Quarterbacks Going Global in 2024

After three long months, football is back – with OTAs now in full swing for the majority of the league’s 32 teams. As anticipation for the 2024 NFL season begins to build, Decyfr takes a deep dive into the nine quarterbacks projected to start in all five of this season’s international games.

Green Bay Packers @ Philadelphia Eagles

Jordan Love – The Green Bay Packers were the laughing stock of the league when they drafted Jordan Love with the 26^th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, despite having Aaron Rodgers under center – who went on to win another two MVPs in the following two seasons. However, after Rodgers’ departure and Love’s staggering run of form to end the 2023 season, Green Bay well-and-truly had the last laugh.

In the final 10 games last season (including playoffs), Love put together an elite stat line of 2616 yards, 23 touchdowns and only 3 interceptions – unexpectedly leading the youngest-ever team in NFL history to make an appearance in the Divisional Round of the playoffs, with an average age of just 25.1.

With a full year as QB1 now under his belt, Love has all the tools to continue his rapid ascension – providing fans and media alike with every indication that the Packers have yet again developed a young quarterback into one of the league’s most exciting QBs.

The addition of running back Josh Jacobs this offseason adds firepower to an already robust roster that is primed to win the NFL’s inaugural regular season game in South America.

Jalen Hurts – Last season may not have lived up to Hurts’ standards – as the Philadelphia Eagles QB1 experienced a notable decline, following his remarkable performance in Super Bowl LVII.

With Hurts more than doubling his interception tally in 2023 while his QBR fell from 101.5 to 89.1 – it’s no surprise the Eagles saw one of the most shocking collapses of the regular season – leading to a brutal loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the playoffs.

That said, Hurts is a proven leader, with an unrivalled ability to perform under duress and move the chains via both the air and the ground. A trait he has consistently displayed throughout his three years as Philadelphia’s starter – recording 2149 rushing yards and 38 rushing touchdowns on top of 10,703 passing yards and 61 passing touchdowns.

Now with former NFL quarterback Kellen Moore as his offensive coordinator and boasting a league-leading offensive line alongside a phenomenal group of weapons – including recently acquired two-time Pro Bowl running back Saquon Barkley – Hurts will land in Brazil ready to remind the league why he was in the MVP conversation just two years ago.

🚨 BREAKING: Your 2024 NFL London and Munich Games Schedule:

Jets @ Vikings: Oct 6th 🇬🇧
Jaguars @ Bears: Oct 13th 🇬🇧
Patriots @ Jaguars: Oct 20th 🇬🇧
Giants @ Panthers: Nov 10th 🇩🇪#Decyfr #NFLUK #NFLDeutschland @NFLUKIRE @NFLDeutschland @NYJetsinUK @UKVikings @JaguarsUKandIE… pic.twitter.com/Uqc4ClVn03

— Decyfr Sport (@DecyfrSport) May 15, 2024

New York Jets @ Minnesota Vikings

Aaron Rodgers – Now 40 years old, and coming off a season-ending injury, Rodgers has his fair share of doubters – especially when it comes to his ability to lead the New York Jets to Super Bowl glory in 2024.

The four-time MVP recently admitted that his playing style is very different when compared to that which saw him win Super Bowl XLV, telling the Official Jets Podcast: “I’m a different player today than I was when we won the Super Bowl – when I was rushing for the mid-300s every season.”

However, that doesn’t mean he isn’t capable of being one of the NFL’s best, with Rodgers going on to say: “I extend a lot more plays now, I’m beating you with my mind, I can still throw the hell out of it and I can still dominate.”

In his final three seasons in Green Bay, the 10-time Pro Bowler proved just that – averaging 4,036 yards and 37 touchdowns to only seven interceptions, while leading the Packers to two division titles and a 34-16 record over that stretch.

With a re-built offensive line in front of him and additional weapons at his disposal, British Jets fans can expect an unforgettable performance from Rodgers in London come October.

