CBS Sports ranks the NFC QBs under the most pressure in 2023 NFL season

Now that Tom Brady retired and Aaron Rodgers switched to the AFC, the NFC QBs, as a group, definitely aren’t that glamorous. But they’re still NFL quarterbacks, meaning there’s some serious pressure.

We’re thinking Eagles star Jalen Hurts can hold his own with the AFC. As for pressure, he and the Eagles need to figure out how to hold a Super Bowl lead.

So who are the NFC QBs carrying the biggest of burdens into preseason training camps, which start later this month? CBS Sports created a top five list. You can almost call it NFC QBs on the hot seat.

1. Dak Prescott, Cowboys

It doesn’t matter how many touchdown passes Dak Prescott throws in the regular season. And pretty regular season records don’t matter that much, either. For Prescott and the Cowboys, it’s all about the playoffs.

Coach Mike McCarthy will call plays this season. And he’s added some West Coast concepts to the offense, meaning Dallas will rely on some shorter routes to keep drives going. But the biggest stat for Prescott is getting the Cowboys to the NFC title game. Dallas hasn’t been there since the 1995 season.

2. Derek Carr, Saints

Derek Carr is new to the NFC QBs. The Saints, who have struggled since Drew Brees retired, signed him as a free agent in March after Carr had a painful divorce from the Raiders.

The former Raider will have the luxury of a terrific Saints defense. That’ll cut down some of the pressure on the offense. But Carr has made only one playoff start. The Saints entire reason for signing him was to make it to the postseason.

3. Kirk Cousins, Vikings

Here’s why Kirk Cousins is one of the NFC QBs feeling the most pressure. He’s 35 years old and is entering the final year of his contract. If the Vikings don’t make it past the first round of the playoffs, Cousin probably will be wearing a new jersey in 2024.

The Vikings were 13-4 last season. Yet they lost to the Giants at home in the first round of the playoffs.

4. Sam Howell, Commanders

It’s imperative that Sam Howell stops the Commanders quarterback merry-go-round. As CBS points out, Washington has used a dozen starting quarterbacks since 2018. The Commanders selected Howell in April, 2022, in the fifth round.

Howell has limited experience. He started one game in 2022. And that was the regular season finale against the Cowboys. The Commanders won 26-6. Maybe he’s the next of the great NFC QBs. He’ll need some immediate results.

5. Jordan Love, Packers

Talk about pressure. Rodgers never forgave Packers management for selecting Jordan Love in the first round of the 2020 draft. He carried the grudge for three years, then demanded a trade to the Jets.

Meanwhile, Love has played in 10 games, with only one start. No doubt, Packers fans will give him a pass this season. But if he doesn’t show some decent results, he’ll always be known as the guy who helped push out Rodgers, one of the best-ever NFC QBs.

We’ll all know more in the coming weeks about most of these guys, especially the young ones. But Prescott, Carr and Cousins will be feeling the burden through January.