Quarterbacks: New Team Rankings

The 2023 NFL Season is almost officially upon us. Pre-season begins when the New York Jets and the Cleveland Browns kickoff at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium at 8 p.m. on Thursday, August 3rd. Regular season begins as the Lions travel to take on the Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday, Sept. 7th at 8:20 p.m.

To say I'm excited is an understatement. I have been ready for football season to start since February 13th.

The Kansas City Chiefs are coming off yet another great season, defeating the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII and are the current favorites to make Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas, NV. But neither of these teams will have the nerve-racking excitement of debuting new quarterbacks.

This coming season, 10 different teams will be starting their season off with new players under center. In this article I will be ranking the quarterbacks by how I believe they will do with their new team. Rookies (Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud, and Anthony Richardson) not included.

#1 - Aaron Rodgers/ New York Jets

The Super Bowl champ and four-time league MVP will be with a different team after playing for the Green Bay Packers for 18 seasons. He took less money to help the team sign big free agent players to make this team better. He's clearly all-in and locked-in as well. But a sketchy offensive line doesn't give me 100 percent confidence in Rodgers playing at his usual MVP level, but with Garret Wilson, C.J. Uzomah, Allen Lazard, Corey Davis, and Rodgers' old reliable guy Randall Cobb all making catches, this team has a high chance of not just fighting for the AFC East title but fighting to be a contender in all of the AFC.

#2- Baker Mayfield/ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Baker helped turned the Browns organization around. Unfortunately, nagging injuries didn't let him play to his full potential and he ended up being traded. In my opinion, Mayfield showed the type of player he can be when he become the starter for the Rams. Don't tell me the game against the Raiders isn't one to remember. Baker will be Baker, he'll have games where he throws multiple interceptions, but I put him at number two because he'll also have games where he throws 350 yards and three touchdowns. I believe that the style of play Mayfield has fits into this team well and he can keep the Buccaneers in the race for the NFC South crown.

#3- Jimmy Garoppolo/ Las Vegas Raiders

Jimmy G has been the topic of heated quarterback arguments for a while now. Taking his injuries out of the equation, he has the ability to throw well but he's always been a part of a team that has a good running game and a top tier offensive line. The question is can he do it without either of those things being a strong point for his new team. Something to note, he has experience with Mike McDaniels when he was on the Patriots from 2014-2017. But with the inability to get a deal done with top running back Josh Jacobs, this Raiders team could look way different then what fans have been used to in previous years. A lot of pressure could fall on Jimmy G to get it done for this team. I put him at number three because I I've seen him take two different teams to national championships and believe he has what it takes to help boost a team in need.

#4- Deshaun Watson/ Cleveland Browns

I know Watson isn't technically new to the Browns team, but he was suspended for more than half of the season last year. Only starting six games I can mildly consider him a newbie. He had a shaky few games but we all know the Deshaun Watson that played on the Houston Texans and that's who I believe will end up showing up for the Browns. I have him at number four because it'll take him another seven or so games to get comfortable and look like his old self.

#5- Derek Carr/ New Orleans Saints

Nine years later Carr has joined a team that he seems to have meshed well with. Putting up four seasons with over 4,000 passing yards and five seasons over the league average of completion percentage proves he can show up during the regular season even with mediocre and sub-par players. The real question is will a new team, new head coach, and new environment help Derek thrive under pressure. If he works on his inability to maneuver in the pocket, outrageous amount of fumbles and his high percentage of turnover-worthy plays then the Saints will be poised for a wonderful record with this seasoned vet.

#6- Jordan Love/ Green Bay Packers

After three years behind Aaron Rodgers and only one start under his belt, Love gets his chance to shine for this historic franchise. Sitting behind one the greatest quarterbacks doesn't mean that you're going to come out of the gate swinging though. Love is young and so is most of the offense of the Green Bay Packers. Most of the team being young means they can grow and get better as a group but that won't be happening overnight. It's a process that'll probably take at minimum half of the season.

#7- Desmond Ridder/ Atlanta Falcons

Desmond Ridder had a good college career but the four games he played at the end of the 2022 season didn't show much of who he is going to be as a quarterback. The Falcons have some missing pieces and aren't necessarily setting this sophomore quarterback up for success. Building a great quarterback is the start and Ridder has the skills to at least get this team off the ground.

Let me know what you think of my rankings and what you would change!