J.J. McCarthy – Becoming a National Championship-winning quarterback is no mean feat – let alone also claiming first-team All-Big Ten honors in the same season. But McCarthy did just that.

Despite having thrown for over 300 yards just once in his final college season, the 10^th overall pick evaded the infamous “game-manager” title thanks to an accuracy rate of 73.2% and only four interceptions ahead of the National Championship game.

With extensive experience operating in a pro-style offense, under the direction of a former NFL Coach of the Year in Jim Harbaugh, McCarthy knows what it takes to win at the highest level – winning the Big Ten Championship in both seasons as a starter on his way to a remarkable 27-1 college record.

Harbaugh even highlighted that McCarthy is the first Michigan quarterback since Tom Brady to beat Alabama in overtime.

Boasting a star-studded wide receiver room, a dominant offensive line and a highly-acclaimed offensive mind at head coach in Kevin O’Connell – McCarthy has everything he needs in Minnesota to lead the Vikings to victory at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Chicago Bears

Trevor Lawrence –  Trevor Lawrence was viewed as a consensus first-overall pick from the moment he set foot on a college football field – resulting in few being surprised when the Jacksonville Jaguars selected Lawrence with the first overall pick in 2021. Heading into his first season in the league, the Clemson graduate had an unprecedented record of 86 wins to just four losses during his time in both college and high school.

That winning record was quickly tarnished, however, following a disappointing rookie season largely attributed to head coach Urban Meyer’s disastrous stint. Lawrence eventually showed the league his potential when Doug Pederson took over in his second season – leading the Jags to the playoffs as Lawrence earned Pro Bowl honors.

Despite a painful end to 2023 – with Jacksonville missing the playoffs by barest of margins – Lawrence still managed to put together his second-straight season with over 4000 passing yards and 20 touchdowns.

Now approaching their third season, the head coach-quarterback tandem has been bolstered by the arrival of wide receiver Gabe Davis, who joins Christian Kirk and Travis Etienne Jr. – giving the Jaguars an offense to be reckoned with.

Caleb Williams – From one consensus first-overall pick to another – expectations couldn’t be higher for USC star, Caleb “Superman” Williams as he approaches his rookie season. Known for his outstanding arm talent and a mesmerising ability to extend plays, Williams has already drawn lofty comparisons to Aaron Rodgers and three-time Super Bowl MVP, Patrick Mahomes.

In his final season at USC, faced with an eroding offensive line, the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner ensured the Trojans posted a winning record – even as he admitted to a sub-par season owing to a diminished roster in 2023.

Williams led the FBS with 120 total touchdowns over the last three seasons, despite both of his main receivers last season only being selected in the seventh round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Now in Chicago, the former first-team All-American has six-time Pro Bowler Keenan Allen, DJ Moore, D’Andre Swift and Rome Odunze at his disposal – an incredible upgrade that will undoubtedly help Williams step up to the pro level.

In a game boasting two exceedingly talented offenses, two generational talents will be on full display in Week 6 for UK NFL fans.

Your 2024 NFL London Games 🇬🇧#Decyfr #NFL #NFLUK pic.twitter.com/mlxwImyJtG

— Decyfr Sport (@DecyfrSport) May 16, 2024

New England Patriots @ Jacksonville Jaguars

Drake Maye – Filling the shoes of a legendary franchise quarterback is never easy. Filling the shoes of a seven-time Super Bowl Champion in Tom Brady, is even harder – just ask Mac Jones. That’s the task that third overall pick Drake Maye has on his hands, as the New England Patriots step into their first season without Brady or Bill Belichick.

Coming out of North Carolina, Maye faced extensive criticism in regards to both the level of competition faced and his “sloppy” footwork. That said, with a prototypical frame and immense arm strength, Maye is widely regarded as having one of the highest ceilings in this year’s draft class. A factor the Patriots will be counting on as they look to improve on a season that saw them rank 28^th in passing offense for 2023.

