No beginning QB is ideal — even three-time Tremendous Bowl champion Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs.
Forward of coaching camps opening in late July, Yardbarker NFL writers establish the chief weak point of each beginning quarterback within the NFC.
NFC East
DALLAS COWBOYS | Dak Prescott | 60 million causes | Dallas hasn’t gained a Tremendous Bowl in 30 seasons, and strain is all the time centered on the staff’s passer. Prescott is the highest-paid NFL participant ($60M a season), however he missed the ultimate 9 video games of 2024 with a hamstring damage. He should shortly silence doubters.
NEW YORK GIANTS | Russell Wilson | Wanting over shoulder | With 10-year veteran Jameis Winston and first-rounder Jaxson Dart ready within the wings, Wilson may shortly get yanked if he underwhelms like he did through the Pittsburgh Steelers’ five-game shedding streak to shut final season. After 10 years and a Tremendous Bowl win with Seattle, the 36-year-old passer is on his third staff in 4 seasons.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES | Jalen Hurts | Doesn’t do “home windows” | Hurts beats groups as a lot along with his legs as his arm, averaging 10 carries for 63 yards per sport final season. Nonetheless, he misses possibilities to go deep and too typically avoids tight home windows on medium-range throws.
WASHINGTON COMMANDERS | Jayden Daniels | Second receivers, left aspect | The second-year quarterback too typically threw to nearer receivers for brief features as a rookie fairly than his choices farther downfield. Maybe with new left sort out Laremy Tunsil, Daniels will get much more alternatives to go deep and may drift extra to the left aspect of the pocket. — Rick Snider
NFC West
ARIZONA CARDINALS | Kyler Murray | Second-half woes | In 2024, Murray and the Cardinals bolted to a 6-4 file, with the QB posting a formidable 16 landing passes (and solely six turnovers) via 10 weeks. After setting Arizona up for a possible playoff look, Murray collapsed, turning the ball over 9 instances and taking 15 sacks within the remaining seven weeks. Because of this, the Cardinals missed the playoffs for the third straight season.
LOS ANGELES RAMS | Matthew Stafford | Throws below strain | Stafford is a terrific QB, however his efficiency below strain cratered final season. In accordance with Professional Soccer Focus (PFF), Stafford had the fourth-lowest grade within the league (33.3) when below strain — the identical grade as Tennessee’s underwhelming Will Levis.
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS | Brock Purdy | Arm energy | Purdy performs on time and is an underrated playmaker, however his arm energy is missing. Among the many 87 QBs with at the least 20% of their staff’s makes an attempt, Purdy ranked 82nd with a 15.8% Massive Time Throw Charge (passes with wonderful ball location and timing 20+ yards downfield right into a tighter window), by way of PFF.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS | Sam Darnold | Struggles in opposition to strain | Darnold had an unbelievable 2024 season that was erased by late-season struggles when pressured. Per PFF, Darnold’s spectacular 84.2 passing grade dipped to a mediocre-at-best 60.7, and his interception price doubled to three.2% when below strain. — Sterling Bennett
NFC North
CHICAGO BEARS | Caleb Williams | Errant throws | Williams’ rookie numbers weren’t dangerous, with 62.5% accuracy and solely six interceptions. Nonetheless, he generally turns a simple move right into a wild throw on the worst instances.
GREEN BAY PACKERS | Jordan Love | Lack of rhythm | The third-year starter and fifth-year veteran ended final season along with his three worst video games (completion percentages of 57.7, 59.3 and 50). For the remainder of the season, he was usually constant, however his whole passing yards have been a rollercoaster.
DETROIT LIONS | Jared Goff | New system | With OC John Morton changing Ben Johnson, Goff should regulate to a brand new coordinator. He slumped barely when he got here from the Los Angeles Rams to Detroit in 2021, however then adjusted over the subsequent three seasons.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS | J.J. McCarthy | Too fragile? | After shedding his rookie season to a torn proper meniscus, questions will canine McCarthy about sturdiness. Possibly that’s why the Vikings have 4 passers on the roster. His arm, as soon as perceived as a weak point, apparently is not. “He can undoubtedly zip it every time he must,” receiver Justin Jefferson stated, per ESPN’s Kevin Seifert. — Rick Snider
NFC South
ATLANTA FALCONS | Michael Penix Jr. | Throws between the numbers | NFL Professional knowledge tells us that Penix’s completion share was 26.4 share factors worse than anticipated on throws between the numbers in a Week 18 time beyond regulation loss to the Panthers. Penix has the arm energy to hit on throws close to the sidelines, however he’s leaving plenty of actual property uninhabited along with his struggles on makes an attempt towards the center of the sphere.
CAROLINA PANTHERS | Bryce Younger | Dimension | The third-year professional’s diminutive body scared some away, and thru his first 18 NFL begins, the 5-foot-10 QB seemed overwhelmed by the competitors. He grew in stature (figuratively talking, at the least) final season after being benched in Week 3, however he should all the time overcome his below-average top for an NFL quarterback.
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS | Tyler Shough/Spencer Rattler | Age, accidents/dealing with strain | Shough, the No. 40 general decide of the 2025 NFL Draft, turns 26 in September and suffered three season-ending accidents whereas in faculty. Rattler, a 2024 fifth-round decide, appeared in seven video games final season (six begins) and couldn’t deal with strain, ending the season 30-of-68 (44.1 p.c) for 386 yards and one interception and getting sacked 22 instances when below duress. (h/t PFF)
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS | Baker Mayfield | Ball safety | For as a lot as Mayfield offers the Bucs, he additionally takes quite a bit away along with his reckless taking part in model. Final season, Mayfield led the NFL in interceptions (16) and fumbles (13), pushing his gunslinger mentality to the acute. — Eric Smithling
