Rookie QBs with the Best Chance to Start and Succeed
These rookies may have some adversity ahead, but by the time the dust settles, they have the best chances of first-year signal callers to start games and win them…

Desmond Ridder, Falcons
If any rookie QB had his druthers, he’d be the starter come Week 1 of the NFL season, no questions asked. Fortunately, it’s not up to him to make that decision. The head coach ultimately has the say whether a rookie is ready to take the plunge, and Arthur Smith of the Falcons seems to be of the mind that Ridder is just about there. Smith has been one of Ridder’s biggest cheerleaders thus far in OTAs and minicamp, and this is after his April post-draft press conference where Smith was open to Ridder earning the starting job come September. Current “starter” Marcus Mariota is seen by all in the organization as a stop-gap until Ridder is ready to go, and Ridder might be ready a lot sooner than we envisioned. His mobility makes him an immediate asset, fantasy and otherwise, as soon as he steps on the field.

Kenny Pickett, Steelers
Pickett has been evaluated as the most “NFL ready” of the rookie QBs in this year’s draft, so that bolsters his chances of making starts in year one. The only issue seems to be that the Steelers seem content on allowing Mitch Trubisky to hold the reins in Pittsburgh to start the season – He’s currently the “clear no.1 in camp”. Right now Pickett is running as the 3rd QB for the Steelers, right behind Mason Rudolph, but don’t expect him to stay there for long. I’d be surprised if Pickett doesn’t start the season as the no.2 QB on the roster, and I’d be even more surprised if he doesn’t work his way into the starting role by mid-season.

Sam Howell, Commanders
Like Malik Willis, Howell was one of my favorite QBs at the Senior Bowl this year, and also like Willis, Howell dropped from 1st round draft contention to a much later round than I would’ve anticipated – He ended up getting taken in the 5th round. Fortunately for Howell, he landed on a Commanders squad where the only competition he has is an erratic Carson Wentz and an underwhelming Taylor Heinicke. Wentz has washed out in every organization he’s been a part of, and the turnover seems to happen more quickly each time. Howell was ranked as the top one or two QB in college ball going into the 2021 season, but either a lack of talent around him or his own setbacks dropped him down a few pegs. I think it was the former. With a bevy of weapons at his disposal, Howell is my favorite to lead the Commanders at some point this season.