As the only player since Jameis Winston to win the ACC’s Player of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year and Offensive Rookie of the Year in the same season – Maye was highly-coveted by a number of teams in this year’s draft and is capable of ushering in a new era of New England football.

With a “gunslinger mentality”, expect Maye to show Brett Favre-esque flashes of creativity when he takes to Wembley Stadium on October 20^th.

Trevor Lawrence – Lawrence and the Jaguars are no strangers to London – with 2024 being their second-straight season with back-to-back games in the UK. This familiarity has already served the former first-overall pick well, with Lawrence winning three of his four games in London – including both games in 2023.

Over his four games this side of the pond, Lawrence recorded 974 yards, four touchdowns and just two interceptions as he beat multiple star quarterbacks including Josh Allen, Russell Wilson and Tua Tagovailoa.

In his last appearance in the UK, Lawrence connected with wide receiver Calvin Ridley seven times for 122 yards – en route to Ridley finishing his one-and-only season playing for the Jaguars with a team-leading 1016 yards and eight touchdowns.

In what will be his third game at Wembley Stadium, Lawrence will be without Ridley – who recently signed for the Tennessee Titans on a four-year deal worth up to $92 million.

That said, during the 2022 season – throughout which Ridley was suspended – Lawrence led the Jaguars to their first playoff win since 2017. Proving that even without last year’s WR1, the Jaguars QB1 is more than capable of putting on a show against the Patriots.

New York Giants @ Carolina Panthers

Daniel Jones – When Jones capped off the 2022 season with 3913 total yards and 22 total touchdowns and a playoff win, New York Giants fans were full of optimism heading into 2023.

Said optimism was short-lived, however, after the Giants decided to give their QB1 a four-year contract extension worth up to $160 million – a deal which later forced New York to part ways with star running back Saquon Barkley.

In only six games last season, Jones recorded six interceptions to only two touchdowns – while averaging a measly 152 yards per game which resulted in the Giants starting 2023 with a 1-5 record. Particularly damning given their playoff ambitions to start the season.

As a result, there was extensive speculation surrounding New York using its sixth overall pick on a quarterback at this year’s draft – especially given a clause in Jones’ contract that would allow the Giants to move on from the 26-year-old following the 2024 season. However, the Giants made the decision to keep Jones under center and instead provide him with an elite WR1 in LSU’s Malik Nabers.

Assuming Jones can fully recover from his torn ACL, Germany could be set to witness a rejuvenated performance from the Giants signal-caller.

Bryce Young – Drawing comparison to NBA legend Steph Curry owing to his smaller stature, Young overcame the odds to become the first-overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft – with the Carolina Panthers trading DJ Moore, two first rounders and two second rounders to snatch the Alabama QB from the Chicago Bears.

Young’s rookie season, however, didn’t quite live up to expectations – with the 2021 Heisman Trophy winner leading the Panthers to a 2-15 record while posting only 2877 passing yards and a touchdown to interception ratio of 11:10.

That said, there’s a lot for Carolina fans to be excited about heading into 2024. Recognising the limited firepower offensively last season, the Panthers’ front office traded for Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson, before drafting receiver Xavier Legette and running back Jonathon Brooks in the first and second round respectively this offseason.

These additions, paired with an injection of talent on the offensive line, have given Young everything he needs in order to experience a major bounce-back in his sophomore year.

Should Young rediscover his dominance from college, the Panthers could provide those in attendance at the Allianz Arena with a surprise or two, come Week 10.

🚨 BREAKING: Daniel Jones 🆚 Bryce Young

The @Giants will take on the @Panthers at the Allianz Arena on November 10th.

An NFC Clash in Germany 🇩🇪#Decyfr #NFL #ForeverBlue #KeepPounding | @NFLDeutschland pic.twitter.com/5LJbhJVBc2

— Decyfr Sport (@DecyfrSport) May 15, 2024

With nine elite quarterbacks to choose from, let us know which signal-caller you expect to steal the spotlight in this year’s impressive slate of international games.