8 NFL Quarterbacks Who Could Be Benched in 2024

Several NFL teams started backup quarterbacks out of necessity throughout the 2023 season due to injuries. In the upcoming campaign, nearly a quarter of the league’s clubs could make a switch under center for performance-based reasons.

Between free agency and the draft, signal-callers dominated the headlines this offseason, which means teams had a need or serious questions at that position.

With notable veterans on the move and six first-round quarterbacks beginning their pro careers, expect in-season changes for passing attacks.

Here, we’ll highlight eight QBs who could start in Week 1 but lose the job before the end of the 2024 campaign.

The New England Patriots selected Jacoby Brissett in the third round of the 2016 draft. He started in two games in place of Tom Brady, who served a suspension for violating the NFL policy on the integrity of the game (deflategate), and an injured Jimmy Garoppolo before the team traded him to the Indianapolis Colts.

Brissett faces a much different situation in his return to New England, though.

The Patriots signed the journeyman in free agency and drafted Drake Maye with the No. 3 overall pick.

At 31 years old with 48 career starts, playing with five teams, Brissett has already embraced the mentor role in New England.

“I’m excited to work with him. I remember when I was following Tom [Brady] around,” he told reporters. “[Maye’s] already texting me about plays and how I think about things and cadence—all the little nuances of being in this position at this level.”

Still, Brissett understands that he’s in a competition against Maye and Bailey Zappe for the starting job.

“I think the good thing about our room is honestly everybody wants to be the guy. Everybody’s competing to be the guy. That’s what you want,” he said.

In eight years, Brissett has only started and finished two seasons, both with the Colts. He filled in for Andrew Luck, who missed the entire 2017 term because of a shoulder injury and retired before Week 1 of the 2019 campaign.

In 79 games, the North Carolina State product has thrown for 51 touchdowns and 23 interceptions with a 61.3 percent completion rate. Based on his passing numbers, he’s a serviceable game-managing quarterback.

However, if the Patriots want an offensive spark with a big-arm quarterback who can attack the back end of defenses, Maye could get the call if they fall behind in the standings and their offense plateaus during the 2024 term.

The Atlanta Falcons created an awkward quarterback situation when they used the No. 8 overall pick to draft Michael Penix Jr. about six weeks after signing Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million deal.

Based on Cousins’ contract, he’s going to start under center in Atlanta’s season opener. Yet he senses a competition with a top-eight draft pick behind him on the depth chart.

“It’s always going to be a competition in this league, and you always got to go out and earn it,” the 35-year-old told reporters. “I’m going to control what I can control and also understand there’s a lot you don’t control.”

Even though the Falcons inked Cousins to the biggest deal in free agency in terms of total value, per Spotrac, he could lose his job if he doesn’t bounce back from his Achilles injury with strong performances.

As Cousins plays, Atlanta will prepare Penix—its potential future franchise player—for his opportunity to take over the offensive huddle.

The Minnesota Vikings lost Kirk Cousins to the Atlanta Falcons in free agency, which created a clear need at quarterback.

The Vikings signed Sam Darnold and then moved up one spot in the first round of the 2024 draft for J.J. McCarthy.

According to ESPN’s Kevin Seifert, Minnesota is “extremely wary” about rushing McCarthy’s developmental process:

“Darnold signed a one-year contract in March, so there is no doubt McCarthy will eventually become the starter, but the team is extremely wary about rushing McCarthy, 21, onto the field. They’ve done studies on the risks of exposing quarterbacks before they’re ready. Coach Kevin O’Connell has created a daily developmental plan that will require McCarthy to reach a series of benchmarks before there is any decision to make him QB1.”

If the Michigan product doesn’t measure up to O’Connell’s standards, he could sit through his entire rookie campaign.

On the other hand, the coach hasn’t been afraid to make changes at quarterback.

Last season, after Cousins suffered a season-ending Achilles injury, the Vikings started three different backup QBs, including Jaren Hall, who was selected by Minnesota in the fifth round of the 2023 draft.

Also, keep in mind that Nick Mullens temporarily lost the starting job in part because of turnovers.

In Week 16 against the Detroit Lions, Mullens threw for 411 yards, two touchdowns and four interceptions. In the following week, Minnesota started Hall, though Mullens took over again in the second half of that game.

In six seasons, Darnold has struggled with poor accuracy and turnovers with a 59.7 percent completion rate and a 63 to 56 touchdown-to-interception ratio in 66 career games (56 starts).

If the 26-year-old doesn’t make routine completions or gives away too many possessions, O’Connell could turn to McCarthy or back