NFC West backup quarterback panic meter

"Next man up." During the 2023 season, some NFL head coaches will need to heed that motto at quarterback, the most important position in the sport. If a team doesn't have an adequate backup when a starter goes down, a season can implode. 

On a scale of one to five, with one being the highest level of panic, here's where NFC West teams stand at backup QB.

Arizona Cardinals

BACKUPS: Colt McCoy, Clayton Tune, David Blough | Starter Kyler Murray is facing what could be a make-or-break season, but nobody really knows when he is going to be healthy enough to play after suffering a torn ACL late last season. That means the Cardinals almost certainly must go with a backup to open the season.

It had been assumed going into camp that McCoy, a 12-year veteran with 36 starts, would be the temporary starter. But rookie Tune — a fifth-round pick from the University of Houston — has opened eyes, gotten first-team reps and might be the Week 1 starter.  (PANIC METER: 2)

Los Angeles Rams

BACKUPS: Brett Rypien, Stetson Bennett | If Matthew Stafford can't play, the Rams are cooked. In 2022, Los Angeles finished 5-12 after using four different starting quarterbacks (Stafford, Baker Mayfield, John Wolford and Bryce Perkins). They went 2-6 with the latter three backups.

This year's backup situation might be even worse. Rypien is the only one who has NFL experience. He has thrown eight interceptions on only 130 career attempts for a disturbing 6.2% interception percentage. 

If not Rypien, the job would fall to Bennett, a fourth-round rookie. Although he was wildly successful as a college starter at Georgia, Bennett entered the NFL with a limited upside due to his lack of arm strength and the fact he is already 25. (PANIC METER: 1)

San Francisco 49ers

BACKUPS: Trey Lance, Sam Darnold | The Niners are in great shape behind starter Brock Purdy.  They boast one of the league's best defenses and have an offense full of playmakers, including RB Christian McCaffrey, to take the pressure off a backup QB.

Lance is a former No. 3 overall pick who was supposed to be the starter for years for San Francisco. But injuries have sidetracked his career and allowed Purdy to pass him. Still, he has the talent to be a good dual-threat quarterback. Darnold is nothing special as a starter (21-34 career record), having washed out with the Jets and Panthers. (PANIC METER: 5)

Seattle Seahawks

BACKUPS: Drew Lock, Holton Ahlers | Geno Smith came out of nowhere last season to emerge as the new starting quarterback. If he is unable to go, Lock will be the next man up. 

With Denver in 2020, he led the league in interceptions (15), but he was traded to Seattle as part of the Russell Wilson trade last offseason. Lock is not good enough to be a starter on a contending team, but he could get you a couple of wins in a pinch. He has an 8-13 record as a starter, with 25 TD passes and 20 interceptions. (PANIC METER: 3)