How many current NFL Quarterbacks will play in XFL 2024?
A few quarterback-related notes before digging into the NFC teams’ depth charts (AFC teams can be found here)…
Time was, most NFL teams would sign an undrafted free agent quarterback to bring to camp. There was always someone playing the role of “camp arm” so that the starters and even backups didn’t get worn out. However, based on the rosters as of today, only nine of 32 franchises are carrying a UDFA QB into camp. Over half the teams in the league have just three QBs in camp when the norm had long been four. What gives? First, there was an unusual number of quarterbacks selected in the draft in April – 14, the most since 2016. That means teams that might have otherwise signed a UDFA at the position drafted one instead. Second, training camps are a lot less intensive than they used to be. Two-a-days are gone and there’s plenty of rest, making a “camp arm” obsolete. You used to need a deep backup to get you through the last preseason game but even those have been cut back from four to three.
How does this affect the XFL? There are fewer quarterbacks available to them that have been through a summer NFL training camp and, most importantly, a summer of NFL coaching. Those QBs would theoretically be more XFL-game ready than those who perhaps only tried out at a minicamp and didn’t get important preseason reps. The pool of higher-quality talent therefore is smaller than it would’ve been a decade ago.
Another point: The NFL this year instituted an emergency quarterback rule that allows teams to dress a third QB for games, only to be used if the starter and backup are unable to play. Many teams last year kept their third quarterback on the practice squad – over two-thirds of NFL teams finished out their season with a QB there. However, this rule specifically indicates that the third QB must come from the 53-man roster, i.e. cannot be used for practice squad game-day elevations. This could cause teams that would normally only keep two to keep three QBs on the active roster, thus reducing the number of QBs available to XFL teams.
Arizona Cardinals
QB Depth Chart: Kyler Murray, Colt McCoy, Clayton Tune, Jeff Driskel, David Blough
It’s a new era in the desert as Steve Keim is out as general manager and departing with him is Head Coach Kliff Kingsbury. They’ve been replaced by Monti Ossenfort and Jonathan Gannon, respectively. However, the top two quarterbacks on the depth chart remain in Murray and McCoy. A torn ACL ended Murray’s 2022 season prematurely and he’s not expected to be ready at the start of this coming season. It will be left to McCoy to patch together a few games and keep Arizona in the hunt until Murray returns. Tune, taken in the fifth round in this year’s draft, will make the roster and either Driskel or Blough could have a job while Murray is out. At this point, neither appears to be the favorite, but both could garner alternative league interest.
Atlanta Falcons
QB Depth Chart: Desmond Ridder, Taylor Heinicke, Logan Woodside
Recently Released: Austin Aune
QB was a popular early-round position to mock to the Falcons prior to the 2023 draft, but they ended up sitting out the rookie arms race. They’ll instead go into the season with Ridder, their third round pick last year, as the starter. Ridder started the final four games of last year and, as one would expect with a third-round rookie, he had his ups and downs. Atlanta apparently saw enough to give him a shot this year. If he doesn’t pan out, they’ll probably be in position to select a high-level quarterback in next year’s draft. Former St. Louis Battlehawk third-stringer Heinicke moves over from Washington clear-eyed in his role as the backup to Ridder. His moxie is valued in that spot. Woodside was plucked off of Tennessee’s practice squad late last year and he’ll go into camp trying to hold down the third QB job.
Carolina Panthers
QB Depth Chart: Bryce Young, Andy Dalton, Matt Corral
Carolina made the bold move to trade up from the ninth spot to number one for the right to take Young, the best QB available, in the hopes that he’ll be their signal-caller for the next decade-plus. In doing so, they traded away two first rounders, two second rounders, and their best WR in DJ Moore. Sacrifices must be made for a potential franchise cornerstone. Dalton will play the role of veteran mentor to Young, a role for which he is well-suited at this stage. Corral sat out his entire rookie season after suffering a Lisfranc injury in training camp. He could be an eventual trade chip for the Panthers.
Bears brass had a decision to make that would determine the future of the team both this year and beyond: Stick with their 2021 first-round pick Fields at QB, or stay at number one overall in the draft and take whoever they felt was the top QB in this class. Fields won out so Chicago will roll with him once again, with an improved supporting cast around him. Walker’s game is similar to Fields so he was brought in to be the primary backup. Peterman started one game for Chicago last season and could be challenged for his role by rookie free-agent Bagent.
