[OC] Ranking all NFL Teams' Backup QBs - 2019
Sept 14, 2019 12:52:25 GMT -6
Reignman, Funkytown, and 1 more like this
Post by Danchat on Sept 14, 2019 12:52:25 GMT -6
Last year, I wrote a comprehensive Ranking of All Backup QBs. Using that article as a base, I figure I'm going to make this an annual article. Few other sites out there make it a point to cover all NFL backup QBs and even attempt to rank them. I should note that anything in quote bubbles are blurbs from my older articles.
I will have a spreadsheet posted at the end that has all of the backup QB stats, so you can refer there for reference. Also, I've included 5 QBs who are currently injured but are either still on the roster or on the IR, so that makes 37 QBs.
The "rating" stat you will see next to the QBs are a "Madden-like" rating that is an arbitrary number. Here is what it translates to:
80+ = Starter
77-79 = Good Backup
75-76 = Decent Backup
73-74 = Shaky Backup
72-71 = Bad Backup / Should be 3rd string
70- = Shouldn't be on an NFL roster
Finally, one last disclaimer. This article is simply my opinion and is based upon the QBs' stats, my evaluations of them watching games, and for some, how I viewed them as QB prospects. I'd love to hear your thoughts regarding these QBs, just please be respectful with your arguments.
Alright, let's get to it!
#1 TEN - Ryan Tannehill - Rating: 80
I should probably lead off with the fact that I was a Tannehill detractor from Day One; back in the 2012 draft, I had Tannehill as a 2nd round prospect at best and I liked Kirk Cousins more. Now, here we are, Tannehill is just a backup. For all the crap I've given him, I'll say this - Tannehill had a decent career in Miami for all that's said and done. With the help of head coach Adam Gase, he improved as a passer and his 2014 season was a solid one (4045/27/12, 66.4%) and eventually got the team to the playoffs in 2016 but got injured. He then missed the 2017 season with an ACL tear, and the 2018 season was a disaster with more injuries and decaying play.
Tannehill was originally a wide receiver in his freshman and sophomore years at Texas A&M, so he was billed as a scrambling QB. This never panned out in the NFL, as he never ran for over 200 yards since 2014. The injuries that racked up proved to be too much.
Enough background, so what about as a backup? Tannehill will be the in the upper echelon of backups due to his extensive experience as a starter and being able to win games with subpar Miami squads. He doesn't have what it takes to win in big matchups and is prone to fall apart, but he will be able to get wins if he needs to start. He could replace Marcus Mariota and play to a very similar level.
#2 SF - Nick Mullens - Rating: 78
Mullens got a shout-out on this article last year, noting that Mullens vastly outplayed C. J. Beathard in the 2018 preseason. Mullens eventually got his chance when Garoppolo blew his ACL and C.J. Beathard failed to get the team any wins, going 0-5. The 49ers gave Mullens a chance in a primetime game when Beathard was a 50-50 chance to play through a minor wrist injury. This was the shot Mullens needed to seize the QB job for himself. He went 3-5 and had a 2277/13/10 64.2% with an astounding 8.3 Y/A. Given that Mullens was a 2nd year UDFA, there's room for improvement, and any steps forward would make him the best backup QB in the NFL and a potential starter. Mullens doesn't have the strongest arm, but he's accurate and had a solid feel for pressure, getting sacked on just 5.8% of dropbacks. He did have a problem getting overaggressive with throwing interceptions, and many of his yards came in garbage time. But with some tweaks and improvements, Nick is among the league's best backups.
#3 LAC - Tyrod Taylor - Rating: 78
Tyrod was the starting QB for the Browns last year, but that lasted a total of 3 games before getting usurped by Baker Mayfield. Taylor was a 6th round pick who lasted 4 years as the backup to Joe Flacco. He hit free agency and was given a chance to be the Bills starting QB, but wasn't the favorite. Against the odds, Tyrod seized the job for 3 seasons and brought the Bills some competency at QB. Taylor was a scrambling QB who amounted 1500 rushing yards for the Bills, while being a decent passer who stayed on the conservative side. He rarely ever threw interceptions, too. He did take too many sacks, and after his first season in 2015, his played declined and the Browns acquired him in a trade. However, the magic appeared to be gone. Not only did Taylor check the ball down constantly, his accuracy dipped and at age 29, his speed started to decline.
With that in mind, Taylor is still one of the best backup QBs in the league. He's definitely capable of getting a team wins. He may be slowing down, but his game manager style meshes well with the role as a clipboard holder. He won't push the needle like he used to, but he's not the type of QB who's going to gamble the game away... you could call him the antithesis of Ryan Fitzpatrick.
#4 IND - Brian Hoyer - Rating: 77
2018 Rank: 8th
The Patriots drafted Jarrett Stidham in the 4th round this year, but methinks Hoyer is safe for at least another season. I was wrong! New England straight-up released him!
The Colts landed Hoyer on a three year deal, and I really like this move. Hoyer has usually played well, and the Colts offense seems to be competently coached, so Hoyer remains one of the best backup QBs in the NFL.
#5 LAR - Blake Bortles - Rating: 77
Bortles now descends to the rank of backup QB after failing spectacularly with the Jaguars just a season after a championship run where they nearly knocked the Patriots out. He's landed as the Rams backup after getting benched mid-season in 2018.
Bortles is a hard QB to assess because he's just two seasons removed from a run where he played pretty well. He devastated the Steelers' defense and put up a nice performance against the Patriots. However, even in his best season, he was statistically middling and was reliant on his dominant defense. The team lived and died depending on the defense's condition, and once Bortles needed to win games himself, he was unable to do so. That's how most of his Jacksonville career went - he has a ghastly 24-49 record - and has had some accuracy issues. He's also had a tendency to turn the ball over too much. Bortles is sneakily a good scrambler who can break tackles with his sheer size. You'd imagine under McVay and the Rams offense, Bortles would be at his best if he ever needed to play. I think he's one of the league's best backups, but his defeciencies need to be heavily masked.
#6 NYG - Daniel Jones - Rating: 77
Here are my thoughts on Jones in the draft process:
Jones is that one QB prospect that seems to come out every year who has the size, the arm, but just didn't play that well in college. Jones had little talent around him in Duke, so that's an excuse to not play very well, but it makes QB evaluation difficult. Jones was the talk of the preseason as he looked great against 2nd stringers. It's hard to say how this will translate to real NFL play. I'll give him a high ranking since it appears his chances of living up to his potential are higher than I thought.
#7 NO - Teddy Bridgewater - Rating: 76
2018 Rank: 6th
Bridgewater is a capable game manager who can certainly not lose a game for you, but whether he could fully use New Orleans' gauntlet of weapons to their true potential is up for debate. In my opinion he's one of the league's better backups and a perfectly fine placeholder if Brees misses a few games.
Teddy got a new deal that gives him $7.25M this season, which makes him the NFL's highest paid backup. His one start last season went poorly, but it was more of a preseason game. I've given him a small downgrade because I think this offensive upside isn't quite as high as some backup QBs.
