NFL’s Year 2 QB situation: Which of Mac Jones, Trevor Lawrence, Zach Wilson — and more — are best set up for success?
What’s in store for this year’s crop of second-year quarterbacks?
For several — think Trevor Lawrence, Zach Wilson and Justin Fields — the only way to go following their rookie campaigns is up. Then there’s Mac Jones, who clearly played the best of the bunch in 2021, resulting in high expectations for his second year in New England.
What about Trey Lance? He has arguably the best physical attributes of any second-year quarterback, but is still unproven after playing sparingly as a rookie in San Francisco. The 49ers are all in on him this year, but it remains to be seen what exactly he has in the way of leading an NFL team.
And who could forget about Davis Mills, the surprise of the 2021 quarterback draft class? Though he wasn’t exactly a world beater, he was a more-than-serviceable stopgap for a Texans team that couldn’t get former franchise quarterback Deshaun Watson to play.
MORE: NFL rookie QB grades for 2021 season
Each of those players should have aspirations for better seasons in 2022 — otherwise, they wouldn’t be NFL players, let alone quarterbacks. But which of their respective teams has best set them up for success this year?
The Sporting News breaks down each player and their respective situations:
NFL second-year QB breakdowns
Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars
Lawrence’s rookie campaign was among the worst in 2021, though that’s not his fault — entirely. There’s a reason the Jaguars had the first overall pick, though Jacksonville certainly was hoping it wouldn’t have the same pick a year later with Lawrence at quarterback.
He will have a fresh start with his second coach — Doug Pederson — in as many NFL seasons, and it could be argued that cutting Urban Meyer during a disastrous experimental season in 2021 could be counted as addition by subtraction.
| Luke Fortner (G, Kentucky) | Round 3, pick 65 |
| Snoop Conner (RB, Ole Miss | Round 5, pick 154 |
The Jaguars appeared to focus on defense in the NFL draft, selecting just two offensive players, only one of whom was a skill position player. Fortner and Conner can be contributors to this team, but Jacksonville clearly made its biggest additions around Lawrence via free agency:
| Brandon Scherff | G, Commanders |
| Christian Kirk | WR, Cardinals |
| Evan Engram | TE, Giants |
| Zay Jones | WR, Raiders |
| Laquon Treadwell (re-signed) | WR, Jaguars |
Among the bigger acquisitions are Kirk and Jones, who improve the receiving corps alongside Evan Engram, a reliable producer at tight end. Re-signing Laquon Treadwell wasn’t a priority, so he’ll be expected to earn his keep in 2022. The team also will have former first-round running back Travis Etienne back from injury to bolster a run game that ranked 22nd in the league with 103.2 yards per game.
The onus now is on Lawrence to show improvement to match the Jaguars’ efforts around him.
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Zach Wilson, Jets
Wilson isn’t exactly hitting the ground running for his second season in the league. As a matter of fact, he won’t be running at all after suffering a bone bruise and torn meniscus in the Jets’ preseason game vs. the Eagles. The injury will keep him out the remainder of the preseason, and potentially the team’s Week 1 game vs. the Ravens.
The offensive line also suffered a key injury in the offseason, with cornerstone tackle Mekhi Becton likely out for the season with a fractured kneecap (the team did manage to replace him with five-time Pro Bowl tackle Duane Brown, who enters his age-37 season).
That’s the bad news. The good news is that New York made several huge additions around Wilson the offseason, both in the draft and in free agency:
| Garrett Wilson (WR, Ohio State) | Round 1, pick 10 |
| Breece Hall (RB, Iowa State) | Round 2, pick 36 |
| Jeremy Ruckert (TE, Ohio State) | Round 3, pick 101 |
| Max Mitchell (OT, Louisiana) | Round 3, pick 110 |
Wilson was wildly productive at Ohio State, and should immediately become one of Wilson’s favorite targets this season. Hall is a workhorse running back who will add depth to a thin backfield. Ruckert was a surprising addition considering the Jets’ free-agent signings at the position, but is regardless a talented player; and Mitchell, out of Louisiana, could be a developmental prospect.
| Laken Tomlinson | OG, 49ers |
| Braxton Berrios (re-signed) | WR, Jets |
| Tevin Coleman (re-signed) | RB, Jets |
| C.J. Uzomah | TE, Bengals |
| Dan Feeney (re-signed) | OG, Jets |
| Joe Flacco (re-signed) | QB, Jets |
| Tyler Conklin | TE, Vikings |
| Duane Brown | OT, Seahawks |
The Jets shored up their offensive line significantly with the signing of Tomlinson, who was among the best at his position available in free agency. Adding Brown was big as well, though clearly out of necessity with Becton out. The team also prioritized adding pass-catching tight ends in Uzomah and Conklin, giving Wilson as many targets as possible in Year 2.
