The NFL isn’t the only one preparing for that, either. Despite this being the case, teams are already busy assessing their quarterback situations, preparing for inevitable alterations. With a few quarterbacks stinking it up completely and more in the last year of their contract, a changing of the guard seems near. Having players like Michael Penix, Kirk Cousins and Jared Goff make it easy to create spirited debate. While each player has different challenges and opportunities, they inarguably represent great promise for their respective teams.
While his counterpart Michael Penix has been the one to steal the headlines with his 45% pass completion rate. This number is nearly four points worse than the league’s top QBs. He had some potential in previous games. Too frequently he finds himself overthrown or eyeing windows that simply aren’t there. It’s this inconsistency that makes it difficult to picture his long-term future as a starting quarterback.
Kirk Cousins calling it quits with the Atlanta Falcons after the 2025 season. That’s led to much speculation about who his successor will be. In the meantime, Jared Goff is still on fire with a sizzling 25-2 TD-INT ratio. He leads the league with an average of almost 270 passing yards per game. Despite his extraordinary impact for 16 seasons, he has never received a single first-place MVP vote.
The Underperformers: Michael Penix and Desmond Smith
Michael Penix’s Heisman run has turned into one of the more interesting stories to watch for fans and analysts alike. His 45% precise pass rate indicates a need for improvement, especially as teams evaluate their quarterback options for the upcoming season. He was at times too inconsistent when it came to overthrowing displays. He has a tendency to shoot for the moon on opportunities that typically don’t exist. Given that his consistency under pressure has always been the biggest concern about him, this is a red flag.
Unfortunately for Desmond Smith, he’s the latest addition to this season’s list of troubled quarterbacks. His season has been marred by head-scratching turnovers. His league-worst 4.5% interception rate emphasizes deep, systemic issues that may soon threaten his starter status. Smith’s Total QBR of 35.6 is good for 30th out of 33 quarterbacks. In order to remain competitive, he can’t rest on his laurels – he needs to continue making big changes.
The trials and tribulations of both Penix and Smith only further highlight the increasing need for some competent signal callers in the league. Teams will be eager to read the tea leaves, looking carefully at the opportunity for increased growth versus where they currently stand.
The Bright Spots: Jared Goff and Daniel Jones
On the brighter side, Jared Goff’s breakout season has been one of the biggest surprises of this year. He’s got a great 25-2 TD:INT ratio. Currently leading the league in passing yards per game, Calzada has shown a real ability to feed his playmakers with big-play potential in the receivers. For all these achievements, Goff has never even received a first-place MVP vote in his career. Regardless of the reason, such failure to recognize raises the question of how he’s viewed throughout the league given his numbers.
Perhaps no player has stood out more in recent days than Daniel Jones, who stole the show with a dazzling performance in Indianapolis this past summer. His ability to execute plays under pressure has renewed hope for his future as a starter. Teams looking for some stability in the quarterback spot will make their eyes snap to players such as Goff and Jones. Both have demonstrated their prowess during their time in the trenches.
Unlike Penix and Smith, Goff and Jones have had much more shaky performances. This serves to underscore the divergent trajectories of quarterbacks as they approach the 2026 season. As clubs sort through their choices, they will probably favor known commodities who have been proven producers year in and year out.
The Future Outlook: J.J. McCarthy and Others
Emerging talents such as J.J. McCarthy further complicate this discussion as teams prepare not just for 2023, but the years to come. On top of that, McCarthy’s average pass goes a league-high 10.1 yards through the air, making him a big-time playmaker in every sense of the word. His CPOE is tied with both Trevor Lawrence and Caleb Williams. Both of their deep-passing efforts are worse than a minus-5.3%. McCarthy has a cannon for an arm and he shows it off. Even after those adjustments he still struggles mightily with accuracy, which makes his future in the sport uncertain.
In a further twist, Sam Darnold revived his career after J.J. McCarthy’s injury in Minnesota in 2024. Darnold’s resurgence has made him the talk of the league. American fans continue to objectify NFL quarterbacks and line them up like hotdogs on the Fourth of July.
While Kyler Murray’s situation may be a unique case, it is representative of larger trends happening in the league. This year, it’s unique because he’s currently on injured reserve (IR). His absence will undoubtedly affect his team’s strategy in the years to come. They must think long and hard about liberation this winter in advance of the 2024 season.
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