Quarterbacks can be the driving force of the NFL; to have one of the game’s few elite signal callers is often the difference between competing for the playoffs and competing for a Lombardi trophy. However, football is a team sport, which means the QBs still need help on both sides of the ball. And there are plenty of key pieces in other premium positions.
With that in mind, here’s a look at one non-QB every team can least afford to lose in 2023:
Presumably they will already outrun QB Kyler Murray at the start of the year. Losing their most successful tackle, whose injury-related absence in 2022 helped fuel offensive dysfunction, would also put the next QB in jeopardy.
With Tyler Allgeier behind rookie Bijan Robinson and Jonnu Smith now behind Kyle Pitts, neither RB nor TE lack depth. However, young QB Desmond Ridder has to stay upright to feed the guns, and Matthews is a solid blind bodyguard.
The new WR Odell Beckham Jr. already poses an injury risk, but Lamar Jackson’s main concern in 2023 is staying on the field. Linderbaum was an underrated rookie cog up front, and he plays a major role in their ground attack as the line’s QB.
This is why his reported off-season frustrations with Buffalo were such a concern. Without his killer route running and alpha mentality, Josh Allen has only the mercurial Gabe Davis as a proven WR weapon, though rookie TE Dalton Kincaid could help.
At the end of the day, what matters is rookie QB Bryce Young staying comfortable in the pocket, especially with his unprecedented size. Ekwonu was solid as a starting left tackle, and his continued presence there doesn’t get enough attention.
Justin Fields is a scrambler electric enough to avoid a bag collapse, but what he really needs in 2023 is improved aerial decision-making. Moore is the only legitimate No. 1 target in their revised WR corps and could be the key to unlocking the QB.
Star wideout Ja’Marr Chase is a home-run hitter, but Joe Burrow has proven he can survive by leaning on Tee Higgins and co.
If Deshaun Watson lost No. 1 WR Amari Cooper, he could be in big trouble, with Elijah Moore and Donovan Peoples-Jones better suited for secondary roles. But what’s the Browns’ defense without Garrett, who single-handedly terrorizes opponents?
CeeDee Lamb is a star for miles around and his absence would certainly affect Dak Prescott, who will be counting on Brandin Cooks to help him in the field. But Parsons is the heart and soul of the team, his lean athleticism allows Dallas to get creative on “D”.
Whatever happens to Russell Wilson’s supporting cast, Sean Payton’s main hurdle will probably be getting the QB back into a comfortable schedule and mental rhythm. Surtain, on the other hand, captivates the miserly “D” with his cover skills on the outside.
An elite blocker in a 2022 breakaway, Sewell is one of the biggest reasons why Jared Goff was able to surprise skeptics with a cross-border top-10 production last year. His size and athleticism when tackled correctly are simply unlearnable.
Left tackle David Bakhtiati is already such a frequent absentee that his loss wouldn’t necessarily mess up offensive plans. But Watson is the most talented and explosive in a young receiving corps, which new starter Jordan Love will lean on.
Assuming rookie QB CJ Stroud gets the kink below center, he’s going to need all the help he can get up front, not just because the interior remains a question mark, but because Stroud isn’t necessarily known for his mobility. Protect the signaller!
RB Jonathan Taylor is still their most dynamic all-around talent, but if rookie QB Anthony Richardson starts as expected for most of 2023, his own legs could help the ground game. Pittman, meanwhile, is actually the only sure thing in his position.
Why not a new WR1 Calvin Ridley? Well, Trevor Lawrence and Co. did pretty well without him in 2022. Etienne, on the other hand, is an underrated multi-purpose safety valve for the young QB, quietly going for over 1,400 yards from scrimmage in his debut.
It wouldn’t have been crazy to vote for Kelce as MVP over Patrick Mahomes in 2022. And with Mahomes’ WR room shuffling once again, he remains the de facto No. 1 passing target.
You can see why Jacobs looks forward to financial security. Davante Adams may be playing a more important position, but with Jakobi Meyers and Hunter Renfrow next, at least Las Vegas can get by on WR reserves. Jacob’s power used to be their offense in 2022.
All eyes are on whether Justin Herbert can successfully grow as an aggressive passer under new coordinator Kellen Moore, but first he needs to get comfortable in the pocket, where Slater was elite at LT before an injury ruled out most of his final season wiped out.
You could say LT Joe Noteboom belongs here, as Matthew Stafford isn’t built to endure another year of hard knocks. But Kupp is the only real weapon available to the QB, and his loss last year forced them to make miles every week.
Nothing is more important in Miami than Tua Tagovailoa’s health after the QB’s series of concussions led to his retirement at 25. Armstead is clearly their best blocker, so his absence could mess things up.
Perhaps the easiest pick of the whole list, Jefferson has rightfully drawn MVP considerations due to his seamless play in Minnesota. Take him out of the lineup and Kirk Cousins is left to lean on KJ Osborn and debutant Jordan Addison.
Most of Mac Jones’ support parts – both old and new – are fairly replaceable, which speaks to their offensive combat. However, Bill Belichick leans on the “D”, and Judon is one of his most consistent performers coming off the edge.
Who else hunts the passerby when the old veteran goes down? New QB Derek Carr also probably can’t afford to lose top WR Chris Olave given Michael Thomas’ injury history. But Dennis Allen’s team is still built on filling in fouls from the opposing team.
His success in 2022 cemented his arrival as a young top tackle a la Penei Sewell in Detroit. Despite all the talk of getting more help for Daniel Jones, Brian Daboll’s offense probably depends more on Thomas keeping pat on LT to keep the QB upright.
Sauce Gardner is infinitely more talented on the corner, and Garrett Wilson could be Aaron Rodgers’ new Davante Adams. But what happens if Rodgers’ LT goes down? Is he conditioned, heading into 40, to transcend being a bad bag? The fact that Brown himself is 38 and has had an injury-filled season doesn’t necessarily bode well for A-Rod’s line-up in the trenches, as it currently stands.
RT Lane Johnson, one of the best in the game in his place, is probably more important overall. But he’s already a yearly candidate to miss a few games due to injury, and if Brown weren’t active, DeVonta Smith would be Jalen Hurts’ only truly trusted WR.
Alex Highsmith filled in the stats for Watt in 2022, but his injury-related absence was still felt in Mike Tomlin’s defence. This remains a team built around that side of the ball, and Watt’s savage edge work cannot be replicated.
Regardless of which QB opens 2023, be it Brock Purdy, Trey Lance or even Sam Darnold, Kyle Shanahan needs his top gear to be in shape. We all saw what happened last year, when the protection gave way and their QBs dropped like flies.
Again, it’s about giving the QB a clean sack. Geno Smith’s revenue tendencies began to flare over the course of his 2022 escape. With Jaxon Smith-Njigba joining the WR Corps, Cross is an overlooked key to keeping them in the mix.
Mike Evans is a fair candidate considering he is the most reliable, consistent member of a WR corps that lacks many answers next to teammate Chris Godwin. But imagine Baker Mayfield in the middle when Wirfs, their top blocker, is knocked out of the lineup.
For years they have made Henry the center of crime. Nothing has changed. As Ryan Tannehill navigates yet another makeshift collection of WRs, King Henry is tasked with carrying Mike Vrabel’s assault on his bruised shoulders.
If Ron Rivera truly believes new QB Sam Howell is capable of emerging as a long-term answer, he better hope the team’s WR1 stays healthy, giving the sophomore gunfighter a downfield threat that’s relatively QB- proof has been in terms of production.