#8 HOU - A. J. McCarron - Rating: 76
2018 Rank: 9th
Oakland didn't want McCarron to return as their backup to Carr, so the Texans brought McCarron in on a one year deal. The media seems to be down on McCarron, but I'll still stand my opinion that he's one of the better backups. He's clearly not NFL-starting caliber (like the Browns did a couple seasons ago), but he's played well when put in the lineup. That's better than most of the other QBs on this list.
#9 WAS - Dwayne Haskins - Rating: 76
My thoughts on Haskins in the pre-draft scouting period:
Haskins is thankfully going to get some time on the bench. That's not a bad thing, as the ultra-talented Haskins just needs time to learn. I'm a little less high on him since an incompetent franchise like Washington drafted him and he had a shaky preseason. That being said, I think his upside is sky-high and he will start sooner than later. I just hope the Skins will be fielding a half-decent roster by that point.
#10 CIN - Ryan Finley - Rating: 76
My thoughts on Finley back in the pre-draft scouting:
Finley had a strong preseason and easily won the backup QB job away from the incompetent Jeff Driskel. He should become one of the best backups QBs in the NFL and perhaps get a crack at a starting job in the distant future.
#11 PIT - Mason Rudolph - Rating: 75
Rudolph, a second year 3rd round pick, was able to defeat Joshua Dobbs for the backup job. Rudolph was a product of the high-flying Oklahoma State offense as he posted three quality seasons there, totalling 13,618/92/26 at the end of his collegiate career. He solidified himself as a Day 2 prospect and could be considered a QB of the future for Pittsburgh. Whether he's a system QB is up for debate, but he had a quality 2019 preseason. It's hard to say how well he'd play in Big Ben's stead, so I'll give him an average rating. He has the upside to eventually become a starter and is an upgrade from many of the veteran retreads that other teams use as backups.
#12 PHI - Josh McCown - Rating: 75
2018 Rank: 2nd
The Eagles successfully coaxed the 40 year old McCown out of retirement after presumed backup Nate Sudfeld broke his wrist in the preseason. McCown was #2 on this list last year, but he's taken a drop due to playing poorly in 3 starts last season. Here is what I wrote last year:
"Not only was McCown a bad QB throughout his prime, but he retired and worked as a high school football coach... until the Bears called him out of retirement, and proceeded to see the Bucs, Browns, and Jets named him their Opening Day starter since. McCown has inexplicably turned into a much better QB who nearly single handedly made the Jets somewhat relevant last season. Unfortunately, at this point in his career, he's made out of glass, so he's missed lots of time without starting, but that won't be a concern as a backup. He was a legitimate starting QB last season, making him one of the best backups in the league. If this is his last year, it'll be quite the bizarre career that somehow turned into a good story, and that's why I love the NFL."
#13 NE - Jarrett Stidham - Rating: 75
It's impressive to see that Stidham is already backing up Tom Brady in his first season. The 4th rounder struggled at Auburn in 2018, putting up a 2794/18/5 60.7% line in 13 starts, and it seemed his chances of being a high draft pick waned. However, scouts like his arm and his decision-making ability, so it shouldn't have been a surprise to see the Patriots swoop in and draft him. Stidham was so impressive over the preseason that the Patriots axed Brian Hoyer, who's already one of the league's best backups. Stidham would do well to join that list of very good backups in the future.
#14 NYJ - Trevor Siemian - Rating: 75
2018 Rank: 12th
Siemian has experience and a winning record, but he's not a good QB. He's a passable backup that could do fine in a pinch, but would likely fall apart if exposed to multiple starts in a row. He has the upside to throw some quality starts out there, but his floor is frighteningly low.
#15 CHI - Chase Daniel - Rating: 75
2018 Rank: 10th
Daniel got two starts with Trubisky injured. He won one of them, beating the Lions handily, but the loss came against the Giants in OT. While Daniel showed the propensity to check the ball down a lot, he did lead them to a big comeback against the Giants that came up short. But he also tossed 2 interceptions (and a 3rd that was dropped) and fumbled 4 times! Daniel is getting a minor downgrade.
#16 KC - Matt Moore - Rating: 74
Moore was out of the NFL last season, but the Chiefs plucked him out of his pseudo-retirement to be a backup once again. I regarded Moore as one of the best backup QBs in the NFL from 2012 to 2017, as he was a solid passer with a decent 15-15 record. However, in 2017, Moore went 0-2 and played rather poorly. Now at age 35, I've marked him down due to regression and age. He'll need to channel his inner Josh McCown if he wants to get a high ranking here.
#17 BAL - Robert Griffin III - Rating: 74
2018 Rank: 17th
RG3 appears to be locked in the backup role with Lamar Jackson as the full time starter now. I haven't seen any reason to bump his rating up or down yet.
#18 DEN - Drew Lock - Rating: 74
My notes on Lock coming into the draft:
Preseason Notes: Lock looked awful this preseason, injured his finger, and landed on the IR. Nice job, rookie. I was ready to give him a 77-78 rating since I liked his college tape, but perhaps I misjudged the transition from Missouri to the NFL. A season on the bench won't hurt, though I wonder if Flacco will be cooked by the time he's ready to come off the IR. You'll find the current Broncos backup further down the list.
#19 OAK - Mike Glennon - Rating: 74
Thank goodness Glennon defeated Nathan Peterman for the backup job. Glennon is mediocre in his own right, but he's at least a passable backup. He spent the 2018 season as the 3rd stringer until the Cardinals dumped Sam Bradford off in a ditch on an Arizonan highway. Before then, the Bears gave an embarrassing amount of money to Glennon so that he could humiliate himself for 3 starts and then get benched for Mitch Trubisky. Glennon actually looked good back when he was a rookie for the Bucs, but that was a long time ago. Most of the QBs on this list have improved with age, at least until hitting their early 30s. Glennon is the opposite, as he's gotten worse as he hit his prime. I think he still has upside to play better if he gets a better system put in place around him, but I can't say I think Oakland is the place where that's going to happen.
#20 SEA - Geno Smith - Rating: 74
2018 Rank: 14th
Smith is now on to his 4th different backup job in 4 seasons. I seem to be higher on him than your average NFL fan, as I think he's better than he was back when he was a Jet. He wasn't bad this preseason, though his completion % was rather low. I think the Seahawks would be alright if he had to start a game or two.
#21 KC - Chad Henne - Rating: 74
2018 Rank: 15th
What's this?! Another update? That's right, Henne fractured his ankle in the preseason. Just great. The Chiefs placed him on the IR instead of waiving him with an injury settlement, so he'll likely get his backup job back if they decide to take him off the IR, so I'll count him here in the backup rankings.
My thoughts remain the same on Henne now, but he's starting to get old - he's going to be 34 this season. It may be time to start developing a younger QB to be the Chiefs backup behind franchise QB Pat Mahomes.
#22 BUF - Matt Barkley - Rating: 73
Barkley competed with Jeff Driskel for Cincinnati's backup job in 2018 and he failed to win it. He ended up in Buffalo after the Bills' QB group went haywire - Nathan Peterman was exposed as a sentient dumpster fire, Josh Allen got injured, and Derek Anderson was awful and quickly re-retired. Barkley was asked to start one game, and it went incredibly well - they crushed the Jets 41-10, as Barkley had a solid (232/2/0 60% 9.3 Y/A) performance. Just this was enough for the Bills to give him a 2 year $4M extension as their new backup.
