Jay Cutler and the NFL Starting Quarterbacks Under the Most Pressure in 2014

Every season, there are quarterbacks like Peyton Manning and Drew Brees who put up huge numbers and are considered among the best in the NFL. Then there are quarterbacks who are under pressure because they have either underperformed, received a huge contract recently—like Jay Cutler and Andy Dalton—or are in the last year of their contract.

Here are the top 10 starting quarterbacks under the most pressure in 2014.

Honorable Mentions

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Before we get to the top 10 quarterbacks under the most pressure in 2014, here are the players who just missed the cut: Tony Romo, Eli Manning and Carson Palmer.

10. Colin Kaepernick

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When the San Francisco 49ers signed Colin Kaepernick to a $114 million contract with a $12 million signing bonus back in June, it raised a lot of eyebrows. Sure, Kaepernick has played well, as he has thrown for 5,046 yards, 31 touchdowns and only 11 interceptions in 32 career games, but he has had his moments of inconsistency.

In the NFC Championship Game against the Seattle Seahawks last January, Kaepernick made a number of poor decisions, including his interception to cornerback Richard Sherman with 22 seconds left in the game. If you add in the fact that Kaepernick has had a terrible 2014 preseason, then you understand why some are questioning the 49ers' decision to sign him to a long-term contract. 

San Francisco has a Super Bowl-ready team and it can't have Kaepernick underachieving in big moments. With Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson winning a Super Bowl last season, Kaepernick is under even more pressure in 2014.

9. Matthew Stafford

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In Week 13 last season, the Detroit Lions were 7-5 and appeared to be in the driver's seat to win their first divisional championship since 1993. But the team lost its remaining four games to miss the playoffs entirely.

Matthew Stafford threw only two touchdowns and five interceptions in the Lions' last four games. With weapons like running back Reggie Bush and receiver Calvin Johnson, there is no reason why the Lions shouldn’t have as potent an offense as the New Orleans Saints.

Stafford, the 2009 No. 1 overall pick, is entering his sixth season in the NFL. He threw for 4,650 yards and 29 touchdowns last season, but he also had 19 interceptions. If he wants to lead the Lions back to the playoffs, Stafford will have to avoid the mistakes that he has made constantly throughout his career. 

Detroit signed receiver Golden Tate and drafted Eric Ebron with the No. 10 pick in the 2014 draft, so there aren't any excuse left for Stafford. At 26 years old, it is put-up-or-shut-up time.

8. Alex Smith

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In 2013, Alex Smith had a career year, as he finished with 3,313 yards, 23 touchdowns and only seven interceptions. The reason he makes this list is because he is entering the final year of his contract with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Smith's agent and the Chiefs have been speaking for months now, according to The Associated Press (h/t Fox Sports), but no deal has been reached. The Chiefs seem to be hesitant to give Smith a big contract because it took him until age 30 have a breakout season. 

If Smith plays like the quarterback he was in San Francisco, then his value will take a huge hit. That's why the pressure is on him to prove he is more than a one-hit wonder.  

7. Geno Smith

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In an ESPN poll (subscription required), 26 NFL insiders ranked New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith as the worst starting quarterback in the league. Smith threw for 3,046 yards, 12 touchdowns and 21 interceptions last season. With head coach Rex Ryan on the hot seat again in 2014, the quarterback's success will determine the future for them both. 

While Smith had a number of bad moments, as most rookies do, he also had some promising ones, including a 3-1 finish to save Ryan's job last season. While he may be going into just his second year in the league, his play will have to improve substantially if the Jets want to make the playoffs.

New York had statistically the fifth-best defense in the AFC and the sixth-best rushing game in the NFL a year ago, so Smith has talent around him. If he struggles early in the season, you could see backup quarterback Michael Vick starting.

After finishing 8-8 last season, the Jets can’t miss the playoffs for a fourth straight season. If they do, you can expect changes at head coach and at quarterback. 

6. EJ Manuel

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The Buffalo Bills surprised everyone when the team selected EJ Manuel with the 16th overall pick in the 2013 NFL draft. In Manuel's first season under center, he did little to prove he was worthy of the high draft pick. 

Manuel suffered three knee injuries in 2013 and missed six games. When he did play, he wasn't very effective, throwing for 1,972 yards with 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions.

Manuel didn’t played well this preseason, either, as he finished 50-of-82 with 517 yards, threw one touchdown and two interceptions. 

The Bills have weapons on offense, such as running backs C.J. Spiller, Fred Jackson and receivers Sammy Watkins, Robert Woods and Mike Williams. Instead of using the explosive weapons that he has, Manuel has often thrown the ball too quickly and hasn’t seen the field very well. 

Analysts like ESPN's Todd McShay have said that the Bills made a mistake by drafting Manuel, and it is hard to dispute that.

Head coach Doug Marrone continues to defend Manuel, but the problem is the Bills will probably have a new owner by the end of the season. Ownership usually likes to hire its own coaches, especially if the team is struggling like the Bills have since 1999. If Buffalo does not improve from its 6-10 record from a year ago, the team will probably have a new coach and quarterback in 2015. 

5. Matt Ryan

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Matt Ryan is the most successful quarterback on this list, so you may be asking why he has pressure to win in 2014. Ryan has a ton of pressure on him, because the Atlanta Falcons went from a 13-3 team that was a one quarter away from playing in the Super Bowl in 2012 to a 4-12 team last season.

In 2013, Ryan threw 17 interceptions, which was a career high for the seven-year veteran. The play of the team's offense also dropped off in 2013. The Falcons were the No. 8-ranked offense in the NFL in 2012. Last season, they finished with the 14th-ranked offense. 

