Ranking all 32 backup quarterbacks in the NFL: Which teams can truly rely on their QB2s if needed?

Ranking all 32 backup quarterbacks in the NFL: Which teams can truly rely on their QB2s if needed?. Skip to main content Skip to navigation Ranking all 32 backup quarterbacks in the NFL: Which teams can truly rely on their QB2s if needed?

What happened

But that shouldn't prevent us from doing these rankings — after all, teams must make choices about their backups with similarly scarce information. We stacked the best No. 2 quarterbacks across the league, including Mac Jones and even a few backups who have already been forced to play in 2026. ChargersLas Vegas Raiders15hRyan McFaddenBurrow good to go, Stewart to debut for BengalsCincinnati Bengals18hBen Baby35 more women believe they were victims of 49ers fraudster, FBI saysSan Francisco 49ers14hKalyn KahlerNFL Power Rankings: Our post-Week 1 poll of all 32 teams, plus the best non-QB debutsKansas City Chiefs4dNFL NationWill 2026 be a career-defining season for Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell?

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The wider picture

In both instances, the defense likely carried the winners more than anything else, but had the offense collapsed with the backup QB, there would have been no hope. With backups already playing a big role early in the season, I've decided to rank each team's No. It's a tricky exercise because we're operating on severely limited information in many cases. Some of the younger backups don't have much regular-season experience at all — if any.

I included Wentz and Lock, but I used Penix as the Falcons' backup for the purpose of this exercise (though I also noted where Rush would land if he were the true No. And if I had to ask any backup to win a few games right now, I would take Mendoza. 1 in last year's version of these rankings is Kirk Cousins, the man in front of Mendoza on the Las Vegas depth chart. Marcus Mariota, Washington CommandersIf a team needs to get through a couple games while their starter is out, there is probably no more reliable veteran backup than Mariota.

What has been reported

Jameis Winston, New York GiantsWinston is well into the second phase of his career as a high-end backup. 2 backup last year) is a major point in his favor. It's a far stronger signal than a middle-round pick landing a backup job partially due to the draft capital used on him. He is a less helpful backup for a Super Bowl contender because he's riskier than many of the players below. Those numbers, plus Cam Ward's struggles in his first season-plus, would actually raise the Titans' Football Power Index ranking if the team announced Trubisky as the starter for an upcoming game.

Tyrod Taylor, Green Bay PackersWe must bake in some aging downside for the 37-year-old Taylor, but if a team has to get away with playing a backup for a few games, it could do much worse. And his willingness to throw the ball downfield (13% of his attempts go 20-plus air yards, a high rate) and scramble frequently gives him some variance that is useful for backups. Tyler Huntley, Baltimore RavensI've always liked Huntley, but his stock dropped precipitously in 2024 when he bounced among several teams.

What happens next

Mason Rudolph, Pittsburgh SteelersRudolph originally won the Steelers' backup QB job seven years ago. And even though the Steelers have changed coaches, Rudolph is their backup yet again. Tyson Bagent, Chicago BearsSince Caleb Williams was drafted in 2024, we have barely seen Bagent outside of preseason action. Joe Flacco, Cincinnati BengalsFlacco is still hanging around as a viable backup at age 41. The following season made it clear that Minshew wasn't an NFL starter, but he's still a solid backup.

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