I’ve been an NFL fan since I was a kid, so I’m no stranger to the nuances of the quarterback position. And recently, I’ve been curious about how many quarterbacks a team typically carries. So today, I’m going to dive into this question: how many NFL quarterbacks or 5 10 or less?
From what I’ve gathered, teams usually carry three to five quarterbacks, five being the typical number NFL teams aim for. This means that there is usually two to four backups who act as second and third string quarterbacks who have little to no chance of seeing the field unless some sort of tragic injury occurs.
Furthermore, the backup quarterbacks have one other vital role: practice. They are used to give the starting quarterback extra practice reps, since in the game of football, practice makes perfect. Seeing as how the NFL is a highly competitive sport, teams want to make sure their best players are as ready as possible on game day.
And lastly, the quarterback position is an investment. Teams usually look to the draft to bring in youthful and hungry quarterbacks who can eventually fill in the roles of the starter when the time comes. This means that the backup quarterbacks usually allow the team to scout the rookie quarterbacks to see if they have the skills to hang with the veterans.
Now, teams usually cannot roster more than three quarterbacks on their active roster and two on their practice squad. But, if they have a young quarterback they believe in and would like to keep grooming, they have the option of placing that player on the injured reserve. That player would be able to practice with the team and would not take up a spot on their 53 man roster.
Overall, it looks like 5 10 quarterbacks is too much for a team to carry. Teams usually like to stick with a 3-5 quarterback model in order to maximize the potential of their active roster spots. This also includes evaluating and scouting young quarterbacks in order to bring up their prospect in the future.
Having said that, if teams believe they have a young talent waiting to burst out, they can always place that player on the injured reserve in order to work towards their goal of becoming the starting quarterback in the future.
From my experience, quarterbacks also act as a vital part of practice. By having multiple quarterbacks during practice, the starting quarterback gets extra practice reps and can thereby work on technique and relationships with teammates. This can make a crucial difference when game day rolls around.
On top of that, backups are filled with players striving to prove themselves. They don’t receive the majority of the reps in practice, so the little time they get is when they have to make a name for themselves. I’ve seen it many times before, backups winning games for their team and making a statement of why they deserve more playing time.
Finally, when it comes to backups, I always tell people not to sleep on them. You never know when the moment will arise where a backup quarterback has to step in and perform. The NFL is all about second chances, and backups are regularly given the chance to show their skills.
To sum it up, I think most NFL teams like to stick with a 3-5 quarterback model. This allows them to scout young players and develop their skills, practice more efficiently and it also gives a chance for back ups to prove themselves. It looks like the maximum number of quarterbacks a team can carry is 5, but if a team is really sold on a prospect, they can always place that player on the injured reserve to hone in on his future.