Ranking 10 teams with uncertain quarterback situations
Ranking 10 teams with uncertain quarterback situations
Barry Werner, List WireTue, July 14, 2026 at 10:08 PM UTC
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Training camp for all 32 NFL nears. It is an uneasy time for the franchises that are not set at quarterback.
The same could be said for people who have fantasy football teams and are looking to get settled with some depth at the position.
There are many squads that are set and all they need to do is avoid injury -- see the Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes -- to be confident in the leader of their offense.
Then, there are those that either never get it right or are in the midst of a season of change at the position.
A look at 10 teams that are risking poor quarterback play because of who they have as their signal callers.
10. New York Jets
Geno Smith comes over from the Las Vegas Raiders. Last year his role as starting quarterback saw the AFC West team land with the first pick in the 2026 NFL draft. Smith's name keeps popping up in headlines and not for good reasons. Always in wrong place at wrong time? He needs to focus on football. This honestly feels like it should be another one-and-done.
9. Cleveland Browns
The idea that the Browns could actually be banking on Deshaun Watson is ridiculous. And having the troubled veteran in a battle with Shedeur Sanders isn't good for the second-year QB, too. Since 2020, Watson has played in all of 19 games as a Brown, due to NFL-mandated suspension and injuries. He's going to be 31 this season and his body is probably more like 61.
8. Pittsburgh Steelers
Do the Packers honestly think Mike McCarthy and Aaron Rodgers will recreate the magic they had for a long time in Green Bay? This doesn't seem like a smart plan for 2026. Rodgers already claims this will be his last year in the NFL. Believe that and there are some bridges to buy in Pittsburgh.
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7. Arizona Cardinals
Well, Kyler Murray is gone so he can't be blamed for an NFC West last-place finish again. This year it will be Jacoby Brissett or Gardner Minshew who lead the offense. There is no reason to knock either of those veteran quarterbacks. They would be perfect ... as backups.
6. Minnesota Vikings
Speaking of Kyler Murray, he moves to Minnesota. And that means the Vikings aren't going to bank on J.J. McCarthy. Talk about bad decision-making. They let Sam Darnold walk to a Super Bowl in Seattle. And McCarthy has turned out to be the definition of a bust. Will Murray be solid in Minnesota or will this be another last-place finish for the Heisman winner from Oklahoma?
5. Atlanta Falcons
Will Michael Penix Jr. be ready to play? And if not, how can Kevin Stefanski make Tua Tagovailoa into a serviceable NFL quarterback, again? You are talking about a pair of quarterbacks with a serious injury history. And that means any play in any week can be a disaster.
4. Dallas Cowboys
Dak Prescott will be 33 this season. When healthy, he puts up huge numbers. The problem is that age isn't on his side and Dallas has been 10-16-1 over his starts in the last two seasons. Prescott has to be looking at this as a last chance to get the Cowboys into the playoffs. Dallas either needs to move forward or move on.
3. Miami Dolphins
A coach with a defensive background and a quarterback who is all of 6-6 heading into his fifth NFL season. At least the Dolphins moved on from Tua Tagovailoa. That doesn't mean Malik Willis is the long-term answer for Jeff Hafley and Miami.
2. Tennessee Titans
Are the Titans going to be that much better to help Cam Ward in his second year? Robert Saleh and Brian Daboll don't inspire confidence on Tennessee having a robust offense.
1. Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders have Kirk Cousins listed as No. 1 on the depth chart. Is that in order to try and save Fernando Mendoza from being destroyed by opposing defenses? Cousins could be this year's Geno Smith if he keeps the starting role in Las Vegas.
This article originally appeared on The List Wire: 10 NFL teams with questionable quarterback play
Source: “AOL Sports”
