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Through the first two weeks of free agency, more than 20 backup and starting quarterbacks have signed deals to play for new teams in 2024.
Here are five QBs who landed in better situations than they were in last season.
Sam Howell | Washington to Seattle
Howell took a beating behind one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL in Washington last year. He was sacked 65 times and pressured on nearly 40 percent of his dropbacks (277 of 712), per Pro Football Focus. Despite running for his life much of the time, Howell still finished 12th in the league in passing yards (3,946) and 15th in touchdowns (21).
The 23-year-old should have better protection (the Seahawks offensive line gave up the 10th-fewest sacks last season) as well as a much better run game (Kenneth Walker has 1,955 yards and 17 touchdowns the last two seasons). Plus, the Seagawks feature a better stable of pass catchers in D.K. Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Noah Fant.
Howell will likely start training camp as the backup, but head coach Mike Macdonald has been non-committal on a starting QB. So Howell may have an opportunity to dethrone Geno Smith for the QB1 job.
Gardner Minshew | Indianapolis to Las Vegas
Minshew presumably didn’t expect to play in 17 games after the Colts drafted Anthony Richardson fourth overall last year. But that’s exactly what happened when Richardson went down in Week 4 with a season-ending injury. Minshew had a solid season (3,305 yards, 15 touchdowns, nine interceptions), but he was working with a limited run game and didn’t have much of a No. 2 receiver until Josh Downs burst onto the scene midway through the year.
In Vegas, Minshew will play with an up-and-coming running back in Zamir White while his No. 1 receiver is one of the best in the league in Davante Adams. And, he has solid second and third options in Jakobi Meyers and Michael Mayer. Minshew will also have better protection as the Raiders offensive line surrendered fewer pressures (168 to 176) and hurries (106 to 140) than the Colts did.
Jameis Winston | New Orleans to Cleveland
Winston only attempted 47 passes in 2023 as Derek Carr’s backup in New Orleans, and he hasn’t started more than seven games in a season since he left Tampa Bay in 2019. He was unlikely to get an opportunity to play more than a backup role with the Saints, but the same can’t be said in Cleveland.
Yes, Deshaun Watson is the Browns’ unquestioned starter, but in the two seasons he’s been with the team, he’s missed 22 of 34 games because of a suspension and a rash of injuries. Watson hasn’t played a full season since 2020, and if history is any indication, there’s a good chance he’ll miss time in 2024 as well.
Joe Flacco, P.J. Walker, Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Jeff Driskel all saw action last season, which bodes well for Winston’s odds of playing in 2024.
Tyrod Taylor | New York Giants to New York Jets
Statistically speaking, the Giants had the worst offensive line in the NFL in 2023. Both Taylor and Daniel Jones were injured during various points of the season, and the abuse they took playing behind a unit that surrendered 85 sacks, 267 pressures and 201 hurries likely contributed to said injuries.
Though he’s still a backup on his new team, Taylor is in a much better environment than he was a year ago. He likely won’t play unless Aaron Rodgers gets injured again, but if he is thrust into action, he’ll play behind a better offensive line that added Tyron Smith, Morgan Moses and John Simpson. He’ll also have a better receiver corps to throw to including Garrett Wilson, Mike Williams, Allen Lazard and Tyler Conklin.
Mac Jones | New England to Jacksonville
Jones’ career has been downhill since his Pro Bowl rookie season in 2021. His completion percentage, passing yards, touchdowns and passer rating have declined each year since then, and he was benched several times in 2023 in favor of Bailey Zappe.
A change of scenery could do Jones some good, as will getting out of the New England market where he was the scapegoat for seemingly all of the Patriots’ shortcomings. Jones is only 25, so spending a year backing up Trevor Lawrence may be just what he needs to clear his head and get his career back on track.
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