QB2: 19 NFL Teams Could Have a Problem in 2023

Nobody gives it much thought in the NFL until the starter goes down.

We’re talking about the backup quarterback (QB).

Don’t look now, but 19 teams in the league will have something to address this coming off-season.

The Bills, Jets, Dolphins, Texans, Jaguars, Bengals, Browns, Broncos, Chiefs, Raiders, Chargers, Cowboys, Eagles, Commanders, Lions, Vikings, Saints, Buccaneers, and Seahawks have a QB2 (espn.com) who is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent (FA) in 2023.

Who will hold the clipboards?

Of course, some backups Case Keenum (Bills), Joe Flacco (Jets), Teddy Bridgewater (Dolphins), Kyle Allen (Texans), C.J. Beathard (Jaguars), Brandon Allen (Bengals), Jacoby Brissett (Browns), Brett Rypien (Broncos), Chad Henne (Chiefs), Jarrett Stidham (Raiders), Chase Daniel (Chargers), Cooper Rush (Cowboys), Gardner Minshew (Eagles), Taylor Heinicke (Commanders), Nate Sudfeld (Lions), Nick Mullens (Vikings), Andy Dalton (Saints), Blaine Gabbert (Buccaneers), Drew Lock (Seahawks), will either re-up or find new homes.

However, some of these backups could be reaching the end of their careers, or their respective teams may want to bring in fresh talent from the draft to upgrade the position.

Hall-of-Fame Coach Joe Gibbs said the backup QB was the second-most important position on the team.

NFL teams want efficient backups

When it comes to the backup QB, efficiency is the buzzword.

In other words, teams want a backup who can come into the game and not lose it.

Even better are the backups who are a step above that and can come in and make some plays too.

Backups who have shown they can protect the football and not take stupid chances by throwing into triple coverage are an added plus.

The best 2023 NFL Draft QB2 prospects

Grayson McCall (Coastal Carolina, second-round grade, NFL comparable: Chase Daniel) McCall defines the word efficient. In 2021, he achieved the highest QB efficiency ranking in college football since 1956 (207.65). He’s tough, mobile, has a strong arm and he has shown good ball placement on film at the short to intermediate ranges.

2021 TD to INT ratio: 27:3

Hendon Hooker (Tennessee, second-round grade, NFL comparable: Tyrod Taylor) An athletic dual-threat with a lively arm and good downfield ball placement. Hooker keeps fighting back and he does not give up. The icing on the cake is his viable deep passing game.

2021 TD to INT ratio: 31:3

Jaren Hall (BYU, second-round grade, NFL comparable: Charlie Batch) An athletic instinctual passer with an average arm who has a knack of making something out of nothing. He is just as good of an athlete as Jets’ starter Zach Wilson and he does a much better job of protecting the football.

2021 TD to INT ratio: 20:5

Jayden Daniels (LSU, second-round grade, NFL comparable: Randall Cunningham) I realize his 2021 TD to INT. ratio was too high, but he seems to have cleaned that up this season (5:0) through the first two games after transferring. There is just something about Daniels. He’s an athletic dual-threat with a strong arm and he shows good downfield placement.

2021 TD to INT ratio: 10:10

The Rest

D.J. Uiagalelei (Clemson, third-round grade, NFL comparable: Teddy Bridgewater) An athletic playmaker with strong intangibles. He is able to move around and make defenses adjust to him. There are inconsistencies at the intermediate to deep route throwing levels, but he does have the arm to get it there.

2021 TD to INT ratio: 9:10

Jake Haener (Fresno State, third-round grade, NFL comparable: Ty Detmer) A mobile, competitive, and smart-looking prospect. His biggest drawback is the lack of arm strength and he needs larger throwing windows to have success.

2021 TD to INT ratio: 33:9

Tyler Van Dyke (Miami, third-round grade, NFL comparable: Stan Humphries) A real spark plug who aggressively and erratically drives the ball downfield with a strong arm.

2021 TD to INT ratio: 25:6

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He currently writes for Sports Illustrated New York Jets and he is the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. He can be followed on Twitter @firstroundmock.