Predicting Trade, Free Agency or Draft for Every NFL Team With QB Need

With the 2025 NFL regular season over and the playoff bracket finalized, the upcoming draft order has begun to crystallize.

The top 18 is set in stone, an area where several elite quarterback prospects are projected to be taken by teams that have become desperate for help under center.

While the 2026 draft will inject some fresh passing talent into the NFL, there simply aren't enough top-flight prospects to fill every quarterback void.

There are just three QBs to be found within the top 40 of the Bleacher Report Scouting Department's latest big board. Two of those are coming off the board within the first two selections of the B/R Scouting Department's updated mock draft.

Drafting a potential franchise cornerstone early on Day 1 is an ideal way to address a quarterback deficiency, but it isn't foolproof. There are other options for teams in need of passing help as well. These organizations could opt to dip into the free-agent pool—promising backups such as Malik Willis and Mac Jones are set to hit the open market this spring—or explore the trade market to find a proven veteran.

With that in mind, let's take a look at some teams with a potential quarterback need going into the offseason and predict which path they will take to unearth a new starter.

Arizona Cardinals: Retain Jacoby Brissett

AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh

The Arizona Cardinals are turning a new leaf this offseason. They already parted ways with head coach Jonathan Gannon after a fruitless three-year tenure, and it may not be long before the next domino falls.

If the Cardinals move on from Kyler Murray after a dismal 2025 campaign—he's been a popular trade candidate ever since his stint on the IR served as a soft benching early in the season—they'll be in the market for a new starter for the first time since taking Murray atop the 2019 draft.

While Arizona holds the No. 3 overall pick after a tough 3-14 season, it likely won't be able to secure a blue-chip prospect without trading up. Given the two teams picking ahead of the Cardinals—the Las Vegas Raiders and New York Jets—are both even more desperate for passing talent, such a move projects to be prohibitively costly.

Rather than reach in the draft for a second-tier quarterback at No. 3 (or trade down and hope one is still available when they are on the clock), the Cards could instead opt to run it back with Jacoby Brissett under center.

Settling for the 33-year-old isn't going to move Arizona any closer to Super Bowl contention, but there are plenty of needs up and down this roster going into the 2026 offseason.

Using draft picks to fill these holes—and returning future capital for Murray in a trade—would allow the incoming regime to construct a much more potent lineup for future seasons.

The Cardinals will still be in the market for a QB come 2027, but they'll be much better positioned to either draft a top-flight option with their returns from a Murray trade. They could even opt to lure a high-end free agent to the desert, one who can find immediate success as Sam Darnold did with the Seattle Seahawks this season.

Cleveland Browns: Sign Mac Jones

AP Photo/Zach Bolinger

The Cleveland Browns quarterback carousel may have finally stopped spinning after Shedeur Sanders stepped up and performed admirably over the final seven games of the season.

Although he's not guaranteed to open 2026 as the starter—especially after Kevin Stefanski's dismissal—the next head coach should give Sanders a fair shake to operate as the QB1 during training camp.

With Cleveland finishing outside the top five in the 2026 draft order, the franchise doesn't have a clear path towards landing one of the handful of premier quarterback prospects the class has to offer.

Sanders has shown enough promise for the club to comfortably avoid using either of its two first-rounders on a passer anyway, but it would still be wise for GM Andrew Berry to line up a highly competent backup this offseason.

Signing Mac Jones in free agency makes sense for Cleveland. After an impressive stint with the 49ers, the 2021 first-rounder could push for the starting job in camp and makes for a sensible candidate to take over should Sanders regress during a pivotal sophomore season.

Berry recently spoke about the quarterback situation, telling reporters that the front office will "do our work on the quarterback market" this offseason. He confirmed the situation is fluid, stating "I can't sit here and tell you today whether the solution for, or the starter in 2026 is internal or external."

With Berry going on to talk about how "quarterback is the most important position in sports" and the Browns will prioritize "solidifying that position," it would make sense for them to have several quality options vying for the QB1 role this offseason.

Although Jones didn't pan out for the New England Patriots or the Jacksonville Jaguars, he went 5-3 across eight starts for the playoff-bound San Francisco 49ers—completing nearly 70 percent of his throws for 2,151 yards and 13 touchdowns against six interceptions in those contests.

If Jones and Sanders end up battling one another to prove they can be viable NFL starters, the Browns will play host to one of the league's most intriguing quarterback competitions this offseason.

Las Vegas Raiders: Draft Fernando Mendoza

AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill

The Las Vegas Raiders are heading into a critical offseason that will drastically impact the organization's future.

The franchise will not only be hiring a new head coach following the firing of Pete Carroll, who went 3-14 in his lone year at the helm, but it will also be picking atop the 2026 draft.

This should be a relatively straightforward decision for the Raiders, as there is no better prospect who fills a position of clear need than Fernando Mendoza.

He is finishing out a scintillating senior season at Indiana, one in which he's already claimed the Heisman Trophy and still has a chance to end with a College Football Playoff championship.

He's racked up a whopping 3,172 yards and 36 touchdown passes while completing 72.3 percent of his throws across 14 games, stellar numbers that will only look more impressive after his Hoosiers battle Oregon in a Peach Bowl CFP semifinal game.

Although Mendoza is not the top overall player on the B/R Scouting Department's big board, he rates an extremely impressive No. 4 overall with an 8.5 grade that indicates an "immediate impact prospect." Our scouts have him landing in Sin City as the No. 1 overall selection in their recent mock draft as well.

