Most Important Backup QB Situations That Could Define NFL Season

The NFL will feature 32 starting quarterbacks at the onset of the 2025 campaign. Not all 32 teams will have a starting-quality option in place and a few will almost certainly experience upheaval at the game's most important position throughout the season.

A year ago at this time, the Minnesota Vikings weren't settled at quarterback, rookie Drake Maye wasn't scheduled to start for the New England Patriots, the San Francisco 49ers' Brock Purdy was still recovering from a serious elbow injury and the Cleveland Browns thought they were set behind center.

Potential injuries aside, significant turnover will occur that can change the direction of multiple franchises.

The Indianapolis Colts are already experiencing a possible succession before the season even begins, with Anthony Richardson still dealing with a shoulder issue. The 2023 No. 4 overall draft pick could bounce back in time for training camp, or Daniel Jones can take the job outright.

The following six teams find themselves in an odd predicament where they're already behind in a QB-driven league and the projected starter may not turn out to be the best-case scenario. However, a potential solution in any of these situations could drastically change their and the NFL's outlook.

Atlanta Falcons

AP Photo/Mike Stewart

Kirk Cousins

The Atlanta Falcons field a different setup than everyone else on this list, because the organization believes it already has its long-term solution in place with Michael Penix Jr. while keeping a proven starter in Kirk Cousins on the roster.

The latter situation could change, of course, but Cousins has resigned himself to being the team's backup option.

"Obviously you'd love to play but I’m not (going to) dwell on things that aren't reality," the 36-year-old told reporters at Atlanta's mandatory minicamp. "It's better (time) spent to focusing on the situation you're in and control what you can control. I think that's the right mindset to have. Certainly there were conversations in January, February, March and even April but we're moving forward timeline-wise."

Based on the situation as it's currently constructed, Penix must show he really is the guy. He flashed during his first season, though he only started three games. The expectation is he'll be the starter for his entire sophomore campaign.

However, something could happen or he could play poorly, thus placing Cousins back into the lineup after being benched last season.

The Falcons have won seven or eight games in four straight campaigns. Two solid options at quarterback—now that their roles are reversed, with Cousins acting as the bullpen relief—may be enough to push them beyond mediocrity into contender status.

But the very real possibility of the veteran being traded to help another quarterback-starved franchise still exists as well.

How desperate another organization is depends on a situation that has yet to materialize, and a deal will be dependent on compensation—both in trade value and how much the other team is willing to take on regarding Cousins' contract—while the signal-caller must approve of any agreement thanks to his no-trade clause.

Divergent paths remain plausible where Cousins could start in Atlanta again or not even be part of the team at the start of the 2025 season.

Cleveland Browns

AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki

Dillon Gabriel (left) and Shedeur Sanders

No quarterback situation is more volatile than the Cleveland Browns' current setup.

After publicly moving on from Deshaun Watson, though not being able to do so financially for another year or two, the organization now finds itself with four different starting options and no clear path forward with any of them.

Veterans Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett are believed to have the inside track to start, though a pair of rookies are the most important parts of this particular equation.

Cleveland has grown into a veteran team that expects to win. Myles Garrett, Joel Bitonio, Wyatt Teller, David Njoku, Denzel Ward, Grant Delpit, Maliek Collins and Jordan Hicks aren't expecting a lost season where the team's only goal is to find a quarterback or lose enough to draft one highly next year, hence why Flacco and Pickett are likely to open the season behind center.

However, investments in a pair of rookies will likely define the team's entire campaign. Unless Flacco or Pickett somehow find an unexpected spark this fall, what happens with Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders matters the most.

The Cleveland front office thought highly enough of Gabriel to make him a third-round draft pick despite questionable physical tools, while Sanders presents the best raw talent of anyone on the roster. Both present much-needed upside. They will battle throughout every daily session to see who is more deserving of an opportunity if/when one arises.

While a mid-round rookie starting probably won't be in the Browns' best interests, that setup will provide clarity in one of two ways. Either Dillon or Sanders show they're capable of being a starter, or the team can move past both a year from now and again enter the quarterback market.

It's not an ideal solution, but it's the one that Cleveland finds itself in after the worst trade blunder in NFL history.

Indianapolis Colts

AP Photo/Michael Conroy

Anthony Richardson

A transition from one starter to the next may already be happening in Indianapolis. The organization isn't ready to give up on Anthony Richardson, but it may have no choice in the matter.

The 23-year-old is dealing with an aggravation of the AC joint that he originally injured during his rookie campaign. A timetable for his return has not been given after he missed the Colts' mandatory minicamp.

"Not going to put a timetable for training camp on it, but when he does come back, we'll ease him into throwing and then we'll go from there," head coach Shane Steichen told reporters last week.

Prior to the injury, the Colts already planned for an open competition this summer between Richardson and Daniel Jones, who signed as a free agent. The former had the inside track to winning the job based on his immense potential. Availability is the best ability, though.

Meanwhile, Jones is taking full advantage of getting all the early first-team reps.