Barkley was horrendous as a 4th round prospect for Philadelphia and was also awful for the Bears in 2016. It seemed his time in the NFL was up until the Bills gave him a call, and for many backup QBs, that's all you need to get back on a list like this. However, I have a hard time believing that Barkley can be an NFL backup after just a single game. Barkley has a poor arm and isn't very accurate, so I can't rank him very high.
#23 MIA - Josh Rosen - Rating: 73
2018 Rank: 5th
On last year's backup QB ranking list, I put Baker Mayfield, Lamar Jackson, and Josh Rosen all in the top 10. With hindsight, I can say I was definitely right about Mayfield & Jackson, but definitely wrong on Rosen. Here's what I said last year:
Rosen was brutal in his rookie season, though a big part of that was thanks to having an atrocious offensive line. He tossed only 11 TDs and threw 13 picks and fumbled the ball 10 times. He looked like a statue in the pocket and appeared to lack basic QB instincts. Not only that, but he seemed to lose the team, and he didn't seem to have a sense of leadership. Perhaps those nitpicks about his personality around draft time 2018 were on point.
Rosen doesn't have much chance to make improvements in his second year, thanks to abysmal personnel surrounding him that looks more like an AAF squad than an NFL one. I don't understand why Miami burned a 2nd round pick to get him, when it's obvious they're going to get a QB 1st overall in the 2020 draft. I do think there's hope for Rosen to be a very good backup QB, but this isn't the place where he's going to figure that out. He has been set up to fail... for the second time in his only two years in the NFL!
#24 JAX - Joshua Dobbs - Rating: 73
2018 Rank: 16th
Dobbs was ousted by Mason Rudolph this season. Rudolph thoroughly outplayed him this preseason, leading to Dobbs getting traded for a 5th round pick. Dobbs gets a minor downgrade for his poor preseason play, but he remains a below average, but not quite terrible backup in my book.
#25 CLE - Drew Stanton - Rating: 73
I didn't get to talk about Drew Stanton last year because he was the 3rd stringer behind Mayfield and Taylor last season. The Browns are moving forward with him as the backup with Tyrod out of the picture. Stanton got a few starts with the awful Lions squad back in 2009-10, and since has been the Colts and Cardinals backup QB. In Arizona, he went 9-4 as a backup, which shocked me - especially since his pass completion % was among the lowest in the NFL in that stretch (about 47%!). I'm not sure if Drew still has what it takes at age 34, and I think the Browns would suffer greatly if anything ever happened to Mayfield.
#26 ARZ - Brett Hundley - Rating: 73
2018 Rank: 22nd
The Seahawks did not want Hundley to return as the backup, so Hundley found himself in Arizona on a one year deal to backup Kyler Murray. It makes sense as both Murray and Hundley are explosive scramblers. I won't change his rating this year.
#27 MIN - Sean Mannion - Rating: 72
2018 Rank: 33rd
The Vikings decided to move on from Trevor Siemian and settled for a downgrade in Mannion. They opted to give Mannion the job since he was Sean McVay's backup QB for a couple years, ousting the more exciting option, Kyle Sloter. Mannion at least had a much better preseason and completed some good-looking passes. He's still a statue in the pocket and neither has experience nor talent, so despite climbing the ladder a bit, he's still not a good backup.
#28 CAR - Kyle Allen - Rating: 72
Allen has gone from a non-prospect UDFA to the Panthers backup QB job in just a single year. Allen was able to get on the Panthers' roster after Newton was injured and then his backup, Taylor Heinicke, got injured. Allen got one hurt and played very well 266/2/0 64.5% 8.6 Y/A, though it was more of a preseason game. Allen has defeated Heinicke and third round rookie Will Grier for the backup job.
Allen couldn't maintain a starting job in college, as he bounced from Texas A&M to Houston and never played that well. It's hard to see him maintaining his play from his one NFL start, but he at least showed some promise with a decent arm and some maneuverability in the pocket. Allen had a rough preseason, completing just 53% of his passes with no TDs, so he's earned a low ranking. He'll have time to improve that, but Grier wasn't drafted in the 3rd round to be a 3rd string QB.
#29 PHI - Nate Sudfeld - Rating: 72
2018 Rank: 28th
Sudfeld injured his wrist in the preseason, leading to the McCown signing. Sudfeld appears to be the favorite once he's healthy, but I don't really see the upside here. Eagles fans keep telling me he's going to be a good backup, but I don't see it. His preseason stats were fine, and he's 6'6" with a big arm, so he can make some sexy plays, but I'm unsure whether he has the accuracy to do the job. I just never saw him as a draftable QB in the first place, and I'm sticking to my guns.
#30 DAL - Cooper Rush - Rating: 72
2018 Rank: 27th
Nothing has changed here - neither Rush nor White have impressed, and White earned himself the pink slip. Rush hasn't been all that impressive, but they're sticking with him for a 3rd straight season. I guess they get points for continuity?
#31 GB - Tim Boyle - Rating: 72
Wow... the Packers gave up on DeShone Kizer just a year in, after getting 3 cheap years of control of him. Taking the backup role in his place... a 2nd year UDFA named Tim Boyle. Boyle was the starting QB for Connecticut, but couldn't even keep his job due to a truly abysmal 1237/1/13 48.4% line. Yes, you read that right, that's 1 TD to 13 interceptions. After spending a year on the practice squad, Boyle looked much better than Kizer in the preseason with a 356/6/0 59.6% line. He's at least learned how to play QB, but he's a non-prospect with zero NFL experience. He would be in big trouble if/when Rodgers goes down.
#32 ATL - Matt Schaub - Rating: 72
2018 Rank: 19th
Once upon a time Schaub was a solid starting QB for the Texans. However, after an awful final season in Houston in 2013, he's bounced around as a backup and now he's in line to be the backup QB for Atlanta for the third straight season. He's already 36 years old and his last decent season was in 2012... he's not a good backup. Atlanta should consider developing a young backup to replace him soon.
Recently, the 37 year old Schaub has begun to fossilize. The Falcons still don't have a plan behind him, not even a promising UDFA QB. He gets a tick down due to age and looking bad in the preseason.
#33 TB - Ryan Griffin - Rating: 72
2018 Rank: 30th
It is currently unclear who Winston's backup will be because they are carrying 3 QBs, and Blaine Gabbert had a shoulder injury. I would guess they're going to make Gabbert their backup when he's healthy. Griffin is their backup now, so let's see what I wrote about him last year:
Griffin played better in the 2019 preseason (744/4/2 65.2%, 8.1 Y/A) and should be the backup over Gabbert. I can't say I have much confidence in the soon-to-be 30 year old who has never been given a chance to be a full-time backup QB... but with the way Jameis Winston plays, he might get a chance to get his first career start sooner than later.
