Who is the worst franchise QB in the NFL?

[GunnerBill]

1 minute ago, eball said:

 

 

If we only look at guys with 2nd (or 3rd) contracts then I'd say Darnold kind of sticks out like a sore thumb, although Lawrence is right behind him.  I think Murray has done more than either of those two guys.

 

It's definitely not Baker.

 

 

So I don't have Darnold in the "franchise" club in any definition. I get the "he got paid" condition, but he has one moderately successful year as a starter. His other years starting have been dismal. Financially he and Baker are on a par but Baker has had three playoff years as a starter, and has played pretty darn well in the playoffs.

 

So once you throw Darnold out.... you are left with TLaw and Murray. I have Lawrence in penultimate place ahead of Kyler, probably on the basis that Kyler it totally anti-clutch, he plays his worst when you need his best AND I think he is the most likely of the bottom end "franchise" guys not to be on his current team in 2026. But I wouldn't really fight against someone putting those two the other way around. I think Kyler has generally been more consistent in helping his offense move the football. 

[Low Positive]

6 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

So I don't have Darnold in the "franchise" club in any definition. I get the "he got paid" condition, but he has one moderately successful year as a starter. His other years starting have been dismal. Financially he and Baker are on a par but Baker has had three playoff years as a starter, and has played pretty darn well in the playoffs.

 

So once you throw Darnold out.... you are left with TLaw and Murray. I have Lawrence in penultimate place ahead of Kyler, probably on the basis that Kyler it totally anti-clutch, he plays his worst when you need his best AND I think he is the most likely of the bottom end "franchise" guys not to be on his current team in 2026. But I wouldn't really fight against someone putting those two the other way around. I think Kyler has generally been more consistent in helping his offense move the football. 

Lawrence is such an interesting case. All the physical gifts are there, but he lacks mental resilience. I think that vaunted 68-game winning streak in high school and college meant that he never learned to pick himself off the mat. It just came so easy for him; he was always the best guy on the best team. When the losing started in Jacksonville, a sort of apathy set in from which he has yet to recover. It also doesn't help that the entire organization in Jacksonville seems like an afterthought. If Jacksonville decides to cut bait and he goes to the Steelers next offseason, I think we might see a Mayfield-like resurrection. 

[Freddie's Dead]

POShaun Watson, in a landslide.  

[ChronicAndKnuckles]

On 6/26/2025 at 1:38 PM, Kirby Jackson said:

Man, that’s not fair to Baker. He’s coming off 4,500 yards and 41 TDs. He had 4,000 and 28 TDs the prior year. Him being suggested makes me uncomfortable. 
 

To answer the question, I think Tua, Lawrence and Darnold are the guys that would qualify. It’s tough to want to move on from them but you don’t win because of them IMO. 

Darnold just threw for 4320 yards and 35 TDs. Add another 210 on the ground. He is FAR from the worst starting QB. I think he has a chance to turn it around ala Baker Mayfield.  Edit: Mayfield was pretty good in Cleveland so he didn’t really “turn it around.” Mainly injuries were his downfall. I’ll use Rich Gannon as a better example. People don’t understand just how much a terrible franchise w/ terrible ownership & coaching can affect a young (or old) QB. People will see when Aaron Rodgers all of the sudden becomes good again on the Steelers. We saw it with Geno too. I even think Zack Wilson will have a career renaissance at some point. I don’t even think Mahomes or Allen would’ve survived the Jets. I am rooting for Sam Darnold. I liked him at USC. The Jets set him up for failure.

 

In regards to the original question. Worst starting QB to me is Anthony Richardson. This is what happens when you draft someone based on pure measurables/athleticism. Colts FO thought they were getting the next Josh Allen. Instead, they got the next Jamarcus Russell. I want to give an honorable mention to Bryce Young. I would’ve chose him, but he started to pick it up later in the season even taking the Chiefs down to the wire. He doesn’t have many weapons so I am giving him the benefit of the doubt.

Edited 12 hours ago by ChronicAndKnuckles

[FireChans]

2 hours ago, Freddie's Dead said:

POShaun Watson, in a landslide.  

