Ranking the NFL’s Best Backup Quarterbacks for 2023: From Skylar Thompson to Andy Dalton

A quality No. 2 is a top priority for multiple reasons, and many of them switched teams during the first week of free agency.

For the casual football fan, it must be strange seeing backup quarterbacks such as Jarrett Stidham and Mike White quickly agree to multiyear contracts on the first day of free agency, while versatile safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson waited nearly a week to get a one-year, prove-it deal from Detroit.

Every situation is different, and contract negotiations definitely play a role in why some prized free agents take longer to find a team, but let’s focus on position value here because backup quarterbacks have plenty of value for NFL teams.

A quality No. 2 quarterback is a top priority in free agency for multiple reasons: They’re hard to find, a pain to develop and the key to keeping a team afloat in case of emergency. Many quickly write off a team after seeing the name listed behind the injured star quarterback on the depth chart, and, in many cases, those overreactions tend to be accurate.

Taylor Heinicke, Jacoby Brissett and Andy Dalton are three of the best backup quarterbacks in the NFL :: Sergio Estrada/USA TODAY Sports (Heinicke); Lon Horwedel/USA TODAY Sports (Brissett); Stephen Lew/USA TODAY Sports (Dalton)

The Broncos are hoping Stidham’s name can offer confidence in case he has to play for Russell Wilson this season. Stidham flashed during his first career start last season in a game in which he took the Raiders to overtime against the 49ers before eventually losing. His performance earned him a two-year, $10 million contract from the Broncos.

Two-year deals are common for backup quarterbacks, because coaches and executives don’t have to have endless long nights the following offseason worrying about whether they’ll land the best insurance for their respective star quarterback. Chad Henne, the recently retired longtime backup, provided many peaceful nights for various teams during his 15-year career.

As for why backups are a pain to develop, most teams want the No. 2 QB to have game experience, and it’s why many former first-round picks often receive opportunities, despite lackluster results on the field. But the best backups are the ones who know their role and the playbook, and the ones who offer a spurt of confidence when disaster strikes.

With many notable backup quarterbacks agreeing to contracts during the first week of free agency, the MMQB staff decided to rank the 16 best backup quarterbacks in the NFL. Let’s start the debates:

16

Skylar Thompson, Dolphins

A seventh-round rookie in 2022, Thompson was pressed into duty when both Tua Tagovailoa and Teddy Bridgewater were injured. In two regular-season games, Thompson went 1–1, completing 57.1% of his attempts and throwing for 534 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions.

In the wild-card round against Buffalo, Thompson struggled, going 18-of-45 for 220 yards with a touchdown and two turnovers. Still, the former Kansas State star has talent and could be developed under coach Mike McDaniel, who has proved to be an excellent offensive mind throughout his NFL career. —MV

15

Bailey Zappe, Patriots

Zappe has played in only four games, but he had Patriots fans chanting his name during a memorable stretch as a rookie last season.

The 2022 fourth-round selection won his two starts while filling in for the injured Mac Jones. Zappe also came off the bench to give the Patriots a quick boost before they got crushed by the Bears on Monday Night Football.

Perhaps Zappe will move up the QB backup rankings in the next few years. Or maybe he’ll become a starting quarterback? For right now, Patriots coach Bill Belichick is sticking with Jones, the 2021 first-round pick. —GM 

14

Case Keenum, Texans

Keenum has had a fascinating career. The 35-year-old has played for seven teams, most recently joining the Bills last season. His high point came with the Vikings in 2017, when he took over for the injured Sam Bradford and led Minnesota to the NFC title game before losing to the Eagles.

Throughout his career, Keenum has started 64 games and notched a 29–34 record. He’s also thrown for 14,884 yards, the most of anybody on our list. In 2018 with the Broncos, Keenum posted a career-best 3,890 yards, then moving on to Washington and the Browns before finding his way to Buffalo. —MV

13

Marcus Mariota, Eagles

Mariota is inconsistent in the passing game, but he proved last year with the Falcons that he can at least operate a productive ground game.

