Could Baker Mayfield be in danger of being benched to start the year? Here are three who could very well be benched before Week 1.
The 2023 NFL season is not far away from getting underway. Currently, all 32 teams have begun training camp, as they look to implement their plays to use in games while determining who are the best players to fill out the 53-man roster for Week 1.
As is the case every summer, the focus of training camps is on the quarterback positions. After all, quarterback play can make or break a team's chances of making the playoffs. Heading into the season, most QB1 positions are locked in, which can be contributed to a rather lackluster quarterback market this offseason, with the exception being Aaron Rodgers.
With over a month to go, here are three quarterbacks who are in danger of being benched before Week 1 of the 2023 season.
NFL Rumors: 3 QBs who could be benched by Week 1
3 QBs who could be benched between now and Week 1: Baker Mayfield, Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had the unenviable position of replacing Tom Brady, who retired for the second time in two years. It was a bad position to be in, as the Buccaneers made the playoffs, so they weren't selecting one of the top quarterback prospects in this year's NFL Draft. The Buccaneers decided to go to free agency to find a signal caller, which was weak this year but signed Baker Mayfield.
While Mayfield does have the starting experience, the QB1 job isn't being handed to him. Instead, he is competing with Kyle Trask, the second-year quarterback out of Florida. Recently, Trask received some rave reviews from offensive coordinator Dave Canales, who said that the competition has essentially tightened.
Recently, an anonymous NFL general manager called Mayfield a backup quarterback when speaking with The Athletic.
Last season, Mayfield started with the Carolina Panthers but was waived midway through the season. He was claimed by the Los Angeles Rams and showed promise in Sean McVay's offense. In 12 games between the Panthers and Rams, Mayfield threw for 2,163 yards, 10 touchdowns, and eight interceptions while completing 60.0 percent of his passes.
The QB1 spot isn't a given for Mayfield, and he has Tampa Bay's preseason games to show that he's deserving of the role.
3 QBs who could be benched between now and Week 1: Davis Mills, Texans
The Houston Texans missed out on the chance to secure the No. 1 overall pick after a Week 18 win over the Indianapolis Colts. But, the Texans did get the second-overall pick, which put them into a position to select a quarterback prospect not named Bryce Young. So, the team used the pick on Ohio State's C.J. Stroud to be the team's hopeful quarterback of the future.
So surely, he's the QB1, right? Wrong.
Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans stressed throughout this offseason that there will be a competition between Stroud and Davis Mills for the starting job. So, hence why Mills qualifies for "quarterbacks who could be benched between now and Week 1."
Mills was the team's third-round pick in 2021 and showed some promise during his rookie year. But as for last season, he received 14 starts, while Kyle Allen received two, and Jeff Driskel got one. Mills threw for 3,118 yards, 17 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions (tied for league-high) while completing 61.0 percent of his passes.
Thus far in training camp, Mills and Stroud are splitting first-team reps, and the competition remains tight. But, given that Stroud is the second-overall pick, he could carry the advantage.
3 QBs who could be benched between now and Week 1: Mac Jones, Patriots
The New England Patriots' offense was all kinds of putrid last season. Losing offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels hurt that side of the line of scrimmage. Instead of getting an offensive-minded coach, head coach Bill Belichick had Matt Patricia, former defensive coordinator, and ex-Detroit Lions head coach, call offensive plays, while Joe Judge, a former special teams coach and failed New York Giants head coach, work with the quarterbacks. That strategy worked just as well as you would have expected.
The person who suffered the most with this change? Mac Jones.
After helping lead the Patriots to 10 wins and a playoff berth in his first year in the NFL, Jones' production took a dip after McDaniels' departure. In 14 games, Jones threw for 2,997 yards, 14 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions while posting a 65.2 completion percentage.
Bailey Zappe, meanwhile, got some starts last season, leading New England to wins in his two starts.
This season, the Patriots will have a much more experienced person calling offensive plays in new coordinator Bill O'Brien. This hire is a plus for Jones, but he's not being guaranteed the starting job. Well, Belichick isn't anyway.
While speaking with reporters, Belichick refused to name Jones the starter, stressing that all 90 players are competing for spots. This is what Belichick does, and what his assistant coaches have replicated when they get sideline boss gigs of their own (i.e. Judge with the Giants).
It's hard to envision Jones not getting the Week 1 start. But, Belichick does what he wants, and can shock the world with his decisions. Let's not forget that ahead of the 2021 season, Belichick named Jones the starting quarterback over veteran Cam Newton, who was released by the team.