#34 JAX - Gardner Minshew - Rating: 71
Gardner was not on my radar I had him as an undraftable prospect. He was a system QB at Washington State, starting one season and lighting things up with a 4779/38/9 70.7% line. Most evaluators didn't think much of him despite these stats, as I've read some thought he has a weak arm. Minshew ended up as a 6th round pick, which seems about right, but I'm surprised the Jaguars are just handing him the backup QB gig. Gardner would likely be in for a whooping if he had to start games.
Week 1 Update: Well, whadda know, Foles broke his collarbone and Minshew is the starter for the next 8 weeks. Minshew was able to put up some good numbers against Kansas City's crappy defense that was mostly in prevent mode. I doubt he'll continue to put up such good numbers, so I'll continue to bet against him. But good luck, kiddo! Wait... crap, this means I have to write ANOTHER backup QB entry! Dang it!
#35 DET - Josh Johnson - Rating: 71
Johnson was a running QB drafted in the 5th round in 2008. How he is still around to this day at age 33 completely baffles me. His track record is astounding - he's been on the roster of 14 NFL teams (counting multiple stints) and an UFL team in 2012. Johnson stunk back when he made 5 starts for the Bucs, but he was counted upon to start for the Redskins last season after Alex Smith and Colt McCoy broke their legs, and Mark Sanchez humiliated himself for a final time. Josh wasn't very good, but he certainly wasn't at the level of Sanchez "Butt Fumble". The Lions held a backup competition that was rather pathetic, and Johnson was able to defeat Tom Savage. Johnson is a massive downgrade from Stafford and isn't speedy like he was back in his Tampa days. Why and how he clings to relevancy in the NFL is confusing, but also very fascinating.
#36 TB - Blaine Gabbert - Rating: 71
2018 Rank: 32nd
Last year's thoughts on Gabbert:
The maddenly incompetent Blaine "Yo-Gabba-Gabba" Gabbert refuses to die. With awful pocket awareness, terrible accuracy, and basically no upside, all Gabbert has is experience... if you count failure as experience. Gabbert keeps finding himself in starting situations, as he got 5 starts in Arizona before they regained sanity and benched him for Drew Stanton. He somehow lasted for 13 starts in San Fran after Kaepernick bombed out. What a pitiful excuse for a backup QB.
Now 30 years old, Gabbert is still hanging onto an NFL roster, somehow. You might have noticed that Gabbert started 3 games last year for the Titans, and he had a 2-1 record. Then you might remember that the NFL is a team game, and in those 3 games Gabbert and the offense mustered just 13, 0 (he left the game with an injury and the team won 9-6), and 10 points in those games. The Titans did not want him back, and for good reason. Hopefully this is the last year the NFL will have to endure Blaine Gabbert.
#37 DEN - Brandon Allen - Rating: 70
What? Why Brandon Allen? The Jags spent a 6th round pick on the strong-armed QB from Arkansas, but he didn't make the cut in his rookie year. The Rams carried him as their 3rd string QB until they cut him. For some reason, the Broncos are happy with him as their backup until Lock is healthy... Allen stunk in the 2019 preseason, which prompted his release. There were far better options out there, so if something happens to Joe Flacco, the offense is going to collapse. Why they chose Allen over their own UDFA Brett Rypien or someone like Kyle Sloter confuses me.
The Raw Stats:
Other Notes:
QBs no longer on the list
Nick Foles, Baker Mayfield, Josh Allen - now starting
Brandon Weeden, Matt Cassel, Brock Osweiler, Taylor Heinicke - Currently free agents
Kyle Lauletta, Colt McCoy, DeShone Kizer, C.J. Beathard, Nathan Peterman - Now a 3rd string QB/injured
Alright... I've been pumping articles out like crazy the past few weeks, and it's time a took a break. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't pester me about why my backup QB rankings are wrong! Let me know who you think is overrated/underrated, and which QBs you've never heard of before!
I will have a spreadsheet posted at the end that has all of the backup QB stats, so you can refer there for reference. Also, I've included 5 QBs who are currently injured but are either still on the roster or on the IR, so that makes 37 QBs.
The "rating" stat you will see next to the QBs are a "Madden-like" rating that is an arbitrary number. Here is what it translates to:
80+ = Starter
77-79 = Good Backup
75-76 = Decent Backup
73-74 = Shaky Backup
72-71 = Bad Backup / Should be 3rd string
70- = Shouldn't be on an NFL roster
Finally, one last disclaimer. This article is simply my opinion and is based upon the QBs' stats, my evaluations of them watching games, and for some, how I viewed them as QB prospects. I'd love to hear your thoughts regarding these QBs, just please be respectful with your arguments.
Alright, let's get to it!
#1 TEN - Ryan Tannehill - Rating: 80
I should probably lead off with the fact that I was a Tannehill detractor from Day One; back in the 2012 draft, I had Tannehill as a 2nd round prospect at best and I liked Kirk Cousins more. Now, here we are, Tannehill is just a backup. For all the crap I've given him, I'll say this - Tannehill had a decent career in Miami for all that's said and done. With the help of head coach Adam Gase, he improved as a passer and his 2014 season was a solid one (4045/27/12, 66.4%) and eventually got the team to the playoffs in 2016 but got injured. He then missed the 2017 season with an ACL tear, and the 2018 season was a disaster with more injuries and decaying play.
Tannehill was originally a wide receiver in his freshman and sophomore years at Texas A&M, so he was billed as a scrambling QB. This never panned out in the NFL, as he never ran for over 200 yards since 2014. The injuries that racked up proved to be too much.
Enough background, so what about as a backup? Tannehill will be the in the upper echelon of backups due to his extensive experience as a starter and being able to win games with subpar Miami squads. He doesn't have what it takes to win in big matchups and is prone to fall apart, but he will be able to get wins if he needs to start. He could replace Marcus Mariota and play to a very similar level.
#2 SF - Nick Mullens - Rating: 78
Mullens got a shout-out on this article last year, noting that Mullens vastly outplayed C. J. Beathard in the 2018 preseason. Mullens eventually got his chance when Garoppolo blew his ACL and C.J. Beathard failed to get the team any wins, going 0-5. The 49ers gave Mullens a chance in a primetime game when Beathard was a 50-50 chance to play through a minor wrist injury. This was the shot Mullens needed to seize the QB job for himself. He went 3-5 and had a 2277/13/10 64.2% with an astounding 8.3 Y/A. Given that Mullens was a 2nd year UDFA, there's room for improvement, and any steps forward would make him the best backup QB in the NFL and a potential starter. Mullens doesn't have the strongest arm, but he's accurate and had a solid feel for pressure, getting sacked on just 5.8% of dropbacks. He did have a problem getting overaggressive with throwing interceptions, and many of his yards came in garbage time. But with some tweaks and improvements, Nick is among the league's best backups.
#3 LAC - Tyrod Taylor - Rating: 78
Tyrod was the starting QB for the Browns last year, but that lasted a total of 3 games before getting usurped by Baker Mayfield. Taylor was a 6th round pick who lasted 4 years as the backup to Joe Flacco. He hit free agency and was given a chance to be the Bills starting QB, but wasn't the favorite. Against the odds, Tyrod seized the job for 3 seasons and brought the Bills some competency at QB. Taylor was a scrambling QB who amounted 1500 rushing yards for the Bills, while being a decent passer who stayed on the conservative side. He rarely ever threw interceptions, too. He did take too many sacks, and after his first season in 2015, his played declined and the Browns acquired him in a trade. However, the magic appeared to be gone. Not only did Taylor check the ball down constantly, his accuracy dipped and at age 29, his speed started to decline.
