28. Sam Darnold, Carolina Panthers
- Preseason ranking: NR
Sam Darnold did not make the cut before the season as he was not even the starter for the Carolina Panthers, Mayfield was. However, Darnold certainly played better for Carolina once he was given the starting nod late in the season.
The team went 4-2 in the games that he started while he completed 58.6% of his passes with seven touchdowns and three interceptions. Darnold posted the highest QBR of his career (albeit in a tiny sample size).
27. Gardner Minshew
- Preseason ranking: NR
Gardner Minshew was Jalen Hurts' backup in 2022 and he actually got a chance to play at the end of the season. Minshew showed some flashes of being a starting-caliber quarterback while also making some bonheaded mistakes, throwing three picks in 76 passing attempts.
All that being said, we have seen Minshew start and be serviceable in the past and I would take him as a one-year option over those listed below him.
26. Mac Jones, New England Patriots
- Preseason ranking: 22
This was not a great year for Mac Jones, so much to the point that his own fans wanted to see him replaced with Bailey Zappe on more than one occasion. To be fair to Jones, he had to pilot an offense with absolutely no direction following Josh McDaniels' departure but he still did not do himself any favors.
Jones' third season is perhaps the most important of his career as it will determine if he actually has a career as a starting quarterback in the NFL or not.
25. Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh Steelers
- Preseason ranking: NR
Kenny Pickett was not named the starting quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers until Week 5. Overall, the Steelers ended up going 7-6 while Pickett was the starter but it was not like he was exceptional in these games.
He showed some flashes that are going to excite Steelers fans for the future but his overall numbers still were not great. Seven touchdowns in 12 starts is not necessarily a great stat line.