With just one week left in the NFL preseason, the regular season is right around the corner.
That means that teams are busy cutting their roster down to 53 players.
When looking at those prospective rosters, quarterback is undoubtedly the most important position.
It’s hard to win in today’s NFL without a stud quarterback.
Every team in the league has to have a good idea who their starting quarterback is.
Even with teams like the New England Patriots and San Francisco 49ers, the loser of each battle will just function as the backup.
Teams cannot go this deep into the season without knowing who will be behind center for Week 1.
While that is obviously a benefit, it becomes a weakness for quarterbacks lower on the team’s depth chart.
With quarterbacks likely already being picked, their likeliness of making the team gets lower each day.
For these three quarterbacks, that likeliness may be zero.
Each team has their quarterbacks in place making all three signal-callers expendable come Week 1 of the regular season.
3. Brian Hoyer
Brian Hoyer has been a veteran in the NFL for the past 12 seasons.
He has spent time with the Arizona Cardinals, Cleveland Browns, Houston Texans, Chicago Bears, Indianapolis Colts, 49ers, and of course Patriots.
Hoyer even won the 2019 Super Bowl with New England.
Over his career, Hoyer has appeared in 70 games and started 39 of them, holding a 16-23 record.
He has thrown for 10,404 yards, 52 touchdowns, and 35 interceptions.
Hoyer has also spent six seasons with the Patriots, more than he has with any other team.
He seemingly knows the system and brings valuable veteran experience.
However, the Patriots already have Cam Newton locked into a roster spot, Mac Jones, whose selection at No. 15 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft assured a spot, and Jarrett Stidham.
Stidham underwent back surgery in June and has yet to participate in training camp.
However, Stidham is also a 2019 fourth-round pick who is making $850,000 this season.
With Newton and Jones locked into the one and two positions, head coach Bill Belichick and the Patriots may decided to stick with Stidham and see if he can continue to develop.
If released, Hoyer’s veteran status in the NFL would likely land him another shot.
But with the selection of Jones, Newton in place and a young quarterback in Stidham, Hoyer may no longer be needed in New England.
2. Trevor Siemian
The New Orleans Saints have had a starting quarterback competition between Jameis Winston and Taysom Hill.
Winston won out and was recently named the starter, replacing the retiring Drew Brees.
Jameis Winston has been named the Saints' starting quarterback and will make his first start for New Orleans on opening day vs. Green Bay Packers, per sources.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 27, 2021
Winston being named starter would mean that Hill could serve as the backup.
But Hill has been more a gadget player throughout his career.
He has appeared at wide receiver, tight end and even on special teams.
Perhaps New Orleans shifts him back into that gadget role with Winston as the starter.
If that’s the case, then Ian Book, who was selected in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft, would assume backup duties.
Book spent four years at Notre Dame and threw for 8,948 yards, 72 touchdowns, and 20 interceptions.
Book is currently listed third string behind backup Trevor Siemian.
Siemian was signed to a one year, $990,000 contract this offseason.
He has appeared in 27 games at the NFL level, throwing for 5,689 yards and a 30/24 TD/INT ratio.
He even won the 2016 Super Bowl with the Denver Broncos.
But it seems unlikely that the Saints would use such a high pick on a quarterback just for Siemian to make the team.
Siemian has seen some small success in the NFL in patches.
But he doesn’t cost much and the Saints already have his replacement.
It’s unlikely New Orleans would keep four quarterbacks.
1. Ryan Griffin
Ryan Griffin has been with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers since 2015.
He signed an extension with the team in 2017, 2019, and 2021.
Now, he is on a one year, $1.15 million contract with Tampa Bay.
For all his time with the Bucs, Griffin has appeared in just two games with Tampa, attempting just four passes.
The Buccaneers already have their quarterback in Tom Brady.
Widely considered one of the best quarterbacks in the league, Brady is currently on a one year, $25 million contract.
He will play in Tampa Bay until he decides to retire.
That doesn’t mean the Buccaneers haven’t thought about life after Brady, as they used the No. 64 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft on former Florida quarterback Kyle Trask.
The defending champs get their potential QB successor.
Florida's Kyle Trask goes to the Buccaneers with pick No. 64 in the #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/ckccWRpSJN
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) May 1, 2021
Brady and Trask are both locked into roster spots with Trask likely serving as the backup this season.
The third quarterback spot goes down to Griffin and Blaine Gabbert.
Gabbert is on a one year, $2 million contract.
Gabbert appeared in four games for the Bucs last season, completing nine passes for 143 yards and two touchdowns.
The former first-round pick of the Jacksonville Jaguars has appeared in 60 total NFL games.
While Griffin has been a Tampa Bay staple for a while, experience will win out here as Gabbert will earn the last quarterback spot.
NEXT: Trade To Patriots Continues Shaun Wade's Fall From Grace