JaxRed
03-08-2026, 12:50 PM
I usually start this in early Feb and not early March so a lot of stuff has already gone down.
2026 QB Carousel
Time for my Annual Look at the QB carousel.
AFC East
Buffalo - Set with Allen
Miami - The Dolphins have a new head coach and GM and all indications are the Tua is no longer the man. He was benched late last year for Quinn Ewers. He'd be gone already except for the fact the Dolphins signed him to a huge contract and he has 99 million dead cap space. I assume Dolphins give Ewers a year to see what they have. Although there are rumors of being interested in Malik Willis.
New England - Drake Maye is the man. He had a hugely successful regular season and a terrible post season.
Jets - Shockingly, but Jets are a mess. They are said to be moving on from Justin Fields. They need a QB and pick second in a year where there is only 1 real top flight QB in the draft. So they are expected to sign a veteran QB. Tyrod Taylor is still on roster as is Zappe and Hooker.
AFC Central
Cincy - Set with Burrows, but obviously looking at new backup
Balt - Set with Jackson. Hundley just signed extension as backup.
Pitt - Aaron Rogers doing his annual attention-seeking "will I retire?" dance. I assume he comes back. Steelers also still have Rudolph and Will Howard.
Cleveland - The drama continues. Sanders was the starter for the last few games, with extremely mixed results. They have a new HC who seemed to be a guy that would take any job offered as he is already 60. He fawned all over Sanders. Dillon Gabriel is on roster and he had far better TD/Int ratio. And supposedly this is finally the year Desean Watson is finally ready to play.
AFC South
Jax - Set with Lawrence, who finished looking the best he's ever looked.
Houston - Probably set with Stroud, but boy the luster came off this last year. I think Mills remains as backup.
Tennessee - Titans drafted Cam Ward #1 last year, and he had a decent campaign. He's certainly the guy going into year 2 to see if he can continue his progression. I assume Levis will stay as backup and is now healthy.
Indy - Danny Dimes went to Colts and became Indiana Jones, and looked like the answer prior to his Achilles injury. Colts have given up on Anton Richardson and given him permission to seek a trade. Jones, meanwhile get tagged with the Transition Tag, which means he can negotiate with other teams but Indy has the right to match any offer. If he doesn't sign with anyone else, Indy pays him 37.5 million. Riley Leonard is the other QB on thee roster. He looked pretty decent his last start, but Indy squandered a chance to see if he might be the future when they brought in Phillip Rivers to lose every game he started.
AFC West
Kansas City - Set with Mahomes, but he had Achilles surgery and is iffy to be ready at start of season. Will they stick with Minshew as backup or try to upgrade?
Chargers - Set with Herbert.
Broncos - Set with Nix
Raiders - Raiders signed Geno Smith last year and ended up with worst record in football. They are widely assumed to be drafting Mendoza #1 and setting Geno Smith free. Smith will cost $58 million for his 1 bad year. Why do teams continue to do this?
NFC East
Washington - One year ago Jaden Daniels was the toast of his draft year class. 2025 was injury filled but he's expected to be in charge again. Mariota was solid as backup.
Philly - Set with Hurts.
Dallas - Still riding with Prescott.
Giants - Giants drafted Jaxon Dart in first round and appear to be happy with results. Assuming he continues on this path he'll be cheap starter for 4 more years.
NFC North
Green Bay - Set with Love. Malik Willis looks to be in high demand in free agency
Lions - Set with Goff
Bears - Set with Williams
Vikings - Vikings now have all kinds of questions. They screwed up apparently choosing JJ McCarthy over Sam Darnold. And McCarthy was mediocre. They don't appear to have strong backup, so if I was them, I'd be looking for a better backup.
NFC South
Carolina - Bryce Young continues to be middling as starter. Still on rookie contract, Panthers exercised his 2027 5th year option at 26 million. Panthers seem to be the next team who is going to WAY overpay for an extension for a QB who is "just a guy". If I was owner of Panthers, first I'd do total logo/uniform redesign. Then I'd have GM take a swing at QB in the draft. If you get one you like ensure he gets some playing time. But if you don't find one, offer Young like 4 years, 10 mill per year. If he balks trade him/cut him. Just don't pay 30-40 million for "meh".
Tampa - Set with Mayfield, but he's on last year of deal. Do Bucs go for high dollar extension?
Atlanta - Falcons seem adrift. They bench Penix for Cousins and play much better under Cousins, but they are cutting Cousins lose and going with Penix.
New Orleans - Saints finally made a good financial decision at QB after Carr "retired", and have found s seemingly competent Qb in Tyler Slough who will be cheap for next few years.
NFC West
San Francisco - I said last year 49's would hurt themselves by overpaying for Purdy and that's exactly what happened. He'll get more and more expensive over next 5 years.
Arizona - Cardinals have seen enough of Murry and are letting him loose. They'll eat 54 million in dead cap. And they seemingly don't have a QB to take them into future.
Seattle - Seemingly set with Darnold
Rams - Seemingly set with Stafford for at least a couple more years.
Free (or soon to be) Agents
Tua
Justin Fields
Kyler Murray
Kirk Cousins
Geno Smith
Daniel Jones (Indy can match)
Malik Willis
Derek Carr (maybe)
Anton Richardson (free to work trade)
2026 QB Carousel
Time for my Annual Look at the QB carousel.
