Ranking 12 Unproven Quarterbacks Based on Who is Most Likely To Succeed

The NFL has a surprising number of unproven quarterbacks running around the league trying to discover if they can truly ball in the big leagues.

Rookies won’t be included in this list because I have no clue what they will look like and it’s unfair to compare them to guys who have been in the league a few years. We can talk about them at a later date.

Let’s rank the unproven quarterbacks based on who is most likely to succeed:

But first, an honorable mention:

Drew Lock: Lock is a bit more experienced than everyone else on this list and he may very well have already proven he’s only a backup but I wouldn’t be shocked if Geno Smith turned back into a pumpkin this season and the Seahawks have to unleash Drew Lock.

Drew Lock somewhere right now pic.twitter.com/eZaLYCORfo

— br_betting (@br_betting) March 8, 2022

Look at this Make-a-Wish kid.

12. Zach Wilson: The Jets did everything in their power to destroy Zach Wilson’s confidence. It’s a wrap for the Milf Hunter.

11. Sam Ehlinger: I refuse to watch any Jeff Saturday-led Indianapolis Colts football so I won’t lie to you and pretend to have some assessment of Sam Ehlinger’s game.

10. Malik Willis: I’m personally rooting for Malik Willis’s downfall. He went to Liberty University—a Christian college that exists exclusively to fund evangelical, super-conservative political candidates and groom 18-22-year-olds into becoming the lamest humans on Earth.

9. Mac Jones: Bill Belichick has dedicated the last couple of seasons to ruining Mac Jones’s career and terrorizing his life. I have no idea if Mac Jones will be a starter in this league but as long as he stays on the Patriots, he doesn’t stand a chance.

8. Desmond Ridder: I’ve been watching and reading a lot of Desmond Ridder propaganda. My honest assessment? He’s fine. Atlanta will build a roster up around him until they inevitably trade for someone astronomically better than him.

7. Sam Howell: The 2022 5th-round pick got one start at the end of the season. He threw for 169 yards with a touchdown and an interception but he won the game and proved he’s a gamer with his ability to extend plays running. Unfortunately, he plays Washington so his head is already touching the ceiling but he could be Taylor Heinke 2.0.

6. Kyle Trask: Kyle Trask might suck. He has 22 career yards and there’s a good chance he spends Sundays on the sidelines holding a clipboard for the next decade collecting checks he doesn’t deserve. But he’s competing with Baker Mayfield so he’ll get the opportunity to play for the Bucs this season. Guaranteed.

5. Trey Lance

The 49ers traded 4 draft picks to move up and select Trey Lance with the no. 3 pick in 2021. Two years and several strange injuries later and Lance is the textbook definition of an unproven quarterback.

CJ Beathard and Nick Mullins looked like future Hall of Famers playing in the Kyle Shanahan offense. Jimmy Garoppolo was one throw away from winning a Super Bowl against Patrick Mahomes.

If Trey Lance can stay healthy and beat Brock Purdy for the starting QB job then he might put up legendary numbers.

Trey Lance scramble pic.twitter.com/2R3YkboVi7

— 49erscast (@49erscast1) August 13, 2022

God, I’m rooting for Lance.

He’s going to scramble for a first down one time and the Fox News-er in the world are going to have Colin Kaepernick flashbacks. They are going to treat this man like Dylan Mulvany.

The 49ers are getting boycotted if Lance rushes for 100 yards with an afro.

4. Kenny Pickett

This is almost completely based on the situation Kenny Pickett is in compared to the rest of these unproven quarterbacks.

In 16 years, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin has never had a losing record.

Even last season when he started Mitch Trubisky. Pittsburgh still managed to finish above .500.

Personally, I think Kenny Pickett kind of sucks but I also thought Ben Roethlisberger sucked and he has two rings.

You put on these Steelers colors and you are guaranteed a playoff berth. Pickett will never have the numbers to put his in the same convo as guys like Justin Herbert or Trevor Lawrence but he’s going to make the right plays to win games.

3. Brock Purdy

Brock Purdy went 5-0 when he was given the starting role for the 49ers at the end of the 2022 season. Then he won his first two playoff games. He almost marched to the Super Bowl before shredding his elbow in the NFC Championship game against the Eagles.

Purdy threw for 1,374 yards with 13 TDs and 4 interceptions and a 107.3 passer rating. He completed 67% of his passes. He might be a legit top QB in this league but unfortunately, his arm was torn to shreds so I can’t put him no. 1 on this list.

2. Justin Fields

I almost didn’t put Justin Fields on this list because he has significantly more playing time than any of these other quarterbacks but the Bears didn’t even let him throw the ball last year. He was either always handing the ball off or was forced to scramble out of the pocket because the offensive line let every pass rusher waltz into the backfield.

I’m a firm believer in getting your young quarterback a stud receiver to help him develop. Whether it’s Amari Cooper for Dak Prescott or Stefon Diggs for Josh Allen or AJ Brown for Jalen Hurts.

Now, the Bears brought in DJ Moore to help alongside Chase Claypool.

Justin Fields is in the best position to succeed. Let’s see if he’s good for real. He’d be first on this list if he weren’t playing in Chicago. The best Chicago Bears quarterback of all time is like, Kyle Orton.

1. Jordan Love

I have never seen Jordan Love throw a football.

I’m not 100% sure I know what he looks like. But I know the quarterback factory Green Bay has developed from Brett Favre to Aaron Rodgers so I am putting all of my chips on Love.

People can say the Packers moved on from Aaron Rodgers because he was annoying or had a beef with the general manager but I was there when the team moved on from Brett Favre. He was equally annoying and refused to retire but the Packers didn’t move on from Favre because he was difficult to work with. They moved on because they had Rodgers.

And just like that transition, I believe Green Bay looks at Jordan Love and deems him prepared to be QB1.

Green Bay hasn’t messed this formula up yet. I’m all in on this guy who I literally cannot find a photo of without a helmet on. He may be AI.

Thanks for reading. Go ahead and sign up for the D, the daily Deadseriousness newsletter and don’t miss out on exclusive new content.