With that in mind, Taylor is still one of the best backup QBs in the league. He's definitely capable of getting a team wins. He may be slowing down, but his game manager style meshes well with the role as a clipboard holder. He won't push the needle like he used to, but he's not the type of QB who's going to gamble the game away... you could call him the antithesis of Ryan Fitzpatrick.
#4 IND - Brian Hoyer - Rating: 77
2018 Rank: 8th
The Patriots originally discovered Hoyer as a UDFA and he left down to become a journeyman and a backup for several teams. He's been 'the guy' for Cleveland, Houston, and San Francisco, but after bombing out with the 49ers, he's landed back home. With all this experience, he's definitely one of the best backups in the NFL, and his stats back it up. He posted a 1445/6/0 line up for the Bears two years ago, but since his stint in Houston, his record is 1-10. He'd be able to keep the Patriots afloat for awhile if anything ever happened to Tom Brady.
The Patriots drafted Jarrett Stidham in the 4th round this year, but methinks Hoyer is safe for at least another season. I was wrong! New England straight-up released him!
The Colts landed Hoyer on a three year deal, and I really like this move. Hoyer has usually played well, and the Colts offense seems to be competently coached, so Hoyer remains one of the best backup QBs in the NFL.
#5 LAR - Blake Bortles - Rating: 77
Bortles now descends to the rank of backup QB after failing spectacularly with the Jaguars just a season after a championship run where they nearly knocked the Patriots out. He's landed as the Rams backup after getting benched mid-season in 2018.
Bortles is a hard QB to assess because he's just two seasons removed from a run where he played pretty well. He devastated the Steelers' defense and put up a nice performance against the Patriots. However, even in his best season, he was statistically middling and was reliant on his dominant defense. The team lived and died depending on the defense's condition, and once Bortles needed to win games himself, he was unable to do so. That's how most of his Jacksonville career went - he has a ghastly 24-49 record - and has had some accuracy issues. He's also had a tendency to turn the ball over too much. Bortles is sneakily a good scrambler who can break tackles with his sheer size. You'd imagine under McVay and the Rams offense, Bortles would be at his best if he ever needed to play. I think he's one of the league's best backups, but his defeciencies need to be heavily masked.
#6 NYG - Daniel Jones - Rating: 77
Here are my thoughts on Jones in the draft process:
"I'm not quite sure what to say. The critics and media seem to love this guy as a 1st round talent, but I simply couldn't see it. Heck, I didn't even seen 2nd or 3rd round talent here. Jones' passes were all over the place, and while I do think Jones could be coached up and put in a better environment, well, then all the QBs in this draft class would be 1st round talents. I suppose Jones has the size and arm to be a franchise QB, but how many times have we seen a QB prospect fail albeit how much of a "prototypical QB" he was?"
Jones is that one QB prospect that seems to come out every year who has the size, the arm, but just didn't play that well in college. Jones had little talent around him in Duke, so that's an excuse to not play very well, but it makes QB evaluation difficult. Jones was the talk of the preseason as he looked great against 2nd stringers. It's hard to say how this will translate to real NFL play. I'll give him a high ranking since it appears his chances of living up to his potential are higher than I thought.
#7 NO - Teddy Bridgewater - Rating: 76
2018 Rank: 6th
Bridgewater is a capable game manager who can certainly not lose a game for you, but whether he could fully use New Orleans' gauntlet of weapons to their true potential is up for debate. In my opinion he's one of the league's better backups and a perfectly fine placeholder if Brees misses a few games.
Teddy got a new deal that gives him $7.25M this season, which makes him the NFL's highest paid backup. His one start last season went poorly, but it was more of a preseason game. I've given him a small downgrade because I think this offensive upside isn't quite as high as some backup QBs.
#8 HOU - A. J. McCarron - Rating: 76
2018 Rank: 9th
Oakland didn't want McCarron to return as their backup to Carr, so the Texans brought McCarron in on a one year deal. The media seems to be down on McCarron, but I'll still stand my opinion that he's one of the better backups. He's clearly not NFL-starting caliber (like the Browns did a couple seasons ago), but he's played well when put in the lineup. That's better than most of the other QBs on this list.
#9 WAS - Dwayne Haskins - Rating: 76
My thoughts on Haskins in the pre-draft scouting period:
"Dwayne Haskins played one full year of football at Ohio State, so while I think he will require a full season on the bench of an NFL team, he's definitely my favorite QB of this draft class. Haskins has all of the talent boxes checked, and while he has some refinement needed in his technique, the tape showed that he has NFL-starting talent."
Haskins is thankfully going to get some time on the bench. That's not a bad thing, as the ultra-talented Haskins just needs time to learn. I'm a little less high on him since an incompetent franchise like Washington drafted him and he had a shaky preseason. That being said, I think his upside is sky-high and he will start sooner than later. I just hope the Skins will be fielding a half-decent roster by that point.
#10 CIN - Ryan Finley - Rating: 76
My thoughts on Finley back in the pre-draft scouting:
"Ryan Finley seems like he'll fit into the "game manager" archetype. While he doesn't quite have the exciting toolset that Haskins and Murray have, it wouldn't surprise me if Finley turns out to be the 3rd best QB in this draft class. I like Finley's arm, his throwing movement checks out, and he can place some well-put passes into tight windows. If he doesn't have the personnel around him, he's not going to lead a team to success. He's an old prospect (25), but that won't be a concern on a 4 year rookie deal, especially as a QB (at least he's not Brandon Weeden-old!)."
Finley had a strong preseason and easily won the backup QB job away from the incompetent Jeff Driskel. He should become one of the best backups QBs in the NFL and perhaps get a crack at a starting job in the distant future.
#11 PIT - Mason Rudolph - Rating: 75
Rudolph, a second year 3rd round pick, was able to defeat Joshua Dobbs for the backup job. Rudolph was a product of the high-flying Oklahoma State offense as he posted three quality seasons there, totalling 13,618/92/26 at the end of his collegiate career. He solidified himself as a Day 2 prospect and could be considered a QB of the future for Pittsburgh. Whether he's a system QB is up for debate, but he had a quality 2019 preseason. It's hard to say how well he'd play in Big Ben's stead, so I'll give him an average rating. He has the upside to eventually become a starter and is an upgrade from many of the veteran retreads that other teams use as backups.
#12 PHI - Josh McCown - Rating: 75
2018 Rank: 2nd
The Eagles successfully coaxed the 40 year old McCown out of retirement after presumed backup Nate Sudfeld broke his wrist in the preseason. McCown was #2 on this list last year, but he's taken a drop due to playing poorly in 3 starts last season. Here is what I wrote last year:
"Not only was McCown a bad QB throughout his prime, but he retired and worked as a high school football coach... until the Bears called him out of retirement, and proceeded to see the Bucs, Browns, and Jets named him their Opening Day starter since. McCown has inexplicably turned into a much better QB who nearly single handedly made the Jets somewhat relevant last season. Unfortunately, at this point in his career, he's made out of glass, so he's missed lots of time without starting, but that won't be a concern as a backup. He was a legitimate starting QB last season, making him one of the best backups in the league. If this is his last year, it'll be quite the bizarre career that somehow turned into a good story, and that's why I love the NFL."