The Falcons were once a Super Bowl contender, but now, many are questioning whether they can become contenders once again. However, talented receivers Julio Jones and Roddy White are both 100 percent after being injured a season ago, so you can expect the offense to be close to its 2012 form if everyone remains healthy.

Pressure is also on Ryan because of his 1-4 playoff record. He played well during the 2012 playoffs, as he threw six touchdowns, but his late-game interception against the 49ers ended the Falcons' Super Bowl dreams.

While Ryan is widely considered one of the top 10 best quarterbacks in the NFL, he still needs to improve on his late-game decision-making. 

A good start for the Falcons is imperative, since they are coming off of such a disappointing season. Despite a 60-36 record, Ryan and head coach Mike Smith need to return to the playoffs, or owner Arthur Blank could make some changes.

4. Ryan Tannehill

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The Miami Dolphins shocked everyone when they selected quarterback Ryan Tannehill with the eighth overall in the 2012 NFL draft. While Tannehill has progressed as a quarterback, this is a critical year for the former Texas A&M Aggie.

Last season, Tannehill doubled his touchdown total from 12 to 24, but his interceptions increased as well—from 13 to 17. 

The Dolphins have a new offensive coordinator in Bill Lazor, who has a faster, more up-tempo offense than Mike Sherman, the previous coordinator, had. Even with the new offense, Tannehill has continued to lock on receivers during the preseason, but he is still struggling with throwing the deep ball.

The biggest reason the pressure is on Tannehill in 2014 is because many believe the Dolphins reached for Tannehill, who only played one full season at quarterback in college. Not to mention, Super Bowl-winning quarterback Russell Wilson was drafted 67 picks after Tannehill. 

Last year, the Dolphins defeated the New England Patriots in Week 15 to get to 8-6, and they appeared to be on their way to playoffs. But Tannehill struggled in the team’s final two games, throwing one touchdown and three interceptions. The Dolphins lost to both the Bills and Jets and missed the playoffs.

Dolphins owner Stephen Ross hired Dennis Hickey as the team's general manager last offseason, so if they fail to make the playoffs again in 2014, Tannehill and head coach Joe Philbin could be both gone.

3. Andy Dalton

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Earlier this month, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton agreed to a six-year, $96 million contract. The team took a lot of criticism, since Dalton has an 0-3 postseason record and has thrown one touchdown and six interceptions during those games.

Dalton is 30-18 as a starter, but he needs to cut down on his mistakes. Yes, he threw 33 touchdowns in 2013, but he also threw 20 interceptions. 

The Bengals have a top-five receiver in AJ Green, playmakers on offense and a defense that finished No. 3 in the NFL last season. The team has not won a playoff game since the 1990 season, so the pressure is on not only on Dalton, but head coach Marvin Lewis as well. 

Only Joe Flacco, Pat Haden, Dan Marino and Bernie Kosar have led their teams to the playoffs in each of their first three seasons as Dalton did. While that's great and all, Dalton has to take the next step if the Bengals want to be considered contenders in the AFC. 

2. Jay Cutler

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Jay Cutler has everything he needs for a breakout season for the Chicago Bears—the best receiving tandem in the NFL with Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery, an excellent dual-threat running back in Matt Forte and a solid offensive line.

The two biggest questions about Cutler are whether he can stay healthy and whether he can cut down on his interceptions.

Cutler was playing the best football of his career last season when he suffered a groin injury that kept him out four weeks. Injuries have been a common theme for the QB throughout his career in Chicago.

In 2011, the Bears were 7-3 when Cutler suffered a season-ending thumb injury. The team finished the season 8-8 and missed the playoffs. With Josh McCown now with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Bears don't have a dependable backup like they've had in years past. 

Cutler is a notorious gunslinger on the football field, but he has to take care of the football. Last season, he had 12 interceptions in 12 games. When you turn the ball over as much as Cutler does, that puts more pressure on the Bears defense, which finished 30th in the NFL last season. 

With Cutler receiving a seven-year, $126 million contract last January, the pressure is squarely on the veteran quarterback. The Bears have the talent to win the NFC North and even make a Super Bowl run, but only if Cutler stays healthy and eliminates the mistakes. 

1. Robert Griffin III

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There's no quarterback in the NFL who's facing as much pressure as Robert Griffin III is facing this season.

In his rookie year, Griffin threw for 3,200 yards with 20 touchdowns and only five interceptions and led the Washington Redskins to the NFC East title. He then tore his ACL and LCL ligaments in his right knee against the Seahawks during the NFC Wild Card Game, and in 2013, he just wasn't the same player that he was during his rookie year. 

In 13 games last season, Griffin had 16 touchdowns, and his interceptions more than doubled to 12. While he appears to be 100 percent healed, the pressure has increased. 

The biggest reason Griffin is No. 1 on this list is because many believe his backup, Kirk Cousins, is a better quarterback. This preseason, Cousins threw for 370 yards, one touchdowns and only one interception. Meanwhile, Griffin has continued to struggle, as he threw for 141 yards with zero touchdowns and two interceptions. 

ESPN analyst Herm Edwards and former Redskins quarterback Joe Theismann both believe Cousins is outplaying Griffin.

To be fair, Griffin is learning new head coach Jay Gruden's new offense, so it is too soon to give up on the former No. 2 overall pick.

Another reason Griffin is under pressure is because many blame him for getting previous head coach Mike Shanahan fired. Their relationship became fractured during the 2013 preseason, and there are some media members who have gone as far to say that Griffin is a coach killer. 

If Griffin's struggles continue, the chants for Cousins will only grow louder. Griffin more than anyone needs to have a strong start to the season, or he could possibly find himself on the bench. 

*Contract information via Spotrac.com. Stats via Pro-Football-Reference.com and NFL.com unless noted otherwise.