Ranking NFL QBs Most Likely to Lose Their Starting Job During 2024 Season

In the high-stakes landscape that is the NFL, the quarterback position is annually the most scrutinized spot. With immense pressure to perform, even the most seasoned QBs can find themselves on the hot seat.

As we approach the 2024 campaign, several signal-callers are facing uncertain futures, whether due to declining performance, emerging talent, changes in coaching philosophy or other outliers that may affect a player's future under center.

From veteran signal-callers on the decline to young guns waiting in the wings, we'll take a closer look at who could be on the verge of handing over the reins at some point this fall.

With new head coach Brian Callahan in the building, the onus is on Will Levis to elevate the Tennessee Titans.

Levis showed flashes last year, including a four-touchdown NFL debut against the Atlanta Falcons. However, he came down to earth as the season wore on, finishing the year ranked 24th in QBR among signal-callers with at least nine appearances. He also threw for as many touchdowns his final eight starts combined as he did on that October afternoon in Atlanta.

With Levis expected to be the surefire starter for the long haul, general manager Ran Carthon aggressively sought to improve the offense around his young QB this offseason. Tennessee splurged on the likes of running back Tony Pollard, center Lloyd Cushenberry III and wideout Tyler Boyd, and added offensive tackle JC Latham with the No. 7 pick. The team also agreed to terms with wide receiver Calvin Ridley.

The new surrounding talent will make life easier on Levis, but it'll be on the second-year QB to utilize his weapons correctly. Veteran backup Mason Rudolph sits in the wings with 14 career starts under his belt.

Over the last two campaigns, the quarterback play in Cleveland has simply not been good enough.

The team has seen six different quarterbacks earn time under center, and presumed 2024 starter Deshaun Watson has thrown 14 touchdowns compared to nine interceptions in his last two campaigns combined.

Moving into 2024, a lack of success in the early portion of the year could heighten questions at the position.

Since Cleveland sold the farm for Watson years ago, things have only continued to spiral downward at the position. Watson has looked lost at times in the pocket, leaving many to speculate whether or not head coach Kevin Stefanski should be so quick to hand Watson the keys to the offense this fall.

Cleveland has a talented roster on both sides of the ball, but a lack of improvement under center could keep the Browns out of playoff contention. Offseason additions Jameis Winston and Tyler Huntley will loom large, as will 2023 Day 3 pick Dorian Thompson-Robinson.

As it stands, the New England offense will be led by veteran Jacoby Brissett. However, sparkling talent Drake Maye will continue to grab the spotlight for the Patriots offense.

Maye, the No. 3 pick in April's draft, has spent time with a variety of different units thus far in his first NFL offseason. While he's earned plenty of reps with the projected starters in camp, he was also as low as the third quarterback on the depth chart back in OTAs.

While Brissett continues to receive the bulk of the work with the top unit, the arrow continues to point up for Maye. And eventually, it'll be the rookie's time to shine.

While the switch could be more due to the Patriots' eagerness to hand the reins to Maye, instead of bad play that leads to a benching for Brissett, the move seems inevitable at some point in 2024.

With Kirk Cousins gone, it soon will be J.J. McCarthy's time to run the show in Minnesota.

However, he isn't guaranteed to start in Week 1.

While the Vikings traded up one pick for McCarthy during the 2024 draft, the rookie has primarily worked behind veteran Sam Darnold throughout the spring. Now in camp, the race between McCarthy and Darnold for the starting gig is as close as it's ever been.

However, head coach Kevin O'Connell isn't rushing to make a decision on his starter—though Darnold has seemingly had the upper hand throughout the offseason.

"I definitely don't want to be in a world where anybody shows up to this building every day thinking they've got a ceiling, you know a timestamp on them of what the expectations are," O'Connell said. "The expectations are to come in here and be on a daily mission to be the best version of J.J. McCarthy, of Sam Darnold, of Aaron Jones, of Justin Jefferson and that's the challenge we've gotten these players to really understand."

O'Connell's comments don't mean that McCarthy won't start at some point as a rookie or that fans shouldn't be following his progress. But if the Vikings stumble early with Darnold under center, they could bench the veteran and hand the keys to McCarthy earlier than expected.

If there's a roster in football on which the starter under center remains a mystery, it's in Pittsburgh. And with that uncertainty comes expected fluctuation at the position.

"It's a competition," Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith recently said.

"I mean certainly I'm sure things will heat up, but both those guys knew that however they were acquired and they got here and I think it's been pretty transparent."

One of Justin Fields or Russell Wilson will start the year holding a clipboard, but whomever develops the hot hand in camp and/or the preseason could earn the majority of snaps this fall. It's a drastic switch in preparation for both signal-callers (especially for Wilson) who have spent much of the time in street clothes during prior preseason slates.

Whether it's Wilson or Fields who earns the Week 1 nod, expect change this fall for an organization known for its stability both on and off the field.

For both Aidan O'Connell and Gardner Minshew, splitting first-team reps has been a daily offseason occurrence. For Las Vegas Raiders first-year head coach Antonio Pierce, he expects at some point that one will begin to separate from the other—Vegas' first unofficial depth chart of the summer makes that message clear.

The quarterback battle may come down to who finds the hot hand in the preseason. It may also come down to investment, as the team signed Minshew to a multi-year deal this spring worth upward of $25 million. All in all, whomever efficiently operates offensive coordinator Luke Getsy's quick-hitting passing attack the fastest should establish himself as Las Vegas' starter.

But that may only tell half of the story once the season kicks off.

"There's pros and cons [to no timeline], but at the end of the day, we get enough reps with both guys and we are all communicating," Raiders receiver Davante Adams said, per ESPN's Paul Gutierrez. "We have really open conversations, and we all get reps with all the quarterbacks ... and I'm definitely watching at all times, seeing everything and learning how the ball comes out with Gardner versus Aidan."

Whomever the starter is for Vegas this fall will undoubtedly enter Week 1 with a short leash.

Daniel Jones signed a four-year, $160 million extension with the New York Giants in March 2023, but questions continue to swirl about his future in the Big Apple.

While Jones has shown flashes in his five seasons at the helm, injuries and a lack of consistent production have stopped him from cementing himself as the Giants' long-term answer under center. And heading into 2024, there may not be a more scrutinized signal-caller in football.

GM Joe Schoen passed on drafting Jones' potential successor with the No. 6 pick in this year's draft, which further raised questions about their plan under center. While the move could be classified as one with confidence in Jones, his play over the last few years has consistently indicated otherwise.

While the Giants have remained steadfast in their support of their former first-rounder, it's difficult to envision them reaching their ceiling as long as Jones holds the keys to the offense. History has shown it to be true.

The team brought in Drew Lock to primarily back up Jones, but if things go south in rapid fashion, head coach Brian Daboll could pull the plug and insert Lock in hopes of a spark.