By Greg Fuchs
Even though the Super Bowl has yet to be played, the 2023 quarterback
carousel is already spinning out of control. Wait. What? Really? Brady
retired? Again? For real this time? Well, that certainly changes things,
as on my original carousel I had him landing in Las Vegas or San
Francisco. Oh well, those teams will have to go to Plan B.
Now that the Brady effect has slowed down the QB carousel a bit, let’s
look at the 2023 quarterback situation for all 16 AFC teams.
Buffalo – As long as Josh Allen remains healthy, the Bills are set for the
next 10 years with a top 5 quarterback.
Miami – Tua Tagovailoa showed what he could do when healthy this
season, but it is his future health that is the big concern. Counting
college he has missed games due to injury in 5 straight seasons. Ankles,
hip, hands & head; Tua has shown no favoritism when it comes to
injuring body parts. Even if he doesn’t have any concussions next
season, it is highly likely that he will injure some other body part.
The Dolphins have already said Tua will be their starter in 2023, but
they will need to procure a solid backup QB. Teddy Bridgewater is likely
not the answer due to his own injury issues in 2022. Are they confident
enough in Skylar Thompson to be the #2 man? We should know the
answer no later than the NFL draft in April.
New England – The Patriots will likely go with Mac Jones under new
offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien, but Bailey Zappe will be close by if
Jones stumbles.
New York Jets – No team needs a legit starting quarterback more than
the Jets as Zach Wilson is not the answer. The Jets are a playoff caliber
team IF they can find themselves a top notch QB. Aaron Rodgers and
Derek Carr will be the 2 hot offseason rumors as QBs possibly moving to
New York.
Cincinnati – Just like the Bills, the Bengals are set for the next 10 years
with another top 5 QB, Joe Burrow.
Baltimore – There will be a lot of rumors surrounding Lamar Jackson
over the next few months, but the Ravens would be crazy to trade him
or let him leave via free agency. Sign him already!
Pittsburgh – Kenny Pickett may not be a top 5 QB, but he will be the
Steelers starting quarterback in 2023 and likely for many years beyond
that.
Cleveland – It is still a bit of an unknown if Deshaun Watson can
recapture the magic from a few years ago, but given the draft picks the
Browns gave up to get him and the enormous contract they signed him
to, he will be the main man in C-town for a while. I expect him to return
to a top 10 status.
Jacksonville – Trevor Lawrence should be the main guy for the Jaguars
for many years to come. He has top 5 potential.
Tennessee – Are Ryan Tannehill’s days over in Nashville? Maybe. Is
2022 draft pick Malik Willis ready to take over. My gut says not in 2023.
The Titans have a new GM and the 11 th pick in the draft. Do they move
up to draft another QB? Do they sign a veteran like Jimmy Garoppolo?
Do they run Tannehill back out there for another season? I’ll let you
know in May.
Indianapolis – The Matt Ryan experiment was a disaster in 2022 hence
the Colts are desperate to add a quarterback to their talented roster.
They have the 4 th pick in the draft. If they don’t move up in the draft to
select Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud or Alabama’s Bryce Young, they could
very well take Kentucky’s Will Levis with the 4 th pick.
Houston – The Texans have the 2 nd pick in the draft and they most
certainly will take either Stroud or Young.
Kansas City – As you may have heard the Chiefs have this guy named
Mohomes as their QB. He could be hoisting the Super Bowl trophy in a
few days to go along with the MVP trophy he will likely win this
offseason. Enough said.
Los Angeles Chargers – The Chargers just hired Kellen Moore as their
offensive coordinator. They hope he will unlock the massive potential
of Justin Herbert, who could be a top 5 QB in 2023.
Las Vegas – The Raiders have pretty much cut ties with long time QB
Derek Carr, so they need a replacement. They have the 7 th pick in the
draft and could hold tight to see if Stroud, Young or Levis is still there.
Or they could move up in the draft. Chicago has the #1 pick in the draft,
and they don’t need a quarterback so they will be fielding a lot of calls
from teams interested in their pick.
Denver – Like it or not Broncos fans, but Russell Wilson will be your
quarterback this season. Hopefully new coach Sean Payton will bring his
magic pixie dust to Denver to wipe away the smell from Wilson’s
disastrous 2022 season.
The AFC has a host of haves and have nots when it comes to the
quarterback position. The Jets, Colts, Texans and Raiders are definitely
in the have not category, so let’s all enjoy the QB carousel for the next
3 months to see which quarterbacks land where.
