This piece will highlight a few NFL teams that punted on drafting a replacement QB in 2023, and appear content with their current situation but also quite likely quietly surveying the upcoming class. Additionally, there are a few sleepers in the league for teams that will be aggressive, or at least active, in next year’s free agency class or the draft.

The teams: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Commanders, Minnesota Vikings, Los Angeles Rams, Arizona Cardinals, Tennessee Titans

Who Went the Free Agency QB route:

Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Added a medium-upside free agency QB – This signing is not expected to save Baker Mayfield’s career. If anything, it is to keep the Buccaneers afloat in a rather winnable division. This is likely a move by the organization to show being interested in being competitive in 2023, but more so a way to keep core talent interested in sticking around before making a big splash in free agency or the draft next spring; more than likely, the latter. On his fourth team in six years, Mayfield, the former #1 overall pick, flashed last season with his grit and determination, but still finished his 2023 campaign with a 2-8 record as a starter. Tampa Bay has arguably better weapons than any of Mayfield’s previous teams, as it goes for overall receiving threats, but the offensive line and game management could stand in the way of him taking a big step in 2023. Todd Bowles is likely playing for his job, which means a reset could be that much closer; but, at least there’s hope for the team in Dave Canales, who helped coax a spectacular resurgence season from Geno Smith in Seattle in 2022 while he fought off Drew Lock for the starting job.

Washington Commanders – Added a medium-plus free agency QB – Jacoby Brissett played above expectation last year, and in the process showed that he can be more than just a cerebral backup—he can win games with talent around him and a formidable defense. What he’s walking into in Washington is arguably more complete of a team than what he had in Cleveland, and without all of the pressure. He wasn’t great in pressure situations, or to close the game out, but five of his seven losses in Cleveland came by one score or less. While Brissett still needs to win the job from Sam Howell, the Commanders played this off-season tactfully by assembling themselves a quarterback room that will, at the very least, be interesting, and keep them contending in a scrappy division.

Who looked to the draft:

Minnesota Vikings – The clock is running out on Kirk Cousins in Minnesota—that much has been made clear by the organization in the way they’ve handled his contract and publicly expressed interest in a top-heavy 2023 draft class for quarterbacks. Where that leaves Minnesota is locked into their window for winning not only an open division, but also a top-heavy conference, with Cousins as their guy for one more year. Drafting Jarren Hall doesn’t indicate that move will happen during the year, but rather gives Minnesota a guy who could still develop into a high-upside backup, for whoever is under center next season and beyond. Hall is accurate, though undersized, and is also athletic as a runner. His ability to play on schedule, especially in an offense like Minnesota’s, makes him a solid fit for this team. Even so, neither he nor Cousins appear to be the answer for Minnesota going forward, and at best gives the team a stable quarterback room. With a relatively young and competitive roster in place, the Vikings are undoubtedly among the top teams to watch as far as it goes for the upcoming quarterback class.

Los Angeles Rams – For a team that has continuously looked elsewhere for filling holes, the Rams took a step back and approached their 2023 draft with at least one goal in mind: find a high-upside backup to Matthew Stafford, who can step in and at least not lose the team games. While still a rookie, Stetson Bennett enters the league with loads of experience, and has the sort of competitive edge that head coach Sean McVay covets. His ability to freelance at times, plus his smart decision making and mostly accurate ball placement makes him a quality fit for this offense. Given the recent injury history of Matthew Stafford, and the draft capital the Rams gave up for Bennett, it’s not hard to imagine the rookie taking the field for a handful of games this year. While not as inspiring as it has been in recent years, this offense at least provides some intrigue as they work to reconfigure the current talent in place and plan for a future that quite likely includes a hot draft prospect in 2024. 

Teams stuck in between:

Arizona Cardinals – This team is committed to Kyler Murray financially, but still maintains the flexibility in his contract to move on. That depends, of course, on how well Murray plays. If he is rushed back and returns from injury too early, playing poorly along the way, the Cardinals will have an easy decision to make, but it will not come cheap. There’s a lot of money on the back end of Murray’s contract, which means Arizona was thinking far enough down the road to give themselves a way out. The decision to move on from Kyler will come before the start of the 2024 league year, but quite likely already be determined by the end of the season. Making things all that much more interesting is the additional first-round pick that the Cardinals recouped in a trade with Houston during the 2023 draft. The best case scenario for this organization is that Kyler Murray returns healthy, perhaps very late in the season, and shows them he can still bring the sort of electric play that made them a contenders just a short year ago, and then they are able to take advantage of a plethora of draft capital and build around him the right way.

Tennessee Titans – In the grand scheme of things, draft capital is overvalued. In other words, there are many ways to build a team. Relying on finding the next super star requires an incredible amount of luck, and precise planning if to be executed properly. Few teams succeed in finding their next franchise quarterback in the draft, and even for those that do, the lengths of those relationships are seemingly becoming shorter and shorter. Tennessee falls into an interesting place because they are fielding an expensive starter at quarterback in Ryan Tannehill, but also moved up to draft his heir, without giving up the house. The way they went about acquiring Will Levis gives the Titans an advantage this upcoming season because, while it is clear they are all but moving on from Tannehill, certain moments might arise during the season that allow them to test Levis in action before deciding just how they feel about diving into the upcoming class of quarterbacks. No matter what, Tennessee will be a team to watch throughout the season and going into next, as it goes for landing a franchise quarterback.

