NFL: 5 Quarterbacks With the Most to Prove

Every quarterback in the NFL not named Tom Brady has something to prove in 2021. From turning their teams around, taking the next step, or winning it all, there’s not a QB who can afford to regress. Looking ahead to the 2021 season, here are the top 5 guys with something to prove:

Tua Tagovailoa

Tua has been the talk of the town in Miami before he even stepped foot on an NFL field. The Dolphins pulled the trigger on him when many wanted fellow rookie Justin Herbert. Tagovailoa had mixed results on the field while Herbert won rookie of the year. Now Tagovailoa has to prove that he was the right choice for the Dolphins to invest their future in. He’s got all the necessary weapons and talent. He’s just got to prove he can win at the NFL level.

Matt Ryan

Ryan has been the staple of the Atlanta Falcons for some time. He was firmly in the driver’s seat until the second half of a Super Bowl. He can compete with the best of them but has to prove he can win it all. The Falcons traded away Julio Jones, one of his better receivers but picked up Kyle Pitts in the NFL Draft. The Falcons won’t have an easy road back to the Super Bowl, but Ryan doesn’t have a lot of time left.

More NFL Talk: Which Rookie QB Will Have the Biggest Impact?

Trevor Lawrence

The biggest name to come out of the NFL Draft, according to the Jaguars, was Trevor Lawrence. When the Jags took him first overall they had no doubts he was their guy. While that puts a ton of pressure on a rookie to perform, Lawrence is no stranger to pressure. He’s a winner and he’ll need to prove it on a team that’s not used to winning. The Jags have had only one season worth bragging about and Lawrence has to prove he’s not all hype.

Cam Newton

The New England Patriots invested heavily in Cam Newton this year. Despite having a rocky 2020 season, the Pats rewarded him with a decent quarterback. Someone in New England had faith that Newton will have a bounce-back season as well as mentor rookie QB Mac Jones. Not only does Newton have to prove he can still be the quarterback he once was, but he also has to prove he can hold off their future QB as well. There’s already buzz on the rookie after OTAs proving Cam might be on a short leash.

Ryan Tannehill

Tannehill is no stranger to criticism. Ever since he was selected eighth overall by the Miami Dolphins he’s been picked apart in terms of quarterback play. Oddly enough, his play has been adequate enough to turn into wins. The Titans were a playoff team after Tannehill took over and again the following season. Now he’s got the best running back in the NFL and one of the better wide receivers. There’s little excuse to not have a Super Bowl run after getting so close the past couple of years.