Dallas Cowboys
QB Depth Chart: Dak Prescott, Cooper Rush, Will Grier
The Cowboys return all three of their quarterbacks from last season. Prescott is in a make-or-break year with Dallas as there’s a potential “out” in his contract at the conclusion of the upcoming season. The team doesn’t have anyone in line to take over for him if they go that route, meaning they’d have to trade for someone as it’s unlikely they’ll have a high enough draft pick to grab an immediate starter at the position. So Prescott and the Cowboys could remain together after all. Rush has proven to be a formidable backup to Prescott, even going 4-1 as a starter last season when called upon. Grier beat out Ben DiNucci for the #3 job last year and figures to have that role once again.
Detroit Lions
QB Depth Chart: Jared Goff, Nate Sudfeld, Hendon Hooker, Adrian Martinez
Goff had a career renaissance for the Lions last year, nearly willing what had become a laughingstock franchise into the playoffs. Now, a playoff berth is expected in the Motor City. Detroit has begun to look at life post-Goff already, hence the third-round selection used on Hooker. Hooker, just three years Goff’s junior, will likely sit out most of the year after tearing an ACL late last season. This will give him time to adjust to the pro game. Sudfeld has made a nice career out of his sixth-round pedigree, carving out a niche as a backup, playing just seven games in six seasons. With Hooker unlikely to participate in training camp, Kansas State’s Martinez was brought in to be the third QB. The rookie has some running ability but is erratic as a passer. He’s someone an XFL team could bring in as a slash-type backup (think Cole McDonald and D’Eriq King’s usage in 2023).
Green Bay Packers
QB Depth Chart: Jordan Love, Sean Clifford, Danny Etling
For the first time since 1992, Green Bay will have a season-opening quarterback not named Brett Favre or Aaron Rodgers. Love will shoulder the burden of having to follow an all-timer at the position, but he and the team believe he’s ready for the challenge. He better be, because as of now, there’s no safety net behind him. Clifford was a surprise fifth-round pick by the Packers, as many in the draft community did not have a draftable grade on the Nittany Lion. Etling is on his seventh NFL team in five years (and in his second stint in Green Bay) and finished out last season on the team’s practice squad. This situation is begging for a veteran addition behind Love at some point this summer.
The Super Bowl victory in February 2022 seems so long ago for Stafford and the Rams. They followed up that win by posting a 5-12 record last season, with Stafford spending the year banged up before landing on injured reserve in early December. Stafford signed a four-year extension prior to last season and the Rams would like to get at least two more productive years out of him. LA hedged their bets by taking Bennett in the fourth round of the draft. Both he and Stafford went to Georgia, though many years apart. If he can harness his attitude and on-field play, he could open the season as direct backup to Stafford, over the veteran Rypien. Winn, another rookie, has good size but it’s hard to see him cracking this rotation.
Minnesota Vikings
QB Depth Chart: Kirk Cousins, Nick Mullens, Jaren Hall
Minnesota is due to regress to the mean this year after compiling an 11-0 record in one-score games in the 2022 regular season. Cousins and company will try not to let that regression happen. Always on the cusp of being an elite QB, he and the Vikings were one-and-done in the playoffs, but they’re in a winnable NFC North and may likely be the favorites to top the division once again. Mullens was acquired via trade from Las Vegas near the end of training camp last August, and subsequently signed a two-year extension with the Vikings in March. Hall, a rookie fifth-round pick out of BYU, would ideally develop into a long-term backup.
After a less-than-amicable parting of the ways with the Raiders, Carr joins New Orleans to try to get the Saints back to the playoffs for the first time since the retirement of Drew Brees. Carr has long held the “good, but not good enough” label and he’ll try to shed that in the Big Easy. Winston went into the last two seasons as starter, but managed to play just 10 games total. It appears as if he’ll have to settle for backup jobs from here on out. A fourth-round rookie draft pick out of Fresno State (Carr’s alma mater), Haener’s style and stature have more than a passing resemblance to Brees. Taysom Hill remains on the roster, but he’s no longer listed with the quarterbacks.