Which college prospects to keep an eye out for:

Caleb Williams – USC – It took less than one half of football—the rivalry game against Texas, more specifically, in Williams’ freshman year at Oklahoma—to realize that there was the next superstar in the college football world. His off-schedule style of play, massive arm, and open-field speed make Williams a potential star at the next level. While two of the quarterbacks on this list have played under Lincoln Riley, and had mixed results at the NFL, the level of talent that Williams possesses will translate to the next level. 

Drake Maye – UNC – If one thing stands out about Maye, it is his arm. There’s shades of Justin Herbert to his game, and the UNC product had enough flashes in his first season as a starter to support the buzz that has circulated his name as a potential top-five pick in the 2024 draft. With a new offensive coordinator in place, Maye will also have to handle losing one of his favorite targets in Josh Downs as he tries to build on an impressive 2023 campaign. There’s a chance for regression, but the sheer athleticism and arm talent is too hard to ignore with Maye—he deserves the hype.

Michael Penix Jr. – Washington – After transferring out of Indiana, Penix flourished at Washington in a spread offense. The offense last year was loaded with weapons, and Penix benefited from being able to stay healthy for a full season. His health, however, can become an issue, mostly due to his style of play. Penix is dangerous as a runner, but also possesses a strong arm and showed the ability to make difficult, back shoulder throws in tight space. His throwing motion leaves some reservation about how he’ll translate to the next level, as well as the fact that he played with a lot of talent at Washington. Given his play making ability as a runner, and production in college, it’s not hard to imagine Penix getting consideration as a high first-round pick in 2024.

Jordan Travis – Florida State – The 2023 campaign was big for not only Travis, but also the Florida State program. With Travis under center, the Seminoles enter the 2024 season with massive expectations. Another big year could push Travis into the mix for becoming one of—if not the—top quarterback to be selected into the NFL next spring. He has a solid build, and looks the part of an NFL QB. Travis possesses a strong arm, and he was able to show it off last season— he’s able to push the ball down field with ease. Also an improviser, he proved able to step up in big games last season, like the Seminoles nail-biter against LSU. With a strong supporting cast, Travis has everything it takes to cement himself as an elite prospect heading into 2024, and is sure to be on a number of NFL team’s radars this fall.

Cam Rising – Utah – A scrappy, backyard football-type player, Rising looks like a linebacker. He may not be every team’s flavor, but his frame and scrambling ability make him an intriguing prospect, and he enters the 2024 season at Utah with loads of experience. Another solid campaign from Rising and the Utes, and his name could pick up considerable steam by the time next April rolls around. One thing standing in the way of Rising becoming a hot prospect, and regressing to a point where he falls in the draft, is his recovery from an ACL injury that he suffered in the Utes’ Rose Bowl loss—the team clearly struggled in his absence, and one could argue that with a healthy Rising they would have beaten Penn State. Either way, Rising is one of the front-runners in a Pac-12 conference that is stacked with intriguing QB prospects.

Jayden Daniels – LSU – After putting on some weight this off-season (which was not the first time in his career) Daniels enters his second season as the starter at LSU with heavy expectations. The team was able to upend some big-time programs with Daniels under center last season, and much of their success came down to his proficiency as not only a passer, but also a runner. On his way to setting multiple records at LSU, he scored 28 total touchdowns, to just 3 interceptions. As a fifth-year senior, he’ll enter the league with loads of experience. Between his production and experience, Daniels enters 2024 as a hot name to watch, and, as long as his frame can hold up at the next level, he could be a very good NFL quarterback.

Other names to watch: Joe Milton, Sam Hartmann, Bo Nix, Jalon Daniels, Spencer Rattler, JJ McCarthy

Big-named quarterbacks rarely reach free agency, though the trading of franchise signal callers has become more common as of late. The 2024 free agency class is uninspiring, and is filled with more of bridge-type quarterbacks than exciting young stars. Kirk Cousins is absolutely a name to watch, however, and as is Ryan Tannehill. Both players experienced upswings on their second teams, and could still help a team remain competitive while they search for their quarterback of the future. 

Sleepers for trades and cuts:

Kyler Murray, as mentioned, is a candidate to be cut in the 2024 off-season. While unconventional, the move could make the most sense for both parties. Murray fit the previous offensive scheme, and, coming off an injury, it is no sure-thing that he is able to produce at a high level in this new system. With a GM that is focused on building this team out slowly, Murray could be a piece that gets moved in the near future to allow this organization to get a better idea of the vision they have for the team.

Trey Lance has had a rollercoaster of a career in the NFL. Considering the capital the 49ers surrendered to draft him in 2021, the likelihood that Lance gets moved before his contract is up appears low. However, the 49ers are among the least conventional teams in the league, and have been diligent about fortifying their quarterback room by adding Sam Darnold in the off-season. Add in the success of Brock Purdy, and there’s a chance San Francisco sees an opportunity to move Lance and go forward with Purdy. The intrigue behind this team, and their quarterback room, is as high as its been in years, making the 49ers a team to watch.

Tua Tagovailoa is coming off a career year in Miami. His game was elevated by the presence of Mike McDaniels and his offense, and he showed in 2022 exactly what made him such a coveted draft prospect in 2020. Injuries, however, have derailed his career so far, and led to questions about just how well his frame will hold up in the future. Having picked up Tua’s fifth-year option, it does not appear that the team wants to move on from Tagovailoa, but an injury-riddled 2023 campaign could very well spell the end of his tenure in Miami. He could become a highly intriguing free agent in 2024, if so.