"Very pleased with what we got right now," Steichen said of the 28-year-old Thursday. "He's been doing a hell of a job. Really smart football player. Learned the offense very quickly. Making really good decisions out there through OTAs. Obviously want to carry that over to training camp, but he's done a really good job. Great command of the huddle, ultimate pro."

Jones, himself, is considered a first-round bust and is now with his third team in less than seven months. However, the Colts just need some consistency at quarterback.

Plenty of talent exists around the position. If Richardson can't find his way back onto the field and show marked improvement in short order, Jones could easily be Indianapolis' starting quarterback for the entire 2025 campaign.

Minnesota Vikings

AP Photo/Abbie Parr

J.J. McCarthy

The Minnesota Vikings find themselves in a similar situation as they did a year ago. They are hoping J.J. McCarthy becomes their franchise quarterback while another reclamation project may end up becoming the starter.

Last season, Sam Darnold's career rose from the ashes, and he finally resembled a franchise-caliber quarterback for the first time since the New York Jets drafted him with the third overall pick in 2018.

The 28-year-old was never pushed by McCarthy, whom the Vikings chose with the 10th draft pick last year, because he suffered a season-ending meniscus tear during the preseason.

The Michigan product is essentially a rookie entering his second campaign, while the Vikings flipped fifth-round picks to the Seattle Seahawks in order to bring in Sam Howell, who started 18 games during his three-year career.

Minnesota established a new standard last season by finishing with a 14-3 record. The team isn't going to let the quarterback position hold it back. McCarthy needs to show he can command the offense and provide a similar presence as Darnold did.

"I think (J.J.) is right where he needs to be right now," offensive coordinator Wes Phillips told reporters Wednesday. "And right where we thought he'd be. I don't think he'd come up here and say he mastered the offense. Every rep is a learning rep."

Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell is considered a quarterback whisperer thanks to his history playing the position and serving as a personal coach.

If McCarthy isn't up to the task, Howell may get every opportunity to prove he was worthy of a high draft pick many assumed he'd be before falling in the 2022 class. Minnesota needs to get the most out of one of these young signal-callers.

New York Giants

AP Photo

Jaxson Dart throws in front of Russell Wilson.

The New York Giants were determined not to be pigeonholed into selecting a quarterback with this year's third overall draft pick. They didn't.

However, the approach didn't stop them from drafting a signal-caller who will eventually determine the team's path.

The Giants' brain trust brought in veterans Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston during free agency, then tripled-down by trading back into the first round to select Jaxson Dart with this year's 25th overall pick.

Wilson enters the situation with the expectation of being the starter, but this season is all about Dart and what he shows.

General manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll might have bought themselves a little extra time with a first-round QB. Although they must show marked improvement after significant downturns in performance during the past two seasons.

Meanwhile, veteran Wilson, 36, can be the table-setter in the short term.

"Players have described a different energy around the team this spring, with the leadership from accomplished quarterback Russell Wilson cited as a tone-changer," Dan Duggan of The Athletic reported.

Beyond that point, the clock will be ticking for Dart's eventual insertion into the lineup. As seen in the last two seasons, neither Wilson nor Winston remain capable of significantly elevating the play of others around them.

Ultimately, the Ole Miss product will be moved into the lineup so New York can determine its long-term direction.

"Unless the Giants are scoring points and winning games at a surprising rate early in the season, it feels inevitable that they reach a point where it's time to see what Dart can do," ESPN's Dan Graziano wrote.

Seattle Seahawks

AP Photo/Ryan Sun

Sam Darnold

The Seattle Seahawks are a mirror image of the Minnesota Vikings.

Seattle is relying on Sam Darnold this year, after also investing in a draft pick with significant upside.

The Seahawks signed Darnold to a three-year, $100.5 million free-agent contract. Even so, some trepidation exists with the 28-year-old as to whether he'll play like the version who showed up last year in Minnesota or regress to his previous performance levels.

Seattle didn't go all-in with Darnold as its long-term starter, either. An escape hatch is built into his contract, where the team can release him next offseason with a June 1 designation and save $27.5 million of next year's $33.9 million salary-cap charge, per Over The Cap.

The Seahawks also selected Jalen Milroe in this year's third round. He is considered a work-in-progress because of inconsistencies found within his mechanics, footwork and accuracy.

At the same time, though, the Alabama product is an elite athlete with a big arm. So, Seattle's coaching staff already has a plan in place to utilize the rookie.

"[Head coach Mike] Macdonald has said Milroe will not be used in the same fashion as Taysom Hill, who was more of a tight end who did a little bit of everything," Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic reported. "Milroe is a quarterback, Macdonald said, and will be used accordingly."

More importantly, the rookie is catching on quickly, which is excellent news for the Seahawks and how they may eventually pivot during the season depending on how the team is faring.

"He's earned that feeling of confidence right now," McDonald told reporters Wednesday. "He's earned that feeling going into the summer."

At some point, Milroe may be more than a gadget sub-package quarterback and make his way into the lineup if Darnold doesn't adjust well to his new surroundings.