#13 NE - Jarrett Stidham - Rating: 75
It's impressive to see that Stidham is already backing up Tom Brady in his first season. The 4th rounder struggled at Auburn in 2018, putting up a 2794/18/5 60.7% line in 13 starts, and it seemed his chances of being a high draft pick waned. However, scouts like his arm and his decision-making ability, so it shouldn't have been a surprise to see the Patriots swoop in and draft him. Stidham was so impressive over the preseason that the Patriots axed Brian Hoyer, who's already one of the league's best backups. Stidham would do well to join that list of very good backups in the future.
#14 NYJ - Trevor Siemian - Rating: 75
2018 Rank: 12th
After Peyton Manning retired, the Broncos drafted Paxton Lynch, but somehow a 7th rounder broke through and impressed Denver's staff enough to win the starting job and hold it for a second season. He managed the team well in 2016 with a 8-6 record, but the wheels fell off after a hot start in 2017 when he was benched for Brock Osweiler. He's now bounced from the Vikings to the Jets as a clear backup.
Siemian has experience and a winning record, but he's not a good QB. He's a passable backup that could do fine in a pinch, but would likely fall apart if exposed to multiple starts in a row. He has the upside to throw some quality starts out there, but his floor is frighteningly low.
#15 CHI - Chase Daniel - Rating: 75
2018 Rank: 10th
Daniel is one of those guys who make you say "why?" because he has no game experience yet he's going to be 32 years old. He backed up Drew Brees for his first three seasons, Alex Smith in KC for another 3, signed a 3 year $24M deal (!!!) with the Eagles and backed up Wentz for a year, got cut, backed up Brees for another year, and is now the Bears backup. He is clearly loved by the Reid branch family (Reid/Pederson/Nagy) and Sean Payton. His preseason stats (2043/13/8 - 67.8% 2012-2018) indicate he'd be a solid QB if ever forced into action.
Daniel got two starts with Trubisky injured. He won one of them, beating the Lions handily, but the loss came against the Giants in OT. While Daniel showed the propensity to check the ball down a lot, he did lead them to a big comeback against the Giants that came up short. But he also tossed 2 interceptions (and a 3rd that was dropped) and fumbled 4 times! Daniel is getting a minor downgrade.
#16 KC - Matt Moore - Rating: 74
Moore was out of the NFL last season, but the Chiefs plucked him out of his pseudo-retirement to be a backup once again. I regarded Moore as one of the best backup QBs in the NFL from 2012 to 2017, as he was a solid passer with a decent 15-15 record. However, in 2017, Moore went 0-2 and played rather poorly. Now at age 35, I've marked him down due to regression and age. He'll need to channel his inner Josh McCown if he wants to get a high ranking here.
#17 BAL - Robert Griffin III - Rating: 74
2018 Rank: 17th
You probably know the story on RG3. He vanished out of the NFL last season after losing his burst due to an ACL tear in his rookie season... plus a stint with the Browns will usually kill your career. Robert resurfaced with the Ravens and he surprisingly beat Lamar for the backup job. He didn't do much in the preseason, but without his dynamic scrambling ability, he's just a passable backup. He always had a good arm, but he hasn't done much with it since his rookie season.
RG3 appears to be locked in the backup role with Lamar Jackson as the full time starter now. I haven't seen any reason to bump his rating up or down yet.
#18 DEN - Drew Lock - Rating: 74
My notes on Lock coming into the draft:
"Lock can be considered the "sexy" pick because of his big plays and gunslinger mentality, but he's put up enough tape to not look like a flash in the pan. The critics seem content calling him a 1st round talent, and I agree, but I don't think he's going to be anything great. Lock didn't impress me, but he also didn't disappoint. Draft Rating: 1st-2nd Rounder"
Preseason Notes: Lock looked awful this preseason, injured his finger, and landed on the IR. Nice job, rookie. I was ready to give him a 77-78 rating since I liked his college tape, but perhaps I misjudged the transition from Missouri to the NFL. A season on the bench won't hurt, though I wonder if Flacco will be cooked by the time he's ready to come off the IR. You'll find the current Broncos backup further down the list.
#19 OAK - Mike Glennon - Rating: 74
Thank goodness Glennon defeated Nathan Peterman for the backup job. Glennon is mediocre in his own right, but he's at least a passable backup. He spent the 2018 season as the 3rd stringer until the Cardinals dumped Sam Bradford off in a ditch on an Arizonan highway. Before then, the Bears gave an embarrassing amount of money to Glennon so that he could humiliate himself for 3 starts and then get benched for Mitch Trubisky. Glennon actually looked good back when he was a rookie for the Bucs, but that was a long time ago. Most of the QBs on this list have improved with age, at least until hitting their early 30s. Glennon is the opposite, as he's gotten worse as he hit his prime. I think he still has upside to play better if he gets a better system put in place around him, but I can't say I think Oakland is the place where that's going to happen.
#20 SEA - Geno Smith - Rating: 74
2018 Rank: 14th
Smith's dreadful rookie season with NYJ (3046/12/21) ruins his stat line, as I think he's a competent backup. He lost his starting job due to a teammate breaking a bone in his face due to a punch, and Ryan Fitzpatrick never looked back. He backed up Eli Manning last season and looked like a bland backup in one start. He's not a sexy backup for Rivers, but you don't need one for him - he's never missed a start. Smith will only be as good as the team around him is, but he can provide a little running ability and use his arm for a few deep shots.
Smith is now on to his 4th different backup job in 4 seasons. I seem to be higher on him than your average NFL fan, as I think he's better than he was back when he was a Jet. He wasn't bad this preseason, though his completion % was rather low. I think the Seahawks would be alright if he had to start a game or two.
#21 KC - Chad Henne - Rating: 74
2018 Rank: 15th
What's this?! Another update? That's right, Henne fractured his ankle in the preseason. Just great. The Chiefs placed him on the IR instead of waiving him with an injury settlement, so he'll likely get his backup job back if they decide to take him off the IR, so I'll count him here in the backup rankings.
Henne's been on some terrible Dolphins and Jets teams, and it shows on the stat line. He's a veteran QB who's more name than game. I do think he'd put up better stats with a stronger offense, but it's hard to claim that Henne's a good backup. I think the Chiefs would be able to coax out some decent play from him with the weapons that they have, if it ever came to that.
My thoughts remain the same on Henne now, but he's starting to get old - he's going to be 34 this season. It may be time to start developing a younger QB to be the Chiefs backup behind franchise QB Pat Mahomes.
