Five Quarterbacks under pressure in 2023

by Dewayne Vannoy · Published August 30, 2023 · Updated August 30, 2023

The NFL season is right around the corner. With preseason games wrapping up during the weekend. There is a lot of hype going around for teams such as the Kansas City Chiefs, New York Jets, Detroit Lions, just to name a few. But, however, a Teams success can also depend on how a certain player individual success as well.

Now, lets get into it. I have been doing a lot of thinking and I have came up with 5 players at the Quarterback position that are under the most pressure going into the 2023 NFL season. I have chosen these 5 Quarterbacks because lets face reality.

The Quarterback is the most important position on the field and Quarterbacks contribute a lot to how a team may perform in a single season, and change a Whole dynamic of any given franchise. So here is the list of 5 Quarterbacks under the Most pressure going into the 2023 NFL season:

Geno Smith (Seattle Seahawks): Geno Smith is a Journey man who won the quarterback job in Seattle after the Seahawks traded Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos. Smith had a stellar 2022 season leading the Seattle Seahawks to a 9-8 record in 2022. Winning Comeback Player of the Year. Throwing for 4,282 Yards, 30 TD’s and 11 interceptions. Not to mention leading the Seattle Seahawks team that was projected to be a bottom dwelling team in 2022, only projected to win 4 games and have a top 5 pick in the 2023 NFL draft. Leading the Seahawks to a playoff berth and clinching the 7th Seed in the playoffs vs the San Francisco 49ers. Eventually losing to the 49ers in the Wild Card round 41-23. His stellar year was capped off with his Now famous quote after a Week 1 win vs Denver “They wrote me off, I ain’t write back though.” Geno Smith earned himself a BIG payday from Seattle in the off season. Landing a 3yr/$75Mil contract from Seattle. Which was well deserved. In order to prove his worth. Smith is going to have to have close to a repeat year in 2023 if he wants to continue to prove that contract was worth it for Seattle after trading their former franchise QB Russell Wilson. Geno Smith will have a host of amazing talent at the Wide Receiver position with talents such as DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba (R). Also, not to mention a not so bad defense to help him out as well. Lastly, Pete Carroll is a coach that loves ballers and playmakers dating back to his days at USC. Once again, Geno has to prove himself worthy of that contract by just being who he is and being “The Guy” they wrote off before 2022.
Tua Tagovaiola (Miami Dolphins): Tua was a top 5 pick in the 2020 NFL draft. After being drafted by the Miami Dolphins, many people around league didn’t believe Tua was the guy for Miami as the Dolphins were in a transition period after Firing Brian Flores and bringing in Mike McDaniel. But, that didn’t stop Tua from putting in the work and proving he does belong in the NFL as a starting quarterback of the Miami Dolphins. Tua Tagovaiola was also considered by many, injury prone going back to his playing days at Alabama. Tua suffered knee injuries in both College and in the NFL. Also, suffering two concussions in one season. Bringing up the question whether he should retire or keep playing the game of football. Tua tried to fight his way back on to the playing field but the Miami Dolphins training and coaching staff took no chances with another head injury. Eventually shutting Tua down for the rest of the season. Tua proved himself as a leader of men as well during the 2022 season when he led the Miami Dolphins to a 8-3 record going into December. Miami has picked up his 5 year option for 2024, worth $23.17 million fully guaranteed. The Dolphins front office put Tua in great position to “Win Now” by trading for former Kansas City Chiefs WR Tyreek Hill, that has championship experience. Already having Young talent in Jaylen Waddle who can run with the best of them. Tua is going to have to prove that he can stay healthy and stay on the field for 17 games if he is going to lead the Miami Dolphins to a deep playoff run in 2023. If Tua can stay healthy for 17 games. Look out for the Miami Dolphins in 2023.
Aaron Rodgers (New York Jets): Very Simple as to why this Future Hall of Famer is on this list. Aaron Rodgers forced his way out of Green Bay due to a lot of disagreements with his head coach, Matt LaFleur and General Manager, Brian Gutekunst. During the off season, Rodgers took what he called a Dark retreat where he isolated himself from everything going on from the outside. During the retreat, Rodgers left a lot of questions to be asked if he would return to Green Bay or just Retire in whole. After coming out from the retreat, Rodgers quickly let it be known that he wanted out of Green Bay and traded. His preferred destination was The New York Jets due to his relationship with previous OC in Green Bay, Nathaniel Hackett. The Green Bay Packers honored his wishes on April 