AFC East
Buffalo - Set with Allen
Miami - The Dolphins have a new head coach and GM and all indications are the Tua is no longer the man. He was benched late last year for Quinn Ewers. He'd be gone already except for the fact the Dolphins signed him to a huge contract and he has 99 million dead cap space. I assume Dolphins give Ewers a year to see what they have. Although there are rumors of being interested in Malik Willis.
New England - Drake Maye is the man. He had a hugely successful regular season and a terrible post season.
Jets - Shockingly, but Jets are a mess. They are said to be moving on from Justin Fields. They need a QB and pick second in a year where there is only 1 real top flight QB in the draft. So they are expected to sign a veteran QB. Tyrod Taylor is still on roster as is Zappe and Hooker.
AFC Central
Cincy - Set with Burrows, but obviously looking at new backup
Balt - Set with Jackson. Hundley just signed extension as backup.
Pitt - Aaron Rogers doing his annual attention-seeking "will I retire?" dance. I assume he comes back. Steelers also still have Rudolph and Will Howard.
Cleveland - The drama continues. Sanders was the starter for the last few games, with extremely mixed results. They have a new HC who seemed to be a guy that would take any job offered as he is already 60. He fawned all over Sanders. Dillon Gabriel is on roster and he had far better TD/Int ratio. And supposedly this is finally the year Desean Watson is finally ready to play.
AFC South
Jax - Set with Lawrence, who finished looking the best he's ever looked.
Houston - Probably set with Stroud, but boy the luster came off this last year. I think Mills remains as backup.
Tennessee - Titans drafted Cam Ward #1 last year, and he had a decent campaign. He's certainly the guy going into year 2 to see if he can continue his progression. I assume Levis will stay as backup and is now healthy.
Indy - Danny Dimes went to Colts and became Indiana Jones, and looked like the answer prior to his Achilles injury. Colts have given up on Anton Richardson and given him permission to seek a trade. Jones, meanwhile get tagged with the Transition Tag, which means he can negotiate with other teams but Indy has the right to match any offer. If he doesn't sign with anyone else, Indy pays him 37.5 million. Riley Leonard is the other QB on thee roster. He looked pretty decent his last start, but Indy squandered a chance to see if he might be the future when they brought in Phillip Rivers to lose every game he started.
AFC West
Kansas City - Set with Mahomes, but he had Achilles surgery and is iffy to be ready at start of season. Will they stick with Minshew as backup or try to upgrade?
Chargers - Set with Herbert.
Broncos - Set with Nix
Raiders - Raiders signed Geno Smith last year and ended up with worst record in football. They are widely assumed to be drafting Mendoza #1 and setting Geno Smith free. Smith will cost $58 million for his 1 bad year. Why do teams continue to do this?
NFC East
Washington - One year ago Jaden Daniels was the toast of his draft year class. 2025 was injury filled but he's expected to be in charge again. Mariota was solid as backup.
Philly - Set with Hurts.
Dallas - Still riding with Prescott.
Giants - Giants drafted Jaxon Dart in first round and appear to be happy with results. Assuming he continues on this path he'll be cheap starter for 4 more years.
NFC North
Green Bay - Set with Love. Malik Willis looks to be in high demand in free agency
Lions - Set with Goff
Bears - Set with Williams
Vikings - Vikings now have all kinds of questions. They screwed up apparently choosing JJ McCarthy over Sam Darnold. And McCarthy was mediocre. They don't appear to have strong backup, so if I was them, I'd be looking for a better backup.
NFC South
Carolina - Bryce Young continues to be middling as starter. Still on rookie contract, Panthers exercised his 2027 5th year option at 26 million. Panthers seem to be the next team who is going to WAY overpay for an extension for a QB who is "just a guy". If I was owner of Panthers, first I'd do total logo/uniform redesign. Then I'd have GM take a swing at QB in the draft. If you get one you like ensure he gets some playing time. But if you don't find one, offer Young like 4 years, 10 mill per year. If he balks trade him/cut him. Just don't pay 30-40 million for "meh".
Tampa - Set with Mayfield, but he's on last year of deal. Do Bucs go for high dollar extension?
Atlanta - Falcons seem adrift. They bench Penix for Cousins and play much better under Cousins, but they are cutting Cousins lose and going with Penix.
New Orleans - Saints finally made a good financial decision at QB after Carr "retired", and have found s seemingly competent Qb in Tyler Slough who will be cheap for next few years.
NFC West
San Francisco - I said last year 49's would hurt themselves by overpaying for Purdy and that's exactly what happened. He'll get more and more expensive over next 5 years.
Arizona - Cardinals have seen enough of Murry and are letting him loose. They'll eat 54 million in dead cap. And they seemingly don't have a QB to take them into future.
Seattle - Seemingly set with Darnold
Rams - Seemingly set with Stafford for at least a couple more years.
Free (or soon to be) Agents
Tua
Justin Fields
Kyler Murray
Kirk Cousins
Geno Smith
Daniel Jones (Indy can match)
Malik Willis
Derek Carr (maybe)
Anton Richardson (free to work trade)