Ranking NFL backup quarterbacks: Which team’s QB2 is best?

Backup quarterbacks are the least important person on an NFL game-day roster … until they become the most important. Just ask the 2023 Jets, who lost Aaron Rodgers after four snaps and stumbled from serious contender to 7-10. But having the right No. 2 guy could mean the Lombardi Trophy (see: Nick Foles and the 2017 Eagles).

How much teams decide to invest in their backup quarterback is an interesting team-building exercise. In general, my view is that backup QBs are underrated and represent value in the free agent market. Even if a team feels it can’t survive for the long term without its starting signal-caller, there are plenty of scenarios where the No. 2 needs to step in for a few games. Competent play in those situations can mean the difference between success or failure in pursuing a playoff berth.

Some teams — such as the Packers and Dolphins — have already had to put their backups to work in 2024, and more will surely follow in the coming weeks. So who is well positioned to weather a quarterback injury (or poor performance) storm?

I ranked the current backup quarterbacks from 1-32. The error bands are much larger here than for starters — many of these players are being judged on a very limited sample of actual football. But teams have to make calls on which backups they want, so it’s only right we also make a judgment. This list consists of current backup QBs, season-ending injuries excluded — so Nick Mullens (not J.J. McCarthy) is considered Minnesota’s backup.