Forecasting QB competitions ahead of 2023 training camp Sam Howell Anthony Richardson on track to start
Eleven different quarterbacks in the first 150 picks of the 2023 , a record for the common era of the selection proce s. It reinforced the league-wide hunt for quality production under center, and already several of the incoming rookies are expected to be Week 1 difference-makers for their respective teams.With that in mind, we decided to rea se s the state of the position and, with training camp on the horizon, forecast all of the likely QB competitions set for this summer. It's po sible a veteran or two could still be on the move; it wasn't until late August of last year, remember, that agreed to a surprise contract restructure to stay with the . But for the most part, QB depth charts are primed for the 2023 season.Here's a look at which teams figure to host competitions in the lead-up to Week 1, as well as predicted winners:This is life after . After
Andy Pettitte Jersey declining to take a swing at Kentucky's near the top of the draft, the Bucs are banking on Mayfield's moxie resurfacing around a better, healthier supporting cast than he had with the and in 2022. Former coach Bruce Arians has talked up Trask's more traditional pocket pa sing, but the former second-rounder has thrown all of nine pa ses in
Nolan Ryan Jersey two years. Even if Mayfield proves reckle s down the road, he's got the edge to manage a veteran lineup.Projected Week 1 starter: Baker MayfieldGeneral manager Chris Ballard deliberately tempered expectations for Richardson, the No. 4 overall pick, in his initial post-draft pre s conference, and new coach Shane Steichen may prefer to ease the electric but erratic Florida product into his offense. In that case, Minshew makes sense as a placeholder, coming over from the system that Steichen oversaw. And yet owner Jim Irsay has suggested Richardson will start at some point in 2023, starting the clock on his debut. Richardson's elite athleticism was already on display at OTAs in first-team reps, so Indy will be hard-pre sed to keep his star power out of the lineup.Projected Week 1 starter: Anthony Richardson Howell got a single start to close his 2022 rookie season, flashing a big arm on an uneven team, but that was enough to earn coach Ron Rivera's praise early this offseason. It was also -- somewhat inexplicably -- enough to prevent Washington from adding anything more than Bri sett as competition. The latter is a safer, albeit unspectacular, bet after years of emergency work for the Colts, and . But we tend to believe the Rivera hype -- that the Commanders, desperate for the lively mentality they sought with both and , will opt for the younger alternative.Projected Week 1 starter: Sam HowellFew teams relied on more QBs last year than the 49ers, and it's shaping up to be that way again. Purdy is the clubhouse darling
Evan Gattis Jersey after his improbably poised run as Jimmy Garoppolo's replacement, but he may not be healthy enough to start the year. Lance is the most gifted of the bunch, but he's coming off two straight injury-riddled seasons, eager to rea sure team bra s of his upside just two years after being drafted No. 3 overall. Darnold should be more at ease in San Francisco's system after failed stops with the rebuilding and Panthers, making him the quiet favorite to serve as a temporary QB1. But we're not ruling out Purdy returning just in time to reclaim the job this team seemingly wants him to keep.Projected Week 1 starter: Brock PurdyBill Belichick gave his strongest recent endorsement of Jones during the 2023 , and the fact he didn't spend another pick on a QB suggests the 2021 first-rounder is in line to remain under center, with new (old) coordinator Bill O'Brien charged with reviving the signal-caller's confidence. But we have to list this competition, because Belichick previously -- and repeatedly -- left the door open for Zappe, the 2022 fourth-rounder, to contend for the top job. In the end, as much as Belichick might prefer Zappe's spunk, Jones has the steadier arm when well-protected. Projected Week 1 starter: Mac Jones: Their new regime has gone above and beyond to endorse , whose results never consistently matched his talent under Kliff Kingsbury, but the
Mike Scott Jersey former No. 1 pick may not be ready to start the year coming off an ACL tear. That means veteran reserves , and could be vying for QB1 reps.: They've already, somewhat unusually, declared 2022 third-rounder the unquestioned starter for 2023. But they're paying top-end backup money to Taylor Heinicke, who earned more than a couple starts in Washington and could make things closer than expected over the summer.Panthers: They're paying decent backup money for , who proved with the he's still got a few solid starts in him. But nothing is standing in the way of No. 1 pick holding the starting job from the get-go.: Like Carolina, they may not gift-wrap a starting job to their top pick publicly, but if doesn't open 2023 under center in place of and
Dallas Keuchel Jersey new reserve , there's something very wrong.: , their 2022 third-rounder, doesn't appear to have much of a future in Tenne see after struggling behind a shoddy line as a rookie fill-in. But they're clearly interested in exploring options for if/when is done, trading up to draft Will Levis at No. 33. Tannehill is still a clear favorite to open as the starter, but his title is not etched in stone.
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