#22 BUF - Matt Barkley - Rating: 73
Barkley competed with Jeff Driskel for Cincinnati's backup job in 2018 and he failed to win it. He ended up in Buffalo after the Bills' QB group went haywire - Nathan Peterman was exposed as a sentient dumpster fire, Josh Allen got injured, and Derek Anderson was awful and quickly re-retired. Barkley was asked to start one game, and it went incredibly well - they crushed the Jets 41-10, as Barkley had a solid (232/2/0 60% 9.3 Y/A) performance. Just this was enough for the Bills to give him a 2 year $4M extension as their new backup.
Barkley was horrendous as a 4th round prospect for Philadelphia and was also awful for the Bears in 2016. It seemed his time in the NFL was up until the Bills gave him a call, and for many backup QBs, that's all you need to get back on a list like this. However, I have a hard time believing that Barkley can be an NFL backup after just a single game. Barkley has a poor arm and isn't very accurate, so I can't rank him very high.
#23 MIA - Josh Rosen - Rating: 73
2018 Rank: 5th
On last year's backup QB ranking list, I put Baker Mayfield, Lamar Jackson, and Josh Rosen all in the top 10. With hindsight, I can say I was definitely right about Mayfield & Jackson, but definitely wrong on Rosen. Here's what I said last year:
"Rosen, the fourth QB taken in the first round of the draft, could be considered one of the safest prospects in the draft. He's got a strong arm, quality accuracy, good at holding onto the ball, and no off-the-field flaws (no, being a millenial is not a flaw). One of his biggest issues is durability, and he just so happened to miss a couple preseason games with a hand injury. I really like Rosen's game and I think he can at least be a top 20 NFL QB, and he's also pro-ready with plenty of college experience under his belt. He's going to be starting sooner or later with Bradford as the starter."
Rosen was brutal in his rookie season, though a big part of that was thanks to having an atrocious offensive line. He tossed only 11 TDs and threw 13 picks and fumbled the ball 10 times. He looked like a statue in the pocket and appeared to lack basic QB instincts. Not only that, but he seemed to lose the team, and he didn't seem to have a sense of leadership. Perhaps those nitpicks about his personality around draft time 2018 were on point.
Rosen doesn't have much chance to make improvements in his second year, thanks to abysmal personnel surrounding him that looks more like an AAF squad than an NFL one. I don't understand why Miami burned a 2nd round pick to get him, when it's obvious they're going to get a QB 1st overall in the 2020 draft. I do think there's hope for Rosen to be a very good backup QB, but this isn't the place where he's going to figure that out. He has been set up to fail... for the second time in his only two years in the NFL!
#24 JAX - Joshua Dobbs - Rating: 73
2018 Rank: 16th
Joshua Dobbs was a 4th rounder in 2017, but his job was on the line as the Steelers invested a 3rd rounder in Mason Rudolph and Landry Jones had been Ben's backup for quite a while. Everything broke right for Dobbs as he came out on top. He proved himself as the backup with a very good preseason, but he's an unknown at this point. He was a mediocre prospect who has been praised for being intelligent and making good decisions, but his accuracy and arm strength are middling. He probably won't be anything more than a backup, but right now he's on the right track.
Dobbs was ousted by Mason Rudolph this season. Rudolph thoroughly outplayed him this preseason, leading to Dobbs getting traded for a 5th round pick. Dobbs gets a minor downgrade for his poor preseason play, but he remains a below average, but not quite terrible backup in my book.
#25 CLE - Drew Stanton - Rating: 73
I didn't get to talk about Drew Stanton last year because he was the 3rd stringer behind Mayfield and Taylor last season. The Browns are moving forward with him as the backup with Tyrod out of the picture. Stanton got a few starts with the awful Lions squad back in 2009-10, and since has been the Colts and Cardinals backup QB. In Arizona, he went 9-4 as a backup, which shocked me - especially since his pass completion % was among the lowest in the NFL in that stretch (about 47%!). I'm not sure if Drew still has what it takes at age 34, and I think the Browns would suffer greatly if anything ever happened to Mayfield.
#26 ARZ - Brett Hundley - Rating: 73
2018 Rank: 22nd
Like many Packer backup QBs, 5th rounder Brett Hundley was hyped up, and when Rodgers' collarbone broke, it was up to him to carry the mantle. Needless to say he failed and that's why he's in Seattle. Hundley wasn't totally terrible in 2017 and had some fine moments against the Steelers and Bears, but his season was marred by the inability to passes longer than 5 yards, resulting in a putrid 5.7 Y/A (and an uncanny ability to play good football on the road and look putrid at Lambeau field). He's a great scrambler, but the Packers didn't utilize him enough in the run game.
The Seahawks did not want Hundley to return as the backup, so Hundley found himself in Arizona on a one year deal to backup Kyler Murray. It makes sense as both Murray and Hundley are explosive scramblers. I won't change his rating this year.
#27 MIN - Sean Mannion - Rating: 72
2018 Rank: 33rd
Mannion, a former 3rd round pick, put up a 1115/7/2 line in preseason games (not including 2019). Many considered Mannion to be a wasted draft pick, but the Rams seem committed to him. The Rams would be in big trouble if Goff missed an extended period of time, but I think he could develop in an average backup. However, Mannion had an abysmal preseason that even Trevor Siemian would scoff at. His 168/1/2 comes on 46 attempts (!!), averaging an unbelievably low 3.7 Y/A. He shouldn't be on an NFL roster.
The Vikings decided to move on from Trevor Siemian and settled for a downgrade in Mannion. They opted to give Mannion the job since he was Sean McVay's backup QB for a couple years, ousting the more exciting option, Kyle Sloter. Mannion at least had a much better preseason and completed some good-looking passes. He's still a statue in the pocket and neither has experience nor talent, so despite climbing the ladder a bit, he's still not a good backup.
#28 CAR - Kyle Allen - Rating: 72
Allen has gone from a non-prospect UDFA to the Panthers backup QB job in just a single year. Allen was able to get on the Panthers' roster after Newton was injured and then his backup, Taylor Heinicke, got injured. Allen got one hurt and played very well 266/2/0 64.5% 8.6 Y/A, though it was more of a preseason game. Allen has defeated Heinicke and third round rookie Will Grier for the backup job.
Allen couldn't maintain a starting job in college, as he bounced from Texas A&M to Houston and never played that well. It's hard to see him maintaining his play from his one NFL start, but he at least showed some promise with a decent arm and some maneuverability in the pocket. Allen had a rough preseason, completing just 53% of his passes with no TDs, so he's earned a low ranking. He'll have time to improve that, but Grier wasn't drafted in the 3rd round to be a 3rd string QB.
#29 PHI - Nate Sudfeld - Rating: 72
2018 Rank: 28th
A 6th rounder from Indiana, Sudfeld couldn't stay on Washington's roster, but the Eagles needed a body with Wentz hurt last year. If any injury would have happened to Foles, it'd be Sudsy out there. He's a big QB, but he was a barely draftable prospect and I haven't seen anything from him to suggest he's a good backup. His preseason tape was fine, but nothing special. He'll suffice for now, but likely be cut once Wentz is healthy.