16th and traded Rodgers to the New York Jets. Rodgers will be on the books making $75Mil guaranteed over the next two years. There is No excuse for Aaron Rodgers and his antics in New York because the Jets front office believes that Rodgers is that missing piece to get them back to the promise land and win the Super Bowl, there first since 1969. Rodgers have a lot of playmakers at the Wide Receiver position, which many might call one of the best WR groups in the NFL. Garrett Wilson, who showed his full potential in his rookie season with 83 rec for 1,103 yards, Rodgers former target in Green Bay in Allen Lazard who became Rodgers guy after the Packers traded away DaVante Adams, also an old friend in Randall Cobb. Not to forget about a loaded backfield with Breece Hall, coming off an ACL injury, and the newly signed Dalvin Cook from Minnesota. Aaron Rodgers is going to have to leave all the antics back in Green Bay if Rodgers and the Jets want to win the Super Bowl. The Jets are one of the small favorites to Win the AFC and to win the Super Bowl in 2023. It’s going be up to Rodgers attitude on how far this ride will go with Rodgers and New York Jets.
Lamar Jackson (Baltimore Ravens): Jackson is on this list for obvious reasons. Lamar Jackson signed a 5-year, $260Mil extension with Baltimore in the offseason. After a two year negotiation period in which his peers and fans thought that he greatly deserved. But, However Lamar Jackson did miss 10 plus games over the past two season with an injury (high ankle sprain, Grade 2 ankle sprain). Both injuries coming at the most crucial times of each year, November and December, really gaving way to speculation as to the health of Lamar Jackson during contract negotiations. The Ravens have made wholesale changes on offense this offseason by firing Greg Roman, hiring new Offensive Coordinator Todd Monken, and revamping the Ravens WR room that ranked out dead last in a lot of statistical categories such as TD’s, and yards. Part of Todd Monken rebuilding was to bring in players that really fit what he wants to do. Some of the key additions for Todd Moken offense during the offseason are Odell Beckham Jr, who is coming off an ACL injury which kept him out of football the entire 2022 season after tearing his ACL in the Super Bowl vs the Bengals where he looked like he was the best player on the field until he got injured. Scoring a Touchdown. Drafting Zay Flowers in the 2023 NFL Draft from Boston College, where put up an amazing career. Don’t want to forget his receivers who are still in place like Rashod Bateman, who coming off a foot injury and his favorite target over the past few seasons Mark Andrews. Lamar is going have to show to the world that he can consistently throw the ball down the field and hit his receivers outside the numbers with ease. There has been games where Lamar has had a wide open guy running down the field and he just missed the intended receiver by two or three yards. Just refer back to the Jacksonville Jaguars game when he missed three open TD’s because he over threw his receiver. There is no doubt Lamar can make plays with his arm but he just has to get consistent if he wants to put this Todd Moken Offense at a level that nobody can touch. If Lamar can stay healthy for a full 17 games. The Ravens can be a viable threat to come out of the AFC and possibly back to the top of the mountain by wining the Super Bowl.
Russell Wilson (Denver Broncos): Okay I had hard decision to make between Russel Wilson, Mac Jones, and Justin Herbert. But, I decided to go with Russell Wilson. Wilson is coming off a poor 2022 season. His first in Denver when Denver gave up a lot of draft capital and 2 two players to get Wilson from Seattle. It looks like the Geno Smith, who is No.1 on this list won this trade for Seattle because he was Wilson Backup and it gave Smith the weapons and draft capital for Seattle to use to help Geno in 2023. Wilson threw for only 3,524 yards, 16TD’s and 11 interceptions in 2022. That has to be the most epic collapse from a former Super Bowl champion. Also, having a terrible QB rating of 84.4. Teammates started feeling as Russell Wilson wasn’t the guy that should have been leading them half way through the season because the offense wasn’t getting the job done and Wilson was the main problem. Russell Wilson had teammates looking at him on the sidelines as if they were already turned off by him. Wilson had the second best slogan of the yea with his “Broncos Country Lets Ride” motto but it didn’t look like Wilson was riding for the Broncos during the season with that type of play. Even Former Seahawks players were lashing out a Wilson, stating claim that the “legion of Boom” was the main reason why Wilson who he was. Denver Broncos were dead last in points per game in 2022 on scoring 16.9PPG. Wilson has to regain the trust back from his teammates. One question looming for The Broncos and Wilson how will he do in a Sean Payton led offense?

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