By Marvin Moore – June 28, 2023
Backup quarterbacks can make or break NFL teams with playoff aspirations. It is one of the few non-starting jobs in professional sports that fans notice and discuss seriously throughout the season.
The Philadelphia Eagles captured the franchise’s first Super Bowl title in 2017 after Nick Foles relieved an injured Carson Wentz and guided Philly over Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. Unfortunately, only a few teams have reserve signal-callers capable of leading their teams to the promised land.
Below are the backup quarterbacks with the talent to take the reins of a Super Bowl contender and make a deep postseason run.
1. Trey Lance, San Francisco 49ers
The third overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft suffered a season-ending ankle injury in Week 2 last year. The North Dakota State product is a legitimate dual-threat quarterback who rushed for 1,100 yards in 2019 while leading the Bison to the 2020 NCAA Division I Football Championship. The 23-year-old playmaker has excellent athleticism and is the favorite to outlast Sam Darnold for the 49ers’ No. 2 gig.
2. Jameis Winston, New Orleans Saints
The top overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, Winston’s once-promising career has been derailed by injuries and interceptions. The 2013 Heisman Trophy winner has posted 139 career passing touchdowns and still has a big-time arm. The 29-year-old will backup free agent acquisition Derek Carr and boast 80 career starting assignments, making him one of the league’s top reserve quarterbacks this upcoming season.
3. Jarrett Stidham, Denver Broncos
A first-team All-SEC performer in 2017, Stidham posted 365 yards and three touchdowns in the 37-34 overtime loss to the San Francisco 49ers last season. The former fourth-round pick parlayed his late-season success with the Las Vegas Raiders into a two-year, $10 million contract with the Denver Broncos. The 26-year-old has excellent arm strength and is Sean Payton’s insurance policy if Russell Wilson falters in 2023.
4. Andy Dalton, Carolina Panthers
The “Red Rifle” still has a lot left in the tank despite turning 36 during the second month of the upcoming season. The Texas native has logged 162 NFL starts and completed a career-high 66.7 percent of his passes a year ago. The former Texas Christian University standout has tallied 38,150 passing yards and 244 touchdowns over 12 NFL campaigns. If No. 1 pick Bryce Young struggles, Dalton could be back under center for the rebuilding Panthers.
5. Drew Lock, Seattle Seahawks
The former second-round pick was the favorite the land the Seahawks starting job after the Denver Broncos included him in the trade package to acquire Russell Wilson. However, journeyman quarterback Geno Smith was named the starter and put together a magical season that cemented his status as Seattle’s leading man. Lock has a big-time arm, and the 2017 first-team All-SEC gunslinger is only 26 years old. An injury to Smith will provide Lock the opportunity that never materialized last season.
