The NFL continues to tease fans on when their schedule release will occur this season. While exciting, it’s a bit exhausting seeing that same advertisement that ends with a disappointing “Drops in May,” especially when we’re already six days into May.
The Atlanta Falcons continue to rule the headlines for the quarterback they took in the NFL draft alongside the one they paid $ 100 million-plus guaranteed. So, to have a little fun, in this exercise, we take a second to look at the quarterbacks that the Falcons will battle against in 2024.
The Falcons can play up to three rookie quarterbacks this season and four in the playoffs last season.
14) Denver Broncos – Bo Nix/Jarrett Stidham/Zach Wilson
Coming in at the worst we may see is the quarterback room of Bo Nix, Jarett Stidham and Zach Wilson depending on how training camp goes. Listen, Sean Payton will be doing a lot of heavy lifting getting this quarterback room off the ground. There isn’t much to be optimistic about in this room, maybe Nix turns out to run the Payton offense well, but it will take more time than they will have this season.
13) New York Giants – Daniel Jones/Drew Lock
The Giants did this to themselves. Being fooled by the one-year wonder that was Daniel Jones and having to bring in Drew Lock does not sound like a fun process. Now, could Lock come out and put that stuff on with Malik Nabers in tow? It’s possible, but highly unlikely.
12) Minnesota Vikings – Sam Darnold/J.J. McCarthy
With Kevin O’Connell at the controls and the weapons they have in Minnesota, this room has the most overall room to move. But here, on May 6th, a Sam Darnold led-QB room doesn’t move the needle much for me, even if I am high on what McCarthy could possibly be in purple.
11) Washington Commanders – Jayden Daniels/Marcus Mariota
Out of the three rookie quarterbacks, Jayden Daniels is the most likely to be playing day one, but I still had to put Marcus Mariota, just in case they had different plans in D.C. As much as I wante to put Daniels and his playmaking ability higher, it would be disrespectful to the veterans in front of him.
10) Las Vegas Raiders – Gardner Minshew/Aidan O’Connell
Aidan O’Connell was a fine quarterback for the Raiders last season. When Anthony Richardson’s season ended, Gardner Minshew almost led the Indianapolis Colts to a playoff berth. This quarterback room may be better than what it may look like on paper, but not by much.
9) Pittsburgh Steelers – Russell Wilson/Justin Fields
Admittedly, I am a bit more bullish on this room than most and that is not based on fit with an Arthur Smith system, but the fact that Smith will implement a solid running game to complement them. Whether it’s Russell Wilson or Justin Fields that is the primary beneficiary of it, they both have their own talents they can add to go along with a power running game.
8) Carolina Panthers – Bryce Young
Speaking of being bullish, yes, Bryce Young will be better than whatever that was last season. Number one, because there’s nowhere to go but up from last year’s debacle, but also because there is a reason Young was the number-one quarterback chosen last season. He had a few flashes towards the end of the season where you saw the playmaking ability, and I expect a lot more this season.
7) New Orleans Saints – Derek Carr
Even though he may not be worth the investment the Saints made in him, Carr is still a fine quarterback. Will he be enough to get New Orleans to where they want to go? Absolutely not. But, he will do enough to keep them interesting and if you’re the Saints, that’s all you’re looking for at this point of the team-building process, right?
6) Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Baker Mayfield
We all owe Baker Mayfield an apology for doubting him to the extent that we did before the start of last season. The connection he had with Mike Evans was worth the price of admission and it should be fun to see what the next installment of Mayfield-to-Evans looks like.
5) Seattle Seahawks – Geno Smith
Geno Smith has put an AED to his career and revived his career after years of having to ride on the bench. Now, with his arsenal of weapons up in Seattle, he has become one of the better quarterbacks in the NFC.
4) Dallas Cowboys – Dak Prescott
Cowboys fans just threw up in their mouth seeing Dak Prescott under Jalen Hurts in any ranking, but both are extremely talented quarterbacks. Prescott has been a problem for defenses in his own right and if the Cowboys don’t shape up, he will have a robust market in free agency next season.
3) Philadelphia Eagles – Jalen Hurts
Hurts is a supremely talented quarterback and I’m hoping that he doesn’t make me regret putting him above Prescott here after…whatever that was last season. But I’m still a believer in the Eagles and what they’re doing, and that includes Hurts playing at an extremely high level.
2) Los Angeles Chargers – Justin Herbert
Justin Herbert is one of a few quarterbacks in the league that can turn the knob to 11 and completely take over a game. Herbert is a top-five quarerback in the league and no debates against that will be tolerated here.
1) Kansas City Chiefs – Patrick Mahomes
There’s not much that needs to be said. You know the name, you know the game, just be ready for when they’re on the schedule.
