QB Carousel 2026

By: Josh Frey-Sam

The quarterback carousel this season isn’t great, all things considered, but it’s good enough to keep us intrigued.

A few predictions about who ends up where this spring.

Kyler Murray - New York Jets

Kyler will be cut by the Cards this offseason. I do not believe he will start Week 1 for a team, but he will be a backup and see the field in 2026.

The Jets could be the perfect match. A team that needs to take a swing on a former highly touted top draft pick, and a player in desperate need of a new opportunity and change of scenery.

Jacoby Brissett — New York Jets

Brissett did enough to earn a starting job somewhere — at least to start the season — in 2026.

Where better than a team in desperate need of some sort of stability?

The Jets double down at quarterback, creating one of the more interesting camp battles of the summer.

Brissett wins, but Kyler sees the field by Week 8.

Malik Willis - Arizona Cardinals

Willis goes from one LaFleur to another. You think Mike hasn’t already hit his brother up about Willis is the real deal?

The transition would be smooth for Willis, going from one Shannahan/McVay disciple to another.

Miami is also an obvious option here, due to the connection with Jeff Hafley.

Kirk Cousins - Minnesota Vikings

I haven’t given up on JJ McCarthy, but it feels more and more like the writing is on the wall that the Vikes will bring in a veteran to compete for the starting job.

There are reports that the Vikes and Falcons have already been in talks about a potential trade.

Is Kirk the guy to get the Vikings to a Super Bowl? Probably not. But he could probably take them further than McCarthy or most available QBs. With his experience in Kevin O’Connell’s system, this might be the best player available for the Vikes.

Tua Tagovailoa — Miami Dolphins

If the Fins whiff on Willis, expect Tagovailoa to return to Miami for what would be a make or break year for him in South Beach.

The Fins have an out in Tua’s contract after this season, so Jeff Hafley can get a good look at him for him year, and if he doesn’t like it, then he likely has a high draft pick and a stellar QB class to choose from in 2027.

Justin Fields— Atlanta Falcons

With Kirk Cousins traded, the Falcons need a backup QB that could start in a pinch if Michael Penix Jr. can’t bounce back from last season.

Fields gives Kevin Stefanski an interesting project as a backup. The connection here is simple: Fields returns home to Georgia.

Geno Smith - Las Vegas Raiders

Geno is actually an interesting trade piece because the trading team would only have to pay him $8M in cash this season.

A trade would also leave the Raiders with $18.5M in dead cap and a hole at the backup QB position.

His contract is a tough pill to swallow for one more season, but I think it makes sense to have a veteran like Geno stand behind Fernando Mendoza.

Aaron Rodgers - Pittsburgh Steelers

I do not think Rodgers is done. He can still play at a high level, and the new — or old — coaching staff has certainly made it tough for him to not come back.

Rodgers reunites with Mike McCarthy, while just about every offensive coach down to Oline coach James Campen has a deep history with the future hall of famer.

This feels like a true last dance for Rodgers with many of the people he started his NFL career with.

Mac Jones — San Francisco 49ers

Doesn’t sound like the Niners are interested in dealing Mac. He would be a hot commodity on the trade market if he became available, though.

Thanks for reading and, as always, have a great day.

Josh