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The quarterback (QB) has always been considered the most valuable position in football. It is the conductor of the offense, the face of the franchise, and the reason why a team succeeds or fails.
When a quarterback fails to perform, he is often scapegoated and punished, usually via demotion to the bench, even if other factors contribute to a lack of success. These five players stand the highest risk of suffering that fate while the 2024 season is in progress.
5 NFL QBs who could be benched midseason in 2024
5) Geno Smith
Is Geno Smith, a career journeyman enjoying his best season of football ever, at risk of being benched?
This notion will surely shock Seattle Seahawks fans, given the amount of success they have enjoyed under him. But with Sam Howell waiting in the wings, a losing streak is all that new head coach Mike MacDonald needs before he decides that it is time to usher in a new era.
4) Russell Wilson
The AFC North is entering its most competitive phase yet. Four teams that were all above .500 last season, each boasting a Pro Bowler as their starting quarterback, one ultimately has to finish last.
The Pittsburgh Steelers could be that team. Russell Wilson has been benched before, and it is no stretch to say it may happen again if he performs poorly, especially with Justin Fields behind him.
3) Deshaun Watson
Speaking of the AFC North, here is another candidate for a midseason benching.
It is no secret that Deshaun Watson has been largely disappointing as a Cleveland Brown, even though his team is coming off a playoff appearance — a rare occurrence ever since it was reactivated in 1999.
Injuries, an albatross of a contract, and a midseason benching due to poor on-field performance will definitely lead to a divorce next. And it is not as if head coach Kevin Stefanski and general manager Andrew Berry lack options — Jameis Winston wants a career resurrection, Tyler Huntley is looking to replicate his success with the 2022 Baltimore Ravens, and Dorian Thompson-Robinson aims for a breakout after being sparingly used as a rookie.
2) Daniel Jones
When Daniel Jones was drafted sixth overall by the New York Giants in 2019, he was expected to be as good as Eli Manning, if not better. But outside of a surprise run to the Divisional Round in 2022, the team has been terrible. In 2023, Jones took plenty of sacks and tore his Achilles, putting him out of commission before the season was out.
During this offseason, the Giants brought in Drew Lock, who has been touted as a potential competitor for the starting spot despite his insistence on the contrary. There is also Tommy DeVito, who played rather decently in relief in his six starts, meaning there is much trouble on the horizon for "Danny Dimes" unless he plays well.
1) Derek Carr
Derek Carr did well in 2023, going 9-8 while having a respectable 25:8 touchdown-interception ratio. However, the stigma from his stint with the Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders still looms large over his head.
With the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Carolina Panthers, and especially the Atlanta Falcons making major moves, it feels as if a modern-day version of the "Aint's" era beckons. And just as before, he will be the scapegoat if he regresses, especially with Spencer Rattler not that far behind.