New York Giants
QB Depth Chart: Daniel Jones, Tyrod Taylor, Tommy DeVito
Jones had the best year of his four-year career in 2022, leading the Giants to the playoffs and a Wild Card Round victory over the Vikings. He significantly cut down on his interceptions and fumbles, with much of his improvement being credited to new Head Coach Brian Daboll, who previously worked with Josh Allen in Buffalo. Jones earned a four-year extension in March, so his status is no longer in limbo. Daboll and Taylor’s time in Buffalo didn’t cross over, but some in the Giants’ front office did. Taylor’s playing style is similar to Jones, so the offense won’t change much if a switch has to be made. DeVito has the inside track on the third-string job, though as an undrafted free-agent, a lot will depend on his play in camp. New York could always look for an upgrade there.
Philadelphia Eagles
QB Depth Chart: Jalen Hurts, Marcus Mariota, Tanner McKee, Ian Book
Hurts was a huge reason Philadelphia went 14-3 in the regular season and reached the Super Bowl. He was rewarded with a $255 million ($180 million guaranteed) contract in the off-season. At just 24 years old, Hurts will keep Philadelphia’s Super Bowl window open for years to come. Mariota arrives in the Philly bullpen after an unsuccessful stint as the starting quarterback of the Falcons last season. He’ll make for a top-five backup in the league, though, and provide some veteran guidance to Hurts. The third spot will come down to sixth-round draft pick McKee and Book, late of the Saints. They are two very different QBs, with Book’s game more resembling Hurts and Mariota.
San Francisco 49ers
QB Depth Chart: Brock Purdy, Trey Lance, Sam Darnold, Brandon Allen
Last year at this time, Purdy was fourth on the depth chart at QB. Now, he’s expected to be the opening-day starter, though it won’t be without competition from Lance, the team’s 2021 first-round draft pick. San Francisco is one of the few places where there’s expected to be a true starting QB battle in training camp. Darnold had the highest passer rating of his career with Carolina last year, but was not in the team’s plans with the drafting of Bryce Young #1 overall. He signed a one-year deal with the 49ers in March and could be promoted to backup if Lance is traded. Allen was Joe Burrow’s backup in Cincinnati last season; he now finds himself on the outside looking in with San Fran. He’s an XFL possibility if he doesn’t make the team.
Few saw Smith’s resurrection coming last year as he not only led Seattle to the playoffs, but won the league’s Comeback Player of the Year award and was rewarded with a three-year, $75 million contract extension in the off-season. This is now Geno’s team. Lock returns as the backup after losing out to Smith in the battle for the starting job in last year’s training camp. Still just 26 years old, Lock hopes to have a Smith-like revival of his own someday. Ahlers started 50 games in five seasons for East Carolina and the rookie free-agent will hope to hold on to the third spot on the depth chart once the regular season begins.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
QB Depth Chart: Baker Mayfield, Kyle Trask, John Wolford
The post-Brady era begins – for real this time – in Tampa this season. Not content to let Trask enter the season as the unquestioned starter, the Bucs went out and brought in Mayfield in the hopes that he could display some of the magic he showed last season when he led the Rams on a 98-yard game-winning TD drive just two days after signing with the team. We’ll see how much of a real “competition” it turns out to be between him and Trask this summer. Wolford was a teammate of Mayfield’s with the Rams last season, starting a career-high three games. It seems more likely that he could challenge Trask for the backup job than Trask challenging Mayfield to start.
Washington Commanders
QB Depth Chart: Sam Howell, Jacoby Brissett, Jake Fromm, Tim DeMorat
Last year’s fifth-round pick Howell gets the first crack at the starting job. Apparently Washington saw enough of him in practice and in the final game of the season – the only game he played in 2022 – to be satisfied that he can become an NFL starting QB. In case he shows otherwise, Brissett signed a one-year, $10 million to be the team’s fallback option. Brissett started 11 games for the Browns last year before giving way to DeShaun Watson. Fromm, a Bills draft pick in 2020, seems close to the end of the NFL road. He finished last season as Washington’s #3 QB, on the practice squad. His spot will be challenged by DeMorat, a rookie UDFA out of Fordham who threw 56 TD passes last season.
