Ranking the top five NFL backup quarterbacks

2023 is the year of the backup quarterback in the NFL, as 56 different QBs have started games this season. Although we've seen our fair share of awful quarterbacking, a few second- and third-stringers have stood out. 

Here are the top five backup quarterbacks from this season ranked in inverse order. 

5. Aidan O'Connell | Las Vegas Raiders

2023 record as a starter: 3-4

O'Connell likely isn't the answer at quarterback for the Raiders, but he has performed as well as one can expect from a fourth-round rookie and should enjoy a lengthy career as a backup. In six games since taking over as the full-time starter for Jimmy Garoppolo, O'Connell has thrown for 1,300 yards, seven touchdowns and five interceptions. 

As is the case with most backups, O'Connell struggles with inconsistency, and it appears that his highs are just as extreme as his lows, as evidenced by his last two outings. After throwing for 171 yards and a game-sealing interception in a 3-0 Week 14 loss to Minnesota, O'Connell tossed four touchdown passes to help lead Las Vegas to a franchise-record 63 points in last week's rout of the Chargers. With three games remaining on the schedule, all of which are against teams in the playoff hunt, O'Connell will hope to solidify himself as a viable starting option for next season. 

4. Tommy DeVito | New York Giants 

2023 record as a starter: 3-2

While DeVito mania seems to be dying down, the hometown hero has shown enough signs of potential to convince the Giants that they should consider him as their long-term backup quarterback. DeVito has thrown for 858 yards, seven touchdowns and one interception in five games as a starter, winning three of them with a team that Daniel Jones and Tyrod Taylor led to a combined 2-7 record. 

Earlier this month, DeVito became the first undrafted rookie in NFL history to win three straight starts without an interception and to post a 100+ passer rating in three consecutive starts, per CBS Sports. The 25-year-old has earned Pepsi Zero Sugar Rookie of the Week honors twice since replacing Jones and was named the NFC Offensive Player of the Week for his clutch 229-yard performance against Green Bay in Week 14. 

3. Will Levis | Tennessee Titans

2023 record as a starter: 3-5

The Kentucky product entered the season in a different situation than the other names on this list, having been drafted by Tennessee with the 33rd overall pick last April with the intention that he'd be its starting quarterback someday. He didn't have to wait long, as Ryan Tannehill suffered an ankle injury in Week 6, which made Levis the starter for Tennessee's Week 8 contest. Levis has since started every game for the Titans, throwing for 1,792 yards, eight touchdowns and four interceptions. 

In limited action, Levis has flashed the upside of a franchise quarterback, putting together a remarkable four-touchdown NFL debut and orchestrating an even more memorable 14-point fourth-quarter come-from-behind-victory against Miami in Week 14. Even so, while Levis arguably has the brightest future of any quarterback on this list, his team's lack of success — coupled with the fact that he could miss time with an ankle sprain — places him third. 

2. Jake Browning | Cincinnati Bengals

2023 record as a starter: 3-1

Considering how well Browning is playing, it's fair to question why Cincinnati didn't start him at the beginning of the season while Joe Burrow dealt with his calf injury. Nonetheless, thanks to the spark Browning has provided, the Bengals should still be optimistic about reaching the postseason and perhaps making some noise if they get there. 

An undrafted free agent signed by Minnesota in 2019, Browning had not thrown a pass in the NFL before this season, but he's had a historic start to his career. Through four games, Browning has thrown for 1,248 yards, seven touchdowns and three interceptions. As noted by ESPN's Field Yates, he is the first quarterback since the NFL began tracking starts in 1950 to throw for at least 1,000 yards and complete 75% of his passes over his first four starts. 

With Browning set to be an exclusive rights free agent, he won't be able to negotiate with other teams this offseason as long as Cincinnati offers him at least the league minimum salary. Teams could trade for Browning, but because two of Burrow's four seasons have ended prematurely due to injuries, the Bengals might feel the need to keep the former Washington star around as insurance. 

1. Gardner Minshew | Indianapolis Colts

2023 record as a starter: 6-4

Indianapolis probably wouldn't be in a three-way tie for the AFC South lead after 14 games if rookie QB Anthony Richardson hadn't suffered a season-ending shoulder injury. Following Colts HC Shane Steichen to Indianapolis from Philadelphia has proved to be a wise move by Minshew, who is once again showing why he deserves to be an NFL starter. 

The former Jacksonville Jaguars draft pick has been effective despite a relatively weak supporting cast. Minshew ranks 14th in QBR this season (57.5) and has completed 63.3% of his passes for 2,739 yards, 14 touchdown passes and eight interceptions. He's an unrestricted free agent this offseason and would be an ideal target for a team lacking a clear solution at the position, such as the Atlanta Falcons.