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Trey Lance, 49ers
Not much is known about Lance’s ability to lead the 49ers in 2022. The former No. 3 overall pick didn’t play much in his rookie season, by design. But San Francisco is ready to go all in on the former North Dakota State standout (regardless of whether the team is able to trade or release Jimmy Garoppolo).
The 49ers have, on paper, one of the best rosters in the NFC. The offense is headlined by All-Pro receiver Deebo Samuel and tight end George Kittle, who should be Lance’s favorite targets this year. The 49ers did lose several key offensive staffers — including coordinator Mike McDaniel, now the head coach in Miami — but the talent is there for Lance.
| Tyrion Davis-Price (RB, LSU) | Round 3, pick 93 |
| Danny Gray (WR, SMU) | Round 3, pick 105 |
| Spencer Burford (OT, UTSA) | Round 4, pick 134 |
| Nick Zakelj (OT, Fordham) | Round 6, pick 187 |
| Brock Purdy (QB, Iowa State) | Round 7, pick 262 |
Adding Davis-Price and Gray in the third round may have been a reach for a team without pressing needs at those positions, but Burford and Zakelj were quality pick-ups along the offensive line, especially considering they are later-round picks. San Francisco likely will have Purdy live up to his Mr. Irrelevant moniker as it goes all in on Lance.
| Ray-Ray McCloud | WR, Steelers |
| Jeff Wilson Jr. (re-signed) | RB, 49ers |
San Francisco didn’t make huge pickups in free agency to help Lance — not that it needed to. McCloud adds depth at the position, but he will be more of a dedicated return man than receiver. And Wilson will continue to serve as a role player behind Elijah Mitchell, who led the team with 963 yards last season on 4.7 yards per carry.
Generally speaking, San Francisco — which made at least the NFC Championship game for the second time in three seasons last year — does not need to add significant talent around Lance. Now it’s up to Lance to see whether coach Kyle Shanahan’s bet on him will pay off.
Justin Fields, Bears
Fields, like Lawrence in Jacksonville and Wilson in New York, didn’t have a lot to work with in his rookie campaign. On top of that, rib and ankle injuries — coupled with questions surrounding former head coach Matt Nagy — severely impacted Fields’ ability to get his feet under him in Year 1.
The Bears made Matt Eberflus their new head coach following Nagy’s firing, though it remains to be seen how the defensive-minded coach will impact his second-year quarterback.
Unfortunately for Fields, his receiving corps is once again looking ragged in 2022. Veteran receivers N’Keal Harry (acquired from the Patriots for a seventh-rounder) and David Moore both suffered long-term injuries that will keep them out several weeks. Another receiver, Byron Pringle, is suffering a quad injury; his timeline for return is unknown.
| Velus Jones Jr. (WR, Tennessee) | Round 3, pick 71 |
| Braxton Jones (OT, Southern Utah) | Round 5, pick 168 |
| Zachary Thomas (OT, San Diego State) | Round 6, pick 186 |
| Trestan Ebner (RB, Baylor) | Round 6, pick 203 |
| Doug Kramer (C, Illinois) | Round 6, pick 207 |
| Ja’Tyre Carter (OG, Southern) | Round 7, pick 226 |
The Bears made several offensive additions via the draft, but didn’t exactly match that quantity with top-tier quality. Their top skilled position player selected on offense was Jones, whom some considered a reach pick in the third round. It was overall a weak signing class in terms of skilled offensive players.
| Trevor Siemian | QB, Saints |
| Byron Pringle | WR, Chiefs |
| Equanimeous St. Brown | WR, Packers |
| Lucas Patrick | C, Packers |
| Dakota Dozier | OG, Vikings |
| Khari Blasingame | FB, Titans |
The Bears to their credit offered improvements along the line and in the backfield in Patrick, Dozier and Blasingame, who should be used as a blocking tight end. The team also added improved depth at receiver with Pringle and St. Brown, though neither has proven they can be standouts at the position.
As of now, it doesn’t appear as if the talent around Fields will result in a significantly improved season. Whether the Bears will be willing to give him another shot if he struggles in Year 2 remains to be seen with the likes of C.J. Stroud and Bryce Young available at the top of the NFL draft.
