QB carousel: An early look at the offseason market

As the NFL playoff picture slowly comes into focus, more and more teams can start planning for the offseason. For many, that will begin with a potential change at the most important position on the field.

Who might be in the market for a new quarterback? And more importantly, what options are even available to them? Let's dive in. (Spoiler: It's a bad year to be in QB purgatory.)

Potential teams in need

Miami Dolphins

The writing is on the wall here. The Dolphins sitting Tua Tagovailoa for the final three weeks of the regular season isn't the latest example of a team looking to avoid injury guarantees, as Tua is already due $54 million guaranteed next year. But a performance-based benching for a quarterback making that kind of money is a similarly ominous sign of what's to come. Miami is clearly setting the stage to part ways with the former first-rounder, a move that would saddle the organization with $99.2 million in dead money, according to Over The Cap. As a result, the Dolphins will probably end up bargain hunting in the early stages of their much-needed rebuild.

Arizona Cardinals

Tua won't be the only highly paid veteran finishing the season on the sidelines, as Kyler Murray was shut down in early December. The Cardinals cited continued issues with his injured foot at the time of the announcement. We'll assume they were being honest. Either way, the Arizona offense faring better with Jacoby Brissett seemingly already had this relationship trending toward a split. Murray is guaranteed $36 million in 2026, so the Cardinals might have to eat some money if they hope to find a trade partner. They should be involved in the veteran quarterback market if they don't end up with a top pick.

New York Jets

Justin Fields won't be seeing the back half of the two-year, $40-million deal he signed with the Jets last offseason. Moving up in the draft for a quarterback will be an option, as trading away Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams gives New York five first-round picks over the next two years. But if three of them are in 2027, a year that figures to offer a stronger quarterback class, should the Jets really force the issue in April? There's a real argument to be made that they would be better served by loading up elsewhere this offseason and adding a veteran quarterback to serve as a bridge before taking a big draft swing the following year.

Cleveland Browns

Shedeur Sanders can make his case down the stretch, but the fifth-round rookie will have to leave no doubt for the Browns to consider him a lock as their starter heading into Year 2. Even then, it seems possible, if not likely, that they've always planned to use their pair of first-round picks to target a quarterback at the top of this year's draft. And they could pair that with the addition of a veteran backup. Where might that leave Sanders? More on that below.

Las Vegas Raiders

Hand up: I truly thought the Raiders were getting a steal when they acquired Geno Smith for a third-round pick this past offseason. The former castoff had played like a top 12-14 quarterback for much of his time as the starter in Seattle, and it seemed like Las Vegas' offense might present him with an opportunity to take his game to another level. Consider it a swing and a miss. The situation around him never really gave Smith much of a chance, so it's possible that he still has something left in the tank, but there's no sense in sticking with the 35-year-old when this team so desperately needs to rebuild the right way. The Raiders would save $8 million on his $26.5 million cap hit by releasing him, and they'd take on no dead money in the event they're able to find a trade.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Aaron Rodgers is still a capable starting quarterback, so Pittsburgh would likely be interested in having him return for another year. But the future Hall of Famer has said all along that this figures to be the last season of his career. Barring a change of heart, that means the Steelers will be right back where they were last year. And after another season toiling in mediocrity, they won't have a hope of getting one of the top passers in this draft. So, which veteran will it be this time?

Los Angeles Rams

Matthew Stafford's MVP-caliber season proves he's still got plenty left in the tank. The Rams will hope that he's back for another year, but retirement could remain an annual consideration as he approaches 40. Sean McVay should be eyeing developmental options in preparation. Owning the Falcons' first-round selection, which currently sits in the No. 10 slot, could provide a unique opportunity to add such a player. And if Stafford were to call it a career at the end of this season, the Rams would immediately become the most attractive landing spot for the best available veterans.

New Orleans Saints

The Saints are a bit of a wild card. They could select a quarterback if one happens to fall in their lap on draft weekend, but it's not a must. Second-round rookie Tyler Shough has shown some promising signs since taking over as the starter in Week 9, making a case as the potential long-term quarterback. The Saints need to see a far greater sample before truly committing, but the roster needs enough work that it might be worth starting to build around Shough and seeing how his growth continues over the next year or so.