Sudfeld injured his wrist in the preseason, leading to the McCown signing. Sudfeld appears to be the favorite once he's healthy, but I don't really see the upside here. Eagles fans keep telling me he's going to be a good backup, but I don't see it. His preseason stats were fine, and he's 6'6" with a big arm, so he can make some sexy plays, but I'm unsure whether he has the accuracy to do the job. I just never saw him as a draftable QB in the first place, and I'm sticking to my guns.
#30 DAL - Cooper Rush - Rating: 72
2018 Rank: 27th
The Cowboys opted to keep both Rush and 5th round rookie Mike White on the roster, but Rush is the current backup. Rush lit up the 2017 preseason and massively outplayed the inept Kellen Moore, but it was different this year. Rush had an awful preseason, but White wasn't much better. Nobody planned on drafting Rush in 2017 and it's likely he'd be overmatched if he ever reached the field. It's surprising the Cowboys didn't find a better backup, but their offensive side of the roster is so thin, I can see why they didn't. They're not going to be winning many games anyways.
Nothing has changed here - neither Rush nor White have impressed, and White earned himself the pink slip. Rush hasn't been all that impressive, but they're sticking with him for a 3rd straight season. I guess they get points for continuity?
#31 GB - Tim Boyle - Rating: 72
Wow... the Packers gave up on DeShone Kizer just a year in, after getting 3 cheap years of control of him. Taking the backup role in his place... a 2nd year UDFA named Tim Boyle. Boyle was the starting QB for Connecticut, but couldn't even keep his job due to a truly abysmal 1237/1/13 48.4% line. Yes, you read that right, that's 1 TD to 13 interceptions. After spending a year on the practice squad, Boyle looked much better than Kizer in the preseason with a 356/6/0 59.6% line. He's at least learned how to play QB, but he's a non-prospect with zero NFL experience. He would be in big trouble if/when Rodgers goes down.
#32 ATL - Matt Schaub - Rating: 72
2018 Rank: 19th
Once upon a time Schaub was a solid starting QB for the Texans. However, after an awful final season in Houston in 2013, he's bounced around as a backup and now he's in line to be the backup QB for Atlanta for the third straight season. He's already 36 years old and his last decent season was in 2012... he's not a good backup. Atlanta should consider developing a young backup to replace him soon.
Recently, the 37 year old Schaub has begun to fossilize. The Falcons still don't have a plan behind him, not even a promising UDFA QB. He gets a tick down due to age and looking bad in the preseason.
#33 TB - Ryan Griffin - Rating: 72
2018 Rank: 30th
It is currently unclear who Winston's backup will be because they are carrying 3 QBs, and Blaine Gabbert had a shoulder injury. I would guess they're going to make Gabbert their backup when he's healthy. Griffin is their backup now, so let's see what I wrote about him last year:
Griffin will be backing up Fitzpatrick due to Winston's suspension. He's a UDFA that Tampa has hung on to after plucking him away from New Orleans, but he's never played in a regular season game before. His preseason stats are not good and I don't like his chances. He doesn't appear to be a NFL-caliber backup.
Griffin played better in the 2019 preseason (744/4/2 65.2%, 8.1 Y/A) and should be the backup over Gabbert. I can't say I have much confidence in the soon-to-be 30 year old who has never been given a chance to be a full-time backup QB... but with the way Jameis Winston plays, he might get a chance to get his first career start sooner than later.
#34 JAX - Gardner Minshew - Rating: 71
Gardner was not on my radar I had him as an undraftable prospect. He was a system QB at Washington State, starting one season and lighting things up with a 4779/38/9 70.7% line. Most evaluators didn't think much of him despite these stats, as I've read some thought he has a weak arm. Minshew ended up as a 6th round pick, which seems about right, but I'm surprised the Jaguars are just handing him the backup QB gig. Gardner would likely be in for a whooping if he had to start games.
Week 1 Update: Well, whadda know, Foles broke his collarbone and Minshew is the starter for the next 8 weeks. Minshew was able to put up some good numbers against Kansas City's crappy defense that was mostly in prevent mode. I doubt he'll continue to put up such good numbers, so I'll continue to bet against him. But good luck, kiddo! Wait... crap, this means I have to write ANOTHER backup QB entry! Dang it!
#35 DET - Josh Johnson - Rating: 71
Johnson was a running QB drafted in the 5th round in 2008. How he is still around to this day at age 33 completely baffles me. His track record is astounding - he's been on the roster of 14 NFL teams (counting multiple stints) and an UFL team in 2012. Johnson stunk back when he made 5 starts for the Bucs, but he was counted upon to start for the Redskins last season after Alex Smith and Colt McCoy broke their legs, and Mark Sanchez humiliated himself for a final time. Josh wasn't very good, but he certainly wasn't at the level of Sanchez "Butt Fumble". The Lions held a backup competition that was rather pathetic, and Johnson was able to defeat Tom Savage. Johnson is a massive downgrade from Stafford and isn't speedy like he was back in his Tampa days. Why and how he clings to relevancy in the NFL is confusing, but also very fascinating.
#36 TB - Blaine Gabbert - Rating: 71
2018 Rank: 32nd
Last year's thoughts on Gabbert:
The maddenly incompetent Blaine "Yo-Gabba-Gabba" Gabbert refuses to die. With awful pocket awareness, terrible accuracy, and basically no upside, all Gabbert has is experience... if you count failure as experience. Gabbert keeps finding himself in starting situations, as he got 5 starts in Arizona before they regained sanity and benched him for Drew Stanton. He somehow lasted for 13 starts in San Fran after Kaepernick bombed out. What a pitiful excuse for a backup QB.
Now 30 years old, Gabbert is still hanging onto an NFL roster, somehow. You might have noticed that Gabbert started 3 games last year for the Titans, and he had a 2-1 record. Then you might remember that the NFL is a team game, and in those 3 games Gabbert and the offense mustered just 13, 0 (he left the game with an injury and the team won 9-6), and 10 points in those games. The Titans did not want him back, and for good reason. Hopefully this is the last year the NFL will have to endure Blaine Gabbert.
#37 DEN - Brandon Allen - Rating: 70
What? Why Brandon Allen? The Jags spent a 6th round pick on the strong-armed QB from Arkansas, but he didn't make the cut in his rookie year. The Rams carried him as their 3rd string QB until they cut him. For some reason, the Broncos are happy with him as their backup until Lock is healthy... Allen stunk in the 2019 preseason, which prompted his release. There were far better options out there, so if something happens to Joe Flacco, the offense is going to collapse. Why they chose Allen over their own UDFA Brett Rypien or someone like Kyle Sloter confuses me.
The Raw Stats:
Other Notes:
QBs no longer on the list
Nick Foles, Baker Mayfield, Josh Allen - now starting
Brandon Weeden, Matt Cassel, Brock Osweiler, Taylor Heinicke - Currently free agents
Kyle Lauletta, Colt McCoy, DeShone Kizer, C.J. Beathard, Nathan Peterman - Now a 3rd string QB/injured
Alright... I've been pumping articles out like crazy the past few weeks, and it's time a took a break. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't pester me about why my backup QB rankings are wrong! Let me know who you think is overrated/underrated, and which QBs you've never heard of before!
He can be reunited with Siemian for the 3rd team, and finally be ahead of him on the depth chart where he belongs.
