense that has more to offer than just DeAndre Hopkins and a bunch of also-rans in the passing game. There’s no guarantee he’ll get it.
- Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Mayfield went from 2022’s worst starting quarterback to the center of the NFC South leader’s offense. He’s also propped himself up by chucking the ball up to Mike Evans and hoping for the best which, honestly, is a pretty great idea.
Tampa Bay’s been too good to draft a surefire prospect and only has decent, not great, salary cap space for 2024. The most likely solution would be a modest multi-year deal for Mayfield to see if he can reclaim or build on this magic next fall — with an out built in to insulate the team from rostering him in 2025 should he revert back into a pumpkin.
- Desmond Ridder, Atlanta Falcons
Ridder’s already been benched once this season for Taylor Heinicke, which isn’t exactly a vote of confidence. But on the field he’s shown flashes of efficient play, albeit often unraveled with poor pocket awareness and horribly timed turnovers. If he can give the Falcons four games of steady production he could lead Atlanta to an NFC South title — and install himself as the team’s starter for the beginning of 2024, at the very least.