I’m not sure anyone believes Watson is a franchise QB.

 

may as well say Nate Peterman.

[Maine-iac]

7 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

 

So I don't have Darnold in the "franchise" club in any definition. I get the "he got paid" condition, but he has one moderately successful year as a starter. His other years starting have been dismal. Financially he and Baker are on a par but Baker has had three playoff years as a starter, and has played pretty darn well in the playoffs.

 

So once you throw Darnold out.... you are left with TLaw and Murray. I have Lawrence in penultimate place ahead of Kyler, probably on the basis that Kyler it totally anti-clutch, he plays his worst when you need his best AND I think he is the most likely of the bottom end "franchise" guys not to be on his current team in 2026. But I wouldn't really fight against someone putting those two the other way around. I think Kyler has generally been more consistent in helping his offense move the football. 

This sums it up well.  I might add that in my opinion Lawrence has been more manic in that his best season was better than any of Murray's and his worst season is worse than Murray's but overall I can't think of anyone year in and year out who is better at losing in November and December than Murray.  Murry is 12 and 25 in November and December.  If there's a chance the Cards make the playoffs they blow it down the stretch almost every year.

[Kirby Jackson]

5 hours ago, ChronicAndKnuckles said:

Darnold just threw for 4320 yards and 35 TDs. Add another 210 on the ground. He is FAR from the worst starting QB. I think he has a chance to turn it around ala Baker Mayfield.  Edit: Mayfield was pretty good in Cleveland so he didn’t really “turn it around.” Mainly injuries were his downfall. I’ll use Rich Gannon as a better example. People don’t understand just how much a terrible franchise w/ terrible ownership & coaching can affect a young (or old) QB. People will see when Aaron Rodgers all of the sudden becomes good again on the Steelers. We saw it with Geno too. I even think Zack Wilson will have a career renaissance at some point. I don’t even think Mahomes or Allen would’ve survived the Jets. I am rooting for Sam Darnold. I liked him at USC. The Jets set him up for failure.

 

In regards to the original question. Worst starting QB to me is Anthony Richardson. This is what happens when you draft someone based on pure measurables/athleticism. Colts FO thought they were getting the next Josh Allen. Instead, they got the next Jamarcus Russell. I want to give an honorable mention to Bryce Young. I would’ve chose him, but he started to pick it up later in the season even taking the Chiefs down to the wire. He doesn’t have many weapons so I am giving him the benefit of the doubt.

The question isn’t “worst starting QB” it’s “worst franchise QB.” Those aren’t interchangeable. The question, as @FireChans asked it, is basically, “who is the worst QB that you’d pay franchise money to?” No one is paying AR franchise money. He might be backing up Daniel Jones.

[Chicken Boo]

Watson for sure.  Lawrence is #2.

[Figster]

 Aaron Rodgers still has franchise QB expectations to finish his career.

 

Where do you rank him though?

 

 

[BarleyNY]

Either Aaron Rodgers at this point in his career, Kyler Murray or Trevor Lawrence.

Edited 5 hours ago by BarleyNY

[dave mcbride]

4 hours ago, FireChans said:

I’m not sure anyone believes Watson is a franchise QB.

 

may as well say Nate Peterman.

But he is paid like one, and that matters vis a vis the definition.

[Playoffs?]

Last year would’ve been Daniel Jones for sure.

 

While Tua is a decent player, and he fits the system well, the poor guy could be one hit away from literally being done with the game.  For that reason, he gets my vote based on the potential that he won’t be able to carry the franchise too long. Probably a bad reason..

[3rdand12]

On 6/26/2025 at 2:00 PM, FireChans said:

Do you think Lawrence is franchise?

isn't the question better phrased , " does the organization consider the player a QB a Franchise sort " ?

Lawrence came to mind for me.

 As we fans we are subjective to the question. What does the Team think ? Did they invest ?

[3rdand12]

5 hours ago, FireChans said:

I’m not sure anyone believes Watson is a franchise QB.

 

may as well say Nate Peterman.

He was paid as such . how ever wrongly  lol

 

oops just read Dave , who beat me to it . well done 😉

Edited 4 hours ago by 3rdand12