Mariota, the 2015 No. 2 pick, is suited to be Jalen Hurts’s backup in Philadelphia because he offers mobility in the pocket. But Mariota didn’t capitalize on his latest opportunity as a starting quarterback because he failed to move the Falcons’ passing game in ’22. Last season, Atlanta averaged 158.8 passing yards per game, second-worst in the league, and averaged 159.9 rushing yards per game, third best. —GM

12

Tyrod Taylor, Giants

Taylor is a veteran backup who has ample starting experience. At 34 years old, he enters his 12th season and second with the Giants, working behind Daniel Jones.

After sitting his first four years with the Ravens, Taylor earned a Pro Bowl trip in 2015 with the Bills, posting career-highs in passing yardage (3,035) and touchdowns (20). Two years later, the Virginia Tech product led Buffalo to its first playoff appearance in 18 years.

Over his career, Taylor has started 53 games, posting a 26-25-1 mark while throwing for 10,794 yards and 60 touchdowns. —MV

11

PJ Walker, Bears

Walker got another shot at playing pro football after Andrew Luck put in a good word for him with the XFL’s Houston Roughnecks in 2020.

Walker made the most of his opportunity, developing into a dependable backup quarterback with the Panthers the past three seasons. Walker struggles with accuracy at times, but he offers versatility as a mobile quarterback. He has a career completion percentage of 57.5 in 15 games in the NFL.

Walker, who had a 2–3 record as a starter this past season, will likely stick around in the NFL with many teams running offensive schemes for mobile quarterbacks. He’s an ideal fit behind Bears quarterback Justin Fields. —GM

10

Teddy Bridgewater, free agent

When Bridgewater signs, he will provide experience as a capable short-term starter. The biggest concern with Bridgewater is injuries, something that sidelined him multiple times last year with the Dolphins.

A 2014 first-round pick of the Vikings, Bridgewater has endured eight seasons, making his only Pro Bowl appearance in ’15. Bridgewater has 65 career starts across five teams, going 33–32. His best season came in ’21, when he totaled 3,052 passing yards and 18 touchdowns with the Broncos, going 7–7 in 14 starts. —MV

9

Mike White, Dolphins

White gave the Jets a shot of confidence after he replaced the struggling Zach Wilson last season.

He won only one game during his four starts, but he elevated the offense and his teammates enjoyed playing with him. Many Jets fans will remember White’s back-to-back performances against the Bears and Vikings, surpassing 300 passing yards in both games. Perhaps New York would have advanced to the playoffs if he hadn’t gotten hurt.

White can play, and he’s a quality backup for Tua Tagovailoa, but he’s lacking in the experience category with eight career games and seven starts. —GM

8

Tyler Huntley, Ravens

Alongside Sam Darnold, Huntley is the youngest backup quarterback on our list at 25 years old. He’s spent three seasons with the Ravens and gotten significant playing time over the past two years, with starter Lamar Jackson dealing with ankle and knee injuries. In that span, Huntley has nine regular and postseason starts, posting a 3–5 record.

Last season, Huntley amassed 795 total yards with three touchdowns and three interceptions, and was named to the Pro Bowl as an alternate. With Jackson currently unsigned and on the franchise tag, Huntley looms as a key player for Baltimore entering the spring. —MV

7

Sam Darnold, 49ers

Darnold has one thing going for him as an inconsistent and inaccurate quarterback: 55 career starts.

It’s a peculiar signing, because Darnold is known for overthinking on the field and 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan is all about fast decisions for his offensive scheme. Obviously, Darnold is not there to play, and if he has to play for a stretch, he likely won’t be asked to make second and third reads. That’s easier to do when the supporting cast consists of Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk.

Darnold, the 2018 No. 3 pick, is there to push Trey Lance and eventually become the No. 3 option—if Brock Purdy makes it back this season after recently undergoing elbow surgery on his throwing arm. —GM

6

Cooper Rush, Cowboys

Rush kept the Cowboys in the playoff Hunt when Dak Prescott went down with an injury in 2022 :: Eric Hartline/USA Today network

Rush showed what he can do last year, winning four of his five starts for Dallas. The Cowboys recently re-signed the 29-year-old to a multiyear deal, and that’s in large part because they know he can win games.

