With the benching of Kirk Cousins on Tuesday for rookie Michael Penix Jr., the Atlanta Falcons both took a step nearer to quarterback purgatory or made a daring transfer that can give them hope for the long run.
This is how Yardbarker NFL writers price the extent of concern at QB for all NFC groups, with “1” denoting no concern and “5” denoting deep concern.
NFC East
DALLAS COWBOYS (6-8) | 2 | With $231M in ensures as a part of his new contract, Dak Prescott isn’t going anyplace till no less than 2028, when his lifeless cap quantity drops to $34M. Prescott gained three video games earlier than heading to the IR with a hamstring harm. That is the identical variety of wins backup Cooper Rush has this season.
NEW YORK GIANTS (2-12) | 5 | Daniel Jones is not a priority now that he’s on the Vikings’ observe squad, though $22M in lifeless cap cash will maintain New York’s consideration. The Giants don’t have any QBs underneath contract for 2025 however might land Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders or Miami’s Cam Ward within the 2025 NFL Draft.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (12-2) | 1 | After two subpar begins and every week of getting his relationship with broad receiver A.J. Brown dissected by the nationwide media, Jalen Hurts silenced critics by passing for 290 yards and two touchdowns in a 27-13 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 15. Hurts lacks the consistency of MVP candidates Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson, however neither of these QBs outplayed the Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes in Tremendous Bowl LVII, as Hurts did.
WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (9-5) | 1 | Jayden Daniels is clearly the most effective QB from the 2024 rookie crop. He’s the NFL’s Fifteenth-leading passer (3,045 yards) and has posted the fifth-best QBR (67.9) and fourth-highest completion share (70.5). Assuming Washington re-signs backup Marcus Mariota for 2025, the Commanders could have probably the most gifted and skilled duos within the NFL. — Bruce Ewing
NFC West
ARIZONA CARDINALS (7-7) | 3 | It is a story of two seasons for Kyler Murray, who seemed like a sleeper MVP candidate within the first half of the season for a shocking Cardinals staff that had taken the lead within the NFC West. However his play has regressed within the second half as Arizona’s playoff hopes have light. Murray now appears like a second-tier QB whose contract is one of the worst in the NFL.
LOS ANGELES RAMS (8-6) | 1 | Within the second half of the season, Matthew Stafford has performed like he’s 26 as an alternative of 36. Over the previous 5 video games, the Rams are 4-1 and now are first within the division. Throughout that span, Stafford has 10 TD passes and 0 interceptions.
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (6-8) | 3 | Brock Purdy (15 TD passes, 9 picks) has principally performed effectively, which is sort of the issue. Given the harm scenario on offense, the 49ers want Purdy to be extra than simply “nice,” particularly since they need to make an enormous determination this offseason on whether or not or to not make him one of many NFL’s highest-paid QBs.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (8-6) | 5 | Geno Smith is wildly inconsistent (14 TD passes however 13 interceptions). As common as he’s, Smith continues to be considerably higher than backup Sam Howell, who might need to start out if Smith is unable to play due to a knee harm he suffered in Week 15. — Adam Gretz
NFC North
CHICAGO BEARS (4-10) | 3 | Caleb Williams will possible be the starter for no less than the subsequent 4 seasons, however he hasn’t lived as much as the expectations of a No. 1 draft decide but, rating nineteenth in passing yards (2,937) and thirty sixth in completion share (61.9). Chicago has no nice contingency plan if one thing sudden occurs to Williams. 2023 undrafted free agent Tyson Bagent is the one different QB on the roster.
DETROIT LIONS (12-2) | 2 | If it weren’t for his five-interception sport towards the Houston Texans in Week 10, Jared Goff can be within the thick of the MVP race with Buffalo Payments QB Josh Allen and Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson. Understanding he can have an off sport of that magnitude on any given week is a slight trigger for concern, however Goff has proved he can bounce again. (He has only one interception in 5 begins since Week 10).
GREEN BAY PACKERS (10-4) | 1 | After throwing 11 interceptions in his first eight begins since signing a four-year, $220 million extension within the offseason, Jordan Love has discovered his rhythm and performed turnover-free the previous 4 video games. Backing up Love, Malik Willis has proved to be a serviceable substitute. He led Inexperienced Bay to back-to-back wins early within the season following an harm that sidelined Love.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS (12-2) | 1 | Minnesota assembled the deepest QB room within the league by signing Sam Darnold within the 2024 offseason and drafting former Michigan star J.J. McCarthy within the first spherical of the 2024 NFL Draft. Plus, in late November, the Vikings signed former New York Giants starter Daniel Jones. If the Vikings fail to re-sign Darnold and Jones, who’re on expiring contracts, they’ll stay set on the place with McCarthy. — Josh Eaton
NFC South
ATLANTA FALCONS (7-7) | 5 | Atlanta’s plan to sit down rookie Michael Penix Jr. the complete season and be taught underneath veteran Kirk Cousins (18 TD passes, 16 interceptions) blew up in its face Tuesday when head coach Raheem Morris benched Cousins for the 2023 Heisman finalist. The Cousins signing is a catastrophe, and the scenario might be even worse if 24-year-old Penix flops, which is feasible considering the spotty history of older rookie QBs.
CAROLINA PANTHERS (3-11) | 3 | Second-year QB Bryce Younger (eight TD passes, 9 interceptions) has made minor strides after his benching earlier this season and possibly earned a 3rd season as Carolina’s beginning QB. Whether or not the Younger experiment lasts past that continues to be to be seen.
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (5-9) | 5 | Starter Derek Carr has missed 4 video games due to harm this season and is owed $30 million if on the roster on the third day of the 2025 league 12 months, however backups Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener are a mixed 0-4 in 4 begins. New Orleans has a bleak instant future, and its QB uncertainty is central to its cloudy outlook.
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (8-6) | 1 | The Bucs are the envy of the NFC South at QB. Starter Baker Mayfield has a career-best 70.8 p.c completion share and probably the most landing passes of his seven-year profession (32) with three regular-season video games remaining. — Eric Smithling
