Top 10 NFL Quarterbacks Under the Most Pressure in the 2020-21 Season
As the season approaches, several teams are looking to take the next step. The quarterback is one of the most important positions in all of football, but some players have struggled and now find themselves at a crossroads in their careers or at least approaching one.
An important season lies ahead, and these quarterbacks will need to perform well to keep their current jobs. There are potential replacements available, and no one wants to be replaced. Now, they must prove themselves.
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Mitchell Trubisky
The Bears' season was awful last year, and Trubisky is mostly to blame. The offense didn't just regress. It lost all sense of a functioning system. It got to the point where even the defense was affected by his poor performance. The defense got tired of being dragged out onto the field so often.
Now they brought in Nick Foles and declined Trubisky's fifth-year option. Hey Chicago, are you tired of the what if speculations about getting Mahomes or Watson? Good, because you will be hearing them for years to come. At this point, it is do or die.
Please, Bears, sign this man to a 5-year, $100 million extension.
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Baker Mayfield
Baker Reagan Mayfield is an American football quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He famously played college football for the Oklahoma Sooners, where he secured the Heisman Trophy during his senior year. The Cleveland Browns originally snagged him with the... read more
Baker showed great potential as a rookie but then regressed last season. To be fair, that was with Freddie Kitchens as his head coach, but still. The Browns have done everything in their power to help him succeed. He has weapons, protection, and another coach in Kevin Stefanski.
If he can't succeed this year, he might be just another victim in the QB graveyard.
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Carson Wentz
Carson Wentz is an American football quarterback who was playing for the Indianapolis Colts of the NFL. He played college football at North Dakota State University. In 2016, he was selected second overall by the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFL Draft, becoming the highest-drafted player from an FCS school... read more
The Eagles did the unthinkable and drafted Jalen Hurts. Wentz is serviceable, but if these past few seasons have indicated anything, he can't stay healthy. If he's healthy, he's fine, but otherwise, they might replace him with Hurts.
He risks becoming the next Sam Bradford, it feels like.
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Derek Carr
Derek Dallas Carr is the starting quarterback for the Las Vegas Raiders in the NFL. Since being drafted in the second round in 2014, he has earned three Pro Bowl selections and has led the Raiders to multiple playoff appearances. Carr is known for his strong arm, leadership in the locker room, and consistent... read more
The Raiders have no excuses now. This is a team that has been irrelevant since 2002, and they have the talent around Carr for wild card upside. They won't win the division, but a wild card is more than possible. Anything less is unacceptable when you go get Henry Ruggs, Bryan Edwards, and Lynn Bowden.
Not to mention, they already have Tyrell Williams and Josh Jacobs. They have better pieces on defense as well, but Derek Carr needs to get back to his 2016 form. As the years pass by, it's looking more and more like a fluke.
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Tom Brady
Thomas Edward Patrick Brady Jr. is a retired American football quarterback who last played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the National Football League. Brady is known for being the only quarterback in history to win seven Super Bowls and is widely considered one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time... read more
Why is the GOAT here, you ask? Well, it's simple: he's in Tampa now. The Bucs have some hype, but look at the past few years, and he looks like he's done. It's clear he's in the 2015 Peyton Manning stage of his career.
Yes, they have weapons, and they even brought a washed-up Gronk back. But let me remind you that Tom Brady is 43. Father Time is undefeated, and Brady's time is near. Bruce Arians is also no Bill Belichick. It's possible he struggles in Arians' system. This reminds me a lot of the Browns last year. Don't blow it.
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Drew Lock
Denver, like Oakland - I mean Vegas - has been irrelevant these past few years and is looking to get back into the playoff promised land. They went all out for weapons, which they needed badly after giving away Emmanuel Sanders. Elway was smart and doubled down on offense with Jerry Jeudy and KJ Hamler.
But everything revolves around Drew Lock. Need I remind you of their quarterback graveyard since Manning retired? Lock showed flashes of potential but still has a lot to prove.
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Dwayne Haskins
Dwayne Haskins Jr. (May 3, 1997 - April 9, 2022) was an American professional football quarterback. He played in the National Football League (NFL) for three seasons.
