Rodgers, Tagovailoa, and other NFL QBs with the most to prove heading into the 2023 season

Whether it’s fair or not, quarterbacks get the most credit when teams win, and the most blame when they lose. As a result, the focus on the position is unlike almost any other in professional sports. We’ll take a look at the quarterbacks who have the most to prove heading into the new NFL season.

No one will dispute the greatness of Rodgers, but he seemed to consistently intimate that the Green Bay Packers weren’t doing enough to get him back to the Super Bowl. The future Hall of Famer now finds himself on a New York Jets team projected to achieve great things, which will put the spotlight on his ability to deliver when it matters most.

There isn’t much of a question surrounding Tagovailoa’s talent, who orchestrated some of the best offensive football in the league last year. However, he suffered two documented concussions, and one that most figured was also a brain injury. Tagovailoa’s health will once again be at the forefront of the conversation about his viability as a franchise quarterback.

The New England Patriots have received mixed results from Jones during his two years in the NFL. He had an encouraging rookie campaign, but regressed mightily in year two. His struggles in 2022 may not have entirely been his fault, but Jones will now be reunited with Bill O’Brien, whom he worked with at the University of Alabama.

During his heyday with the Houston Texans, Watson was right there with some of the best quarterbacks in the league. However, it’s been a few years since fans have seen that player, and Cleveland Browns supporters are hoping that he can reach that level of play once again. The organization invested a fully guaranteed contract with the expectation that he would return to that form.

During a calamity of a season with the Denver Broncos in 2022, Wilson had to hear chatter that he might not be the same player he was with the Seattle Seahawks. That remains to be seen, but the organization is giving him a legitimate chance to bounce back. They hired Sean Payton as head coach, who is one of the brightest offensive minds in the NFL.

When he’s been healthy, Garoppolo has been front and center during some deep playoff runs, namely with the San Francisco 49ers. The Las Vegas Raiders are hoping for more of the same with him on their team. The only question about Garoppolo has been his ability to stay healthy, as he missed the end of last season with a foot injury.

Jones played much better than expected last season, thanks in large part o the offensive scheme head coach Brian Daboll implemented. The New York Giants decided to reward Jones with a lucrative extension, but many wonder whether he deserved such a contract. Jones will once again need to take steps to improve his play in order to placate the fan base.

Fields was electric as a runner last season, sprinting out of the pocket with defenders powerless to catch him. As a quarterback and a traditional drop back passer, he still leaves a lot to be desired, and the Chicago Bears want to find out whether he can push the ball through the air. The team acquired wide receiver D.J. Moore as a weapon to help Fields out in that regard.

Rodgers’ departure from the Packers means that Love will get a chance to show what he can do. He’s had ample time to sit behind the veteran to learn the NFL game, and now he’ll have to show that the team was justified in spending a first round draft pick on him. Love will need to forge his own identity, rather than try to copy Rodgers’.