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Mac Jones, Patriots
Jones, the last quarterback taken in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft, unquestionably had the best season of any rookie QBs last year. He passed for nearly 4,000 yards despite having a receiving corps largely devoid of top-tier talent.
But things don’t exactly look promising for Jones ahead of Year 2. Coach Bill Belichick has yet to officially name an offensive coordinator now that Josh McDaniels has left the team to take over the Raiders, and reports from training camp are concerning to say the least.
The Patriots also had a draft that, per TSN’s Vinnie Iyer, ranked as the worst of any team.
| Cole Strange (OG, Chattanooga) | Round 1, pick 29 |
| Tyquan Thornton (WR, Baylor) | Round 2, pick 50 |
| Pierre Strong Jr. (RB, South Dakota State) | Round 4, pick 127 |
| Bailey Zappe (QB, Western Kentucky) | Round 4, pick 137 |
| Kevin Harris (RB, South Carolina) | Round 6, pick 183 |
| Chasen Hines (OG, LSU) | Round 6, pick 210 |
| Andrew Stueber (OG, Michigan) | Round 7, pick 245 |
Strange was considered by many to be a third-round pick, though the Patriots clearly valued him higher than that. Thornton is a speedy receiver who should have some ability to take the top off of defenses — when he returns from injury, that is. He could miss as many as eight weeks with a collarbone injury, per multiple reports.
Grabbing two running backs was also a strange move considering New England already has Damien Harris and Rhamondre Stevenson in tow (or perhaps not, considering rumors that the team is shopping the former). Zappe is a career backup in training, while Hines and Stueber appear to be developmental picks at best.
| Trent Brown (re-signed) | OT, Patriots |
| Ty Montgomery | WR/RB, Saints |
| Brian Hoyer (re-signed) | QB, Patriots |
| James White (re-signed) | RB, Patriots |
The team also didn’t make any splash signings in free agency, going instead with team culture re-signings and adding Montgomery from the Saints, likely in a dual receiver-running back role. Signing Brown was big for continuity on the line, while White when healthy can be a reliable outlet as a running back. Hoyer clearly has value as a backup and veteran mentor to Jones.
Jones had a Pro Bowl-caliber season in 2021, and that with a receiving cast that’s unlikely to wow many within the league. That’s promising when looking ahead to Year 2, but the Patriots must find their offensive identity without McDaniels if they want to continue developing the young QB.
MORE PLAYER RANKINGS: Wide receiver | Running back
Davis Mills, Texans
Mills had the second-most successful rookie season of any quarterback in 2021, a notable win for a Houston team that selected him in the third round and relied on him to play in place of Watson, who sat out the season.
It’s not clear whether Mills has what it takes to break Houston out of its rut, however: The team went 2-9 with him as a starter. (Though it’s worth noting Houston went 4-12 with Watson the year prior, so it’s not as if the shortcomings fall entirely on the quarterback.)
| Kenyon Green (OG, Texas A&M) | Round 1, pick 15 |
| John Metchie III (WR, Alabama) | Round 2, pick 44 |
| Dameon Pierce (RB, Florida) | Round 4, pick 107 |
| Teagan Quitoriano (TE, Oregon State) | Round 5, pick 170 |
| Austin Deculus (OT, LSU) | Round 6, pick 205 |
The Texans did make several notable additions to the offense via the draft, starting with the offensive line in Green and Deculus, both out of the SEC. Houston also signed Metchie, a solid Day 1 contributor who unfortunately will miss his rookie season as he recovers from leukemia.
| Kyle Allen | QB, Commanders |
| Jeff Driskel (re-signed) | QB, Texans |
| Cedric Ogbuehi | OT, Ravens/Seahawks |
| Pharoah Brown (re-signed) | TE, Texans |
| A.J. Cann | OG, Jaguars |
| Justin Britt (re-signed) | C, Texans |
The Texans’ free-agency signings were less inspired. The teams made several low-value, low-risk signings in the likes of Allen and Driskel, players who unlike Tyrod Taylor last year likely were signed to be backups. The same could be said of Ogbuehi, Cann and Britt, who will shore up the offensive line outside of Green and tackle Laremy Tunsil.
Does that engender confidence for Mills heading into his sophomore season?
Perhaps not, but the team at least has made it obvious it’s all in on him this year. Whether that confidence extends to Year 3 remains to be seen: The Texans have the draft capital following their trade of Watson to the Browns to trade up and attain either of C.J. Stroud or Bryce Young in 2023.
That, of course, assumes they’re not already in a position to draft them based off Mills’ play.