Indianapolis Colts

Daniel Jones was seemingly well on his way toward earning an extension with the Colts earlier this year. After his breakout season was derailed by a torn Achilles, though, it's no longer such a layup. A deal in line with Sam Darnold's three-year, $100.5-million contract once seemed like a starting point, given their similar paths, but are the Colts comfortable making that kind of investment after a major injury? And if not, is it possible another desperate team swoops in when Jones becomes a free agent? This one could get interesting.

Minnesota Vikings

The last few games of the regular season could go a long way in determining how the Vikings approach the quarterback position in the new year. J.J. McCarthy has looked far more comfortable over his last two games after a disastrous start, but how much of that was about favorable matchups against the Commanders and Cowboys? If things trend back in the other direction, Minnesota may have no choice but to bring in some sort of veteran competition. McCarthy would still enter the 2026 campaign as the starter, but it would be important for the Vikings to have some sort of insurance plan in place to avoid wasting another season.

Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons are in a similar position to the Vikings: They've got a former first-rounder that they hope will be their franchise quarterback, but he's got a long way to go. And with Michael Penix Jr. now having to spend the entire offseason recovering from a torn ACL, Atlanta will need a capable veteran in place as insurance. Kirk Cousins could theoretically be that guy in 2026, but there's simply no world where the Falcons keep the 37-year-old on his scheduled $57.5-million cap hit. Cutting him, saving $22.5 million in cap space, and bringing in a cheaper option is the more sensible move.

The rookie class

Every fan wants their team to address the quarterback position through the draft, and understandably so. Among the clubs listed above, five are projected to have a top-10 pick in April. But this isn't going to be the type of draft class that gives all such teams an opportunity to address their most critical need.

Fernando Mendoza, the Heisman Trophy winner who led Indiana to the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff, is the early favorite to go No. 1. While he's not a generational talent by any stretch, he's a proficient pocket passer with impressive accuracy, decision-making skills, and toughness.

Dante Moore would be another potential top quarterback, but we're still waiting to see if he declares for the draft. There's some buzz suggesting he could return to Oregon for another year. If that's the case, the race for the No. 1 pick becomes all the more critical for a few rebuilding teams, because there just isn't much else to this quarterback class.

LaNorris Sellers already announced his decision to return to South Carolina. Ty Simpson's draft stock took a hit with a rough performance in the SEC title game against Georgia. And with only one season of starting experience under his belt, it's possible he opts to remain at Alabama.

Either way, there won't be nearly enough top rookies to fill all the open spots. That could make for an especially interesting game of musical chairs among quarterbacks who are already in the league.

Veteran names to watch

Kyler Murray

Murray is going to be starting somewhere in 2026. While he's been a frustrating player for much of his career, the former No. 1 overall pick is easily the most exciting option of all the established veterans. Competition for his services could allow the Cardinals to find a trade, but the contract his new team would inherit likely limits the return. Murray can be an above-average starter in a system that maximizes his arm talent and creativity.

Tua Tagovailoa

Tua will get a chance somewhere. He's still just 27 years old, and he's only two seasons removed from leading the NFL in passing. The question is whether that opportunity comes as a clear-cut starter. Tagovailoa's play wasn't the only reason the Dolphins' offense ran out of magic this year, but it certainly didn't help. His career-worst 15 interceptions are also the most among all quarterbacks with three weeks left to play. Expecting him to become a productive starter in a new system, away from the timing-based offense that did so well to highlight his best abilities at his peak, would be a major leap of faith. His price tag could very well end up reflecting that reality.

Daniel Jones

Jones' free-agent market will depend on how he's progressing in his recovery from his torn Achilles. While the win-now Colts may not be inclined to deal with the uncertainty after dumping two years of first-round picks for Sauce Gardner, the first half of this season proved that Jones can be a capable starter in the right situation. He'll have plenty of options if he's on track to be ready at some point before Week 1. If he's not, we shouldn't rule out a reunion with the Vikings. Minnesota could offer Jones an opportunity to take his time getting back to full strength, and he could offer the Vikings some veteran insurance and/or competition for McCarthy.

