NFL QB Carousel: Which teams will need a change under center in 2026?
Week 12 in the NFL is all but in the books, and while there are still several games to be played, we know a whole lot about each team’s QB situation now. Things can certainly change, but we have a very good idea of who will be drafting, signing, or trading for a quarterback when the time comes.
Which NFL teams will need new QBs in 2026?
Locks
The following teams will almost undoubtedly be undergoing a change at the quarterback position: Cleveland Browns, New York Jets, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Arizona Cardinals. All of these teams are basically locked in to needing a new quarterback.
The Cleveland Browns drafted both Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders, but they spent third and fifth-round picks on them, so they don’t preclude a high draft choice quarterback. Plus, neither remotely look like viable NFL starters, so the Browns, who will pick in the top five most likely, will be drafting someone.
The New York Jets benched Justin Fields. He’s still under contract, so maybe he is the bridge starter for half a season, but the Jets are also almost guaranteed to be drafting a QB come spring. They’re too desperate for one not to take this chance to get one.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are not likely get Aaron Rodgers for a second season. He’s probably going to retire, but either way, with his effectiveness slowly waning, other options would be smarter. They’ll probably go the trade/free agent route, though.
The Arizona Cardinals benched Kyler Murray, which means he’s probably getting traded. Jacoby Brissett has been serviceable, but he’s not a legit starter for a team that actually could have playoff hopes. Murray will probably be traded, and the Cardinals will be in the market for someone else.
Wild Cards
The following teams could make QB changes, but it’s far from guaranteed:
- New Orleans Saints
- Minnesota Vikings
- Atlanta Falcons
- Miami Dolphins
- Las Vegas Raiders
- Indianapolis Colts
The Saints could make a QB change because neither Spencer Rattler nor Tyler Shough looks like a superstar, but Shough has looked pretty solid. They will probably give Shough a full season since they spent a second-round pick on him, unless a great QB prospect just falls into their laps, but even then, it’s not a guarantee.
The Vikings have gotten very little out of JJ McCarthy, and his two former teammates last year are playing so well this year (Sam Darnold, Daniel Jones). If things don’t get better, his time will run out, though his coach is a big proponent of giving young QBs time, so it might not happen this offseason.
The Falcons are in a weird spot. Kirk Cousins is a good backup, but he’s so overpaid, and the Falcons can easily get out of this deal now. Michael Penix Jr. is likely to miss a huge chunk of 2026, so someone new will probably be under center next year.
The Dolphins and Raiders are both in the same spot with veteran QBs who are underperforming so bad that change is warranted. However, they’re both very expensive and difficult to move on from, so those two teams may be stuck. They’d sure like to make a change, though.
Finally, the Colts probably like Daniel Jones, but they may not trust him to sign a long-term contract. And plenty of teams, like the Steelers and Cardinals, may engage in a bidding war after Jones’ career year, making him too expensive for Indy.
With six weeks left in the NFL regular season, QBs on the above teams have the pressure on, and if they can’t deliver and change the narrative, they might be looking for a new job or on a new team when the 2026 season rolls around.
