NFC backup QB situations: How does your team rate?

Only nine NFL starting quarterbacks played in all 17 regular-season games in 2023, per The Florida Times-Union, so having a capable backup or two on a roster is vital. 

Heading into the 2024 season, some teams have good backup plans (Dallas Cowboys, Los Angeles Rams) while others are flirting with disaster (Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Commanders).

We asked Yardbarker's NFL writers to evaluate the backup QB situations for all 16 NFC teams, assigning each a rating from "1" (terrific) to "5" (terrible).

NFC East

DALLAS COWBOYS | Backups: Cooper Rush, Trey Lance | Rating: 2 |  Lance hasn’t played badly in two preseason games (40-of-64 for 339 yards, one TD pass), but he hasn’t offered the leverage the team hoped for in terms of contract negotiations with starting quarterback Dak Prescott, a free agent in 2025. Rush gave the Cowboys four straight wins when Prescott sat out with a thumb injury in 2022, leaving the team in good shape should the No. 1 quarterback miss time in 2024.

NEW YORK GIANTS | Backups: Drew Lock, Tommy DeVito | Rating: 3 | A second-round pick of the Broncos in 2019, Lock has 28 TD passes, 23 interceptions and 13 fumbles in 28 games with Denver and Seattle. He missed Saturday’s game against the Texans with an oblique injury suffered in the team’s first preseason game, but DeVito — who went 3-2 in relief of starter Daniel Jones last season — couldn’t take advantage, averaging 3.9 yards per attempt.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES | Backups: Kenny Pickett, Tanner McKee, Will Grier | Rating: 4 | Pickett went 14-10 in 24 starts over two seasons with the Steelers, throwing for 13 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. On Thursday night against the Patriots, he was thoroughly outplayed by third-stringer McKee, who went 15-of-19 for 140 yards. Last preseason, McKee got the better of No. 2 quarterback Marcus Mariota, but because he has no regular-season experience, the backup quarterback position behind starter Jalen Hurts appears to be in Pickett’s famously small hands.

WASHINGTON COMMANDERS | Backups: Marcus Mariota, Jeff Driskel, Sam Hartman | Rating: 5 | Mariota, a nine-year veteran and a former starter, had only 15 attempts with the Eagles last season. Driskel, who played one game for the Bengals last season, is playing for his sixth team. Hartman, an undrafted free agent from Notre Dame, missed Saturday’s game against the Dolphins with a shoulder injury suffered in Washington’s first preseason game. — Bruce Ewing

NFC West

ARIZONA CARDINALS | Backups: Desmond Ridder, Clayton Tune | Rating: 4 | All backup quarterbacks must protect the ball, but Ridder was so turnover-prone in Atlanta (12 interceptions and 15 fumbles in only 19 games) that the Falcons gave up on him just two years after selecting him in the third round. If starter Kyler Murray misses extended time, the Cardinals are doomed.

LOS ANGELES RAMS | Backups: Jimmy Garoppolo, Stetson Bennett | Rating: 2 | Bennett is extremely unproven and a major wild card given he missed his rookie season, but Jimmy G. is a capable backup who has shown he can win games as a starter. He will miss the first two games of the season because of a suspension, but he'll be a strong backup behind starter Matthew Stafford.

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS | Backups: Brandon Allen, Joshua Dobbs | Rating: 2 | Allen and Dobbs are seasoned veterans who should have no problem filling in for a game or two if they need to replace starter Brock Purdy. Dobbs is an especially intriguing option because of his athleticism and ability to make plays with his feet.

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS | Backups: Sam Howell, PJ Walker | Rating: 3 | Howell threw for 3,946 yards as a starter for the Washington Commanders in 2023 but also tossed a league-leading 21 interceptions. If he cuts down on the turnovers, he could be an effective backup behind starter Geno Smith. — Adam Gretz

NFC North

CHICAGO BEARS | Tyson Bagent, Brett Rypien | Rating: 3 | Although a backup hasn’t been named yet behind rookie starter Caleb Williams, the Bears have decent options with Rypien and Bagent. Rypien has four NFL starts in four NFL seasons, and Bagent turned a few heads in his four starts as a rookie last season.

DETROIT LIONS | Hendon Hooker, Jake Fromm, Nate Sudfeld | Rating: 3 | Though he missed his rookie season while recovering from an ACL injury, Hooker has a lot of potential as a backup behind starter Jared Goff. He was one of the top QBs in the country at Tennessee during his senior season, and if his left knee is fully healed, he could be one of the more under-the-radar backups in the league.

GREEN BAY PACKERS | Sean Clifford, Michael Pratt | Rating: 5 | Clifford hasn’t done much of anything in either of the past two preseasons to inspire confidence from the coaching staff. He looks erratic at times, his decision-making is questionable and he doesn’t have the arm talent or intangibles to be anything other than an NFL backup. If starter Jordan Love misses extended time, the Packers are in trouble.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS | Nick Mullens, Jaren Hall, Matt Corral  | Rating: 3 | In terms of experience, Mullens is about as good as it gets for a backup QB. Though he’s 5-15 as an NFL starter, he got a lot of playing time in his three seasons in San Francisco (16 starts). He has the arm and football IQ to keep the Vikings in games if starter Sam Darnold misses extended time. — Michael Gallagher

NFC South

ATLANTA FALCONS | Michael Penix Jr., Taylor Heinicke | Rating: 3 | Based on head coach Raheem Morris’ odd decision to sit Penix Jr. in Week 2 of the preseason, the Falcons already believe the rookie is ready to take over for starter Kirk Cousins in the case of injury. But Penix is simply too young (24) and inexperienced to know whether he’d be a seamless fit in Atlanta’s offense.

CAROLINA PANTHERS | Andy Dalton, Jack Plummer, Jake Luton | Rating: 4 | Dalton recently returned to practice after suffering a quad injury in early August. The 13-year veteran offers minimal upside, but after Jack Plummer and Jake Luton combined for 61 yards passing in Week 2 preseason’s 15-12 loss to the Jets, he’s by far Carolina’s best option behind starter Bryce Young.

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS | Jake Haener, Spencer Rattler | Rating: 4 | The battle to be Derek Carr’s backup continued in Week 2 with neither Haener nor Rattler appearing prepared to lead the first-team offense. Haener, entering his second year, and Rattler, a rookie, have never attempted a pass in the regular season. The Saints will be best off if that trend continues.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS | Kyle Trask, John Wolford | Rating: 5 | Trask, the Bucs’ 2021 second-round pick (No. 64 overall), has only played 13 snaps in his career (3-of-10 passing for 23 yards). Despite making impressive plays during the preseason — including this one with a defender charging at him against the Bengals and this one against the Jaguars while throwing on the run to wide receiver Cody Thompson for a six-yard touchdown — Trask isn't the guy to lead the Bucs to a fourth straight division title if starter Baker Mayfield misses time. — Eric Smithling