Offensive players, excluding quarterbacks, and defensive players to keep an eye on were covered in articles last week. Now, the focus turns to passers. 

Every season, a different set of players face a crossroads or have something to prove for a variety of reasons. The most common reasons are related to age, contract or salary cap concerns, injury, performance or off-the-field issues. 

Eleven such quarterbacks to watch during the 2022 season are below. 

Carson Wentz, Commanders

Wentz is on his third team in three seasons. His poor play down the stretch last season, particularly in the regular-season finale against the lowly Jaguars, when the Colts controlled their own playoff destiny but failed to secure a postseason berth, led to his departure. Getting rid of Wentz was a little surprising considering the Colts gave up a 2021 third-round pick and a 2022 first-round pick for Wentz to be a one-year rental. Colts owner Jim Irsay called acquiring Wentz a mistake shortly after he was dealt to the Commanders in March for essentially 2022 and 2023 third-round picks. The 2023 selection becomes a second-round pick with Wentz taking at least 70% of Washington's offensive snaps this season. 

Wentz should be a big upgrade over Taylor Heinicke, last season's starting quarterback who replaced an injured Ryan Fitzpatrick. If not, Wentz won't see the final two years of his contract worth just over $53.4 million and his days as a starting quarterback in the NFL will likely be over.

Baker Mayfield, Panthers

Mayfield became expendable after the Browns unexpectedly gave up 2022, 2023 and 2024 first-round picks, a 2022 fourth-round pick, a 2023 third-round pick and a 2024 fourth-round pick to the Texans for Deshaun Watson and a 2024 sixth-round pick in March. The Browns held on to Mayfield until the middle of July before dealing him to the Panthers for a conditional 2024 fifth-round pick, which becomes a fourth-round pick with him taking at least 70% of Carolina's offensive snaps this season. Mayfield took a slight pay cut from his fully guaranteed $18.858 million fifth-year option to $15.358 million with $3.5 million of incentives being added to facilitate the trade. 

The 2018 first overall pick beat out Sam Darnold, 2018's third overall pick, for the starting quarterback job while learning Carolina's offense on the fly. By demonstrating that a disappointing 2021 was attributed to playing most of the season with a torn labrum in his left (non-throwing) shoulder, Mayfield should be a starting quarterback in 2023 whether with the Panthers or somewhere else.

Jared Goff, Lions

A Rams trade for Matthew Stafford that brought Goff to the Lions paid immediate dividends in Los Angeles. The Rams won the Super Bowl last season, which is something that wasn't done during Goff's five seasons with the team.  

Goff got off to a rocky start in Detroit but played his best football down the stretch as the Lions' only three wins last season came in the four games he played in December and January. He completed 66.9% of his passes (91 of 136) for 965 yards with nine touchdowns and two interceptions to post a 103.3 passer rating during those games. Goff may need to pick up where he left off last season to remain in Detroit long term since there isn't any more guaranteed money in his contract after this year. He has two more years on his deal with $25.65 million and $26,650,064 salaries in 2023 and 2024.

Ryan Tannehill, Titans

A dismal three-interception game in a divisional playoff loss to the Bengals as the AFC's No. 1 seed overshadows a solid 2021 season. Tannehill was the NFL's 45th best-performing player in 2021, according to Pro Football Focus. Seven quarterbacks (Josh Allen, Tom Brady, Joe Burrow, Kirk Cousins, Justin Herbert, Aaron Rodgers and Matthew Stafford) ranked ahead of him. The AFC South should be a two-team race between the Colts and Titans. Tannehill and/or the Titans faltering could result in 2022 third-round pick Malik Willis becoming quarterback next season. The 2023 season is the final year of the four-year, $118 million contract Tannehill signed in 2020. His $36.6 million cap number is the NFL's sixth largest for 2023.