Oddly enough, Rush had started only one game in his career before last season, but considering his age, time in the system and recent history, he makes for an ideal backup behind Dak Prescott.

While Rush shouldn’t be starting in Dallas—as some were speculating last season—his value to the Cowboys is clear after watching him run the team for more than a month. —MV

5

Jameis Winston, Saints

Winston was the ultimate all-or-nothing quarterback during his starting stint with the Buccaneers. He’s not as aggressive anymore, but he’s gone through somewhat of an identity crisis the past three years with the Saints.

With Winston struggling to adjust to the scheme, Saints coach Dennis Allen quickly turned to Dalton this past season and Winston started only the first three games. In 2021, Winston averaged only 167.1 passing yards per game, and he threw for 14 touchdowns and three interceptions in seven starts.

Winston, the 2015 No. 1 pick, has plenty of starting experience with 80 career starts, and he must have done something right after the team brought him back to be the No. 2 to Derek Carr. —GM

4

Gardner Minshew, Colts

Minshew is the perfect fit for the Colts. After splitting his first four seasons between the Jaguars and Eagles, Minshew signed a one-year, $3.5 million deal to join Indianapolis. He’s reuniting with Shane Steichen, who was Philadelphia’s offensive coordinator the past two years and is now helming the Colts.

In 32 games (24 starts), Minshew has thrown for 6,632 yards and 44 touchdowns against only 15 interceptions. He’s a top-tier backup who can potentially start in 2023 while Indianapolis figures out when to start its presumptive first-round rookie quarterback. —MV

3

Taylor Heinicke, Falcons

Heinicke has a way of not being forgotten, and that’s a good quality to have for a backup quarterback.

Commanders coach Ron Rivera likely didn’t panic when Ryan Fitzpatrick went down to injury in the 2021 season opener nor when Carson Wentz struggled this past season, because he knew he had Heinicke. Sure, the comfort level was also there because Fitzpatrick and Wentz weren’t top-level quarterbacks and it was a high possibility that Heinicke could at least play at the same level, but Heinicke provided confidence, which stems from the ’20 playoff game against Tampa Bay. Heinicke had a record of 7–8 in ’21 and 5-3-1 in ’22.

Don’t be surprised if Falcons coach Arthur Smith quickly turns to Heinicke if second-year quarterback Desmond Ridder struggles early in the season. —GM

2

Jacoby Brissett, Commanders

After signing with Washington last week, Brissett joins his fourth team in as many years. However, he’s proved to be one of the more capable backup quarterbacks. Brissett, 30, has started 48 games in his seven-year career, throwing 48 touchdowns against 23 interceptions. Last year, Brissett started for the Browns while Deshaun Watson was suspended, and he totaled 2,608 passing yards and 12 touchdowns in 11 games.

With the Commanders, he'll be a steady hand and a teaching tool for second-year quarterback Sam Howell, who started only one game as a rookie. And if Howell struggles, Washington can win games with Brissett under center. —MV

1

Andy Dalton, Panthers

Dalton tops this list as the best backup quarterback in the NFL because he checks many boxes.

He might not offer hot streaks such as White did for the Jets last season and Minshew for the Jaguars a few years back, but he’s steady and rarely makes costly mistakes.

Backups don’t need to be heroes, and the best ones let the skill players do the work and stick to the coaching script to keep the team afloat. But most safe backups don’t have the experience of Dalton, as the former starter of the Bengals with 162 career starts. Dalton has an 83-77-2 record with 38,150 passing yards, along with 244 touchdown passes and 144 interceptions in 166 games.

It’s not a winning recipe if Dalton plays more than a handful of games, but he’s often ready in case of emergency and likely won’t mind helping with the development of the Panthers’ incoming rookie quarterback next month with the top pick. —GM