Mac Jones

The 49ers wouldn't be in playoff contention were it not for Jones' play across eight games without Brock Purdy. While teams will have to be wary of the fact that Kyle Shanahan's system can make life relatively easy for quarterbacks, Jones also had a shorthanded cast of playmakers for much of that stretch. He could be a worthy trade candidate for teams out of position to target a quarterback in the first round.

Kirk Cousins

Cousins won't be the most exciting addition to a quarterback room at this point in his career, but teams in need of some veteran stability could probably do worse. The 37-year-old has looked a little more like his old self another season removed from his Achilles injury, putting up 373 yards and three touchdowns in a recent Thursday night win over the Bucs. Assuming he doesn't have a clearer path to a short-term starting role with another team, Cousins could be the perfect insurance option and mentor for McCarthy back in Minnesota.

Geno Smith

Smith's first season with the Raiders has been a disaster. His play has dropped off substantially from his Seattle days, but it's not like he's been the only issue in Las Vegas. It's easy to envision a scenario where a team in the market for a short-term starter believes a more favorable situation can help him get back to the player he was before this year. And they might be right, potentially making Smith a sneaky value option in a thin market.

Derek Carr

Philip Rivers' return got me thinking: In an offseason where there might be more empty quarterback chairs than appealing options to fill them, could a potential playoff team get creative by going off the board? Carr retired last spring while dealing with a shoulder injury that would have kept him out for the season. If healthy and willing to make a comeback, the 34-year-old could potentially still offer steady, mid-level quarterback play. The Steelers, Colts, and Rams all stand out as interesting fits if they end up in the market for a starter.

Upside swings

Shedeur Sanders

Again, Sanders has a chance to make the Browns reconsider any plans they had to move up for a quarterback at the top of next year's draft. There have been some encouraging moments in his brief stint as a starter so far, particularly when it comes to pushing the ball downfield. But if Cleveland goes outside the building in pursuit of a long-term starter, perhaps both drafting a rookie and pairing him with a veteran, Sanders could become a logical trade candidate. A number of teams would probably have interest in bringing him in to compete, recognizing the error in letting him slide to the fifth round last year.

Spencer Rattler

Rattler has become something of an afterthought in the midst of Shough's recent breakout. Perhaps he ultimately settles in as a career backup, but he hadn't exactly done much to deserve a benching before the Saints understandably opted to get an extended look at their second-round rookie. In fact, with some runway to develop, there's reason to believe that Rattler's arm talent can provide low-level starter upside.

Anthony Richardson

That's right, it's me again - the guy who will never give up on Richardson. It goes without saying that he won't be handed a starting job at this point. Not in Indy, and not anywhere else. But at a time when we've seen so many former top picks break through in new surroundings, you can't tell me that teams won't look to bring Richardson in as a project in the event the Colts decide to move on. You simply can't teach elite physical skills. The Vikings have stood out as a potential landing spot ever since cameras caught Kevin O'Connell encouraging Richardson after a game last year, and he also seems like the exact kind of player Sean McVay would love to develop behind Matthew Stafford.

Malik Willis

Willis didn't look like an NFL quarterback in his brief run with the Titans. Something clicked after he landed in Green Bay, though, as he's proven he belongs any time he's been forced into action. With a little more development as a passer and a system that features his abilities as a runner, Willis could eventually push for more regular playing time. He'll be a fascinating free agent to watch in March.

Will Levis

Levis missed the entire 2025 season with a shoulder injury. And when you think back to the adventures of his other two years, it would make sense if he's not really on anyone's radar. But quarterback-needy teams should be scouring the league for talented signal-callers who were written off too soon. Levis has the unique physical traits that might intrigue a QB guru who's confident in his abilities to bring the best out of a young passer after a low-cost trade.

Dan Wilkins is theScore's senior NFL writer.