Haskins played college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes, where he set Big Ten Conference records for single-season passing... read more
Last year, he struggled as he shared the starting role with Case Keenum. Now they need some semblance of progress. The defense should be okay, but the offense is a mess. Luckily, they do have "Riverboat" Ron Rivera as head coach. Look what he did with Cam well before Newton got injured.
If he doesn't develop, there's a problem, and another QB may be needed.
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Matthew Stafford
John Matthew Stafford, born on February 7, 1988, is an American football quarterback for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League. He was selected as the first overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions, where he played for over a decade before being traded to the Rams in 2021.... read more
Stafford is a veteran quarterback who has the stats to be decent, and that's all he has going for him. Like Wentz, he has trouble staying healthy, which has cost the Lions. Just look at last year. In his defense, the Lions haven't always had the greatest protection for him. But still.
He isn't on the best of terms with Patricia, and if he can't prove he still has it, the Lions might have to draft another quarterback as a replacement.
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Daniel Jones
Last year, he showed flashes of potential but was also inconsistent. Now, this is his team. Eli Manning is gone, and he has to start showing progress and development. Let's not forget about the massive reach Gettleman made to draft him. He'll always have that hanging over his head.
If Daniel Jones can't at the very least show consistency and more development, it will be easy to label him as a massive reach and a potential bust.
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Josh Allen
Joshua Patrick Allen (born May 21, 1996) is an American football quarterback for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL).
He played college football for the Wyoming Cowboys and was selected seventh overall by the Bills in the 2018 NFL Draft. ... read more
Josh Allen has everything he needs to be successful and bring Buffalo to the next level. The defense is a top-five unit in the league, but the offense has struggled, which is what hurt them last year.
Stephon Diggs can change that, but only if Allen develops. So far, he's shown he's a poor man's Lamar Jackson and nothing more. The Patriots are significantly weaker and will likely be tanking. Yes, it's still weird to say Patriots and tank in the same sentence.
The AFC East is up for grabs, and Buffalo is the frontrunner to win it. Bills, whatever you do, don't let the Patriots win this division! This is your time now, and it all starts with Josh Allen.
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Joe Burrow
Joseph Lee Burrow (born December 10, 1996) is an American professional football quarterback for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League (NFL). After three seasons of college football with the Ohio State Buckeyes, he played two seasons for the LSU Tigers, winning the Heisman Trophy and... read more
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Lamar Jackson
Lamar Demeatrice Jackson Jr. (born January 7, 1997) is an American football quarterback for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL).
He played college football for the Louisville Cardinals, winning the Heisman Trophy in 2016. Jackson was selected by the Ravens with the final... read more
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Sam Darnold
Samuel Richard Darnold, born on June 5, 1997, is an American professional football quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League. He played college football at the University of Southern California and was selected third overall by the New York Jets in the 2018 NFL Draft. Darnold... read more
He's in the same boat as Baker. It's do or die. The thing with him is he's gonna be running for his life again, and if he can't stay upright, then yeah, he's in trouble.
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Gardner Minshew
Flint Gardner Minshew II is an American football quarterback who most recently played for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League. He gained attention in 2019 as a rookie for his distinctive mustache and charismatic personality. Minshew played college football at Washington State before... read more
Had a cool rookie story, but now reality sets in. Overall, he's not bad, but he's gonna have to have a lot of guts to keep his starting role. Keep in mind the Jags are tanking, and there are a few quarterbacks in line for next year, including Trevor Lawrence. This team is projected to be the worst in the league. Have fun with getting no more than five wins.
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Ben Roethlisberger
Benjamin Todd Roethlisberger Sr., nicknamed Big Ben, is a former American professional football quarterback. He played his entire 18-season career for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the National Football League. Roethlisberger led the team to two Super Bowl victories and retired after the 2021 season.
First off, assuming he's coming back, that in itself is up in the air at this point. Second, even if he does, he's 38 and past his prime. Sure, he's better than the horrid backups, but that's not saying much.
There's a good chance he won't be the same QB. In that case, better hope he can at least lead the team to respectability.