With Dame Parson describing Mendoza as "unflappable" while praising his pro-readiness, arm talent and processing skills, the Raiders should feel extremely comfortable tapping him at No. 1.

Los Angeles Rams: Draft Ty Simpson

AP Photo/Kyusung Gong

The Rams have a real chance at making a Super Bowl LX run, but they could also be in line for a painful 2026 campaign if Matt Stafford opts to call it a career.

L.A. lacks a proper heir for the 37-year-old at this juncture. With neither 2023 Day 3 pick Stetson Bennett IV nor veteran backup Jimmy Garoppolo an ideal candidate to take the reins from the MVP candidate, the Rams may want to use one of their rare first-round picks to find a successor.

Although L.A. has made just a single first-round draft selection since 2017—notably winning Super Bowl LVI by embracing a "f--k them picks" philosophy under general manager Les Snead—the team displayed a willingness to diverge from that strategy in 2024.

The Rams' decision to keep their first-rounder that year led them to Jared Verse, who has quickly developed into a key defensive contributor on the edge.

With an extra Day 1 pick in hand in 2026 after trading out of the first round last year, L.A. is now trending towards making multiple Round 1 picks for the first time since landing both Greg Robinson and Aaron Donald in 2014.

If the Rams don't opt to swing yet another blockbuster trade, it might be sensible to utilize one of those selections on Ty Simpson.

The Alabama product is coming off the board at No. 13 overall in the latest B/R Scouting Department mock draft, with Dame Parson pointing out how well his "polished and accurate" passing talents fit within Sean McVay's offense.

Simpson may not be the biggest name in the class, but he could be in line for a solid NFL career if he lands in Los Angeles.

Miami Dolphins: Trade Tua Tagovailoa for Kyler Murray

AP Photo/Doug Murray

The Miami Dolphins have seen enough from the slumping Tua Tagovailoa and benched him in favor of Quinn Ewers late in a lost 2025 campaign.

With Ewers faring better than expected for a seventh-round rookie, the door is wide open for the veteran signal-caller to be moved this offseason.

Tagovailoa is receptive to a trade, saying "That would be dope. I would be good with it" when asked if he would prefer a fresh start in 2026.

While the financials of trading a starting NFL quarterback are tricky—Tagovailoa still has three seasons remaining on the franchise-record four-year, $212.4 million extension he inked in July 2024 and has a $56.4 million cap hit in 2026—the Arizona Cardinals could be interested in a rare one-for-one QB1 swap.

Like Tagovailoa, Kyler Murray experienced a disappointing 2025 season that ultimately led to a form of benching. While Murray officially spent the final 12 games on injured reserve, rumors swirled that the signal-caller's health wasn't the only reason he didn't see the field after Week 5.

Regardless, his tepid performances weren't inspiring and could lead the incoming regime to ship the signal-caller off despite still having up to three years (there is a team option for 2028) remaining on a five-year, $230.5 million contract extension he signed in July 2022.

While the Dolphins might need to sweeten the pot with some picks to convince Arizona to take on Tagovailoa's contract (which will be more expensive to get out from under if he doesn't improve), this move could benefit every party involved.

Swapping Tagovailoa for Murray would give both QBs a much-needed reset on the other side of the country, while their respective franchises still have a chance to contend in 2026 with a proven veteran running the offense.

New York Jets: Draft Dante Moore

AP Photo/Lynne Sladky

The New York Jets have a great opportunity to fully reboot this offseason and make some meaningful strides towards snapping the league's longest active playoff drought.

Due to their unsightly 3-14 finish and decision to ship off Pro Bowl players like Quinnen Williams and Sauce Gardner at the trade deadline, Gang Green is sitting pretty with 12 picks in the draft, including four in the top 44 and a pair within the top 16.

No pick is more important than the No. 2 overall one New York will make in the first round. That selection will allow the organization to finally land an elite quarterback prospect after years of dismal play at the position.

Although the Jets don't have the best track record when it comes to their recent QB selections in the top-five—Zach Wilson, their choice at No. 2 in 2021, and Sam Darnold, the No. 3 overall pick in 2018, each lasted three miserable seasons in the Big Apple before moving on—they would be foolish to punt on a chance to nab Dante Moore when they get on the clock.

Moore has been a revelation for Oregon. Since taking over as the starter this season, the redshirt sophomore signal-caller has gone on to lead the Ducks to a 13-1 record and appearance in the CFP semifinals. In that span, he has tallied 3,280 passing yards and 28 touchdowns while completing nearly 73 percent of his throws.

B/R scout Dame Parson described Moore as a "smooth and natural thrower of the football" who "thrives from the pocket with timing and accuracy" and praised his "poise and mental makeup" that teams are looking for in an early first-round draft pick.

Moore will next get a chance to go head-to-head against Fernando Mendoza and Indiana's elite defense in the Peach Bowl. While he's already considered a consensus top-five pick, guiding Oregon past the Hoosiers and into the championship game would cement his status as a can't-miss prospect.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Sign Malik Willis

AP Photo/Adam Hunger

While the Pittsburgh Steelers have been moderately successful in the post-Ben Roethlisberger era while cycling through a series of signal-callers, they need to find a long-term solution if they are to become a serious Super Bowl contender.

Aaron Rodgers' first year in Pittsburgh has gone well, but the 42-year-old is on a one-year deal and could retire after the playoffs. Even if he opts for another year, the Steelers will still want to have a quality backup lined up to make the transition more seamless in 2027.

With the Steelers picking outside the top half of the 2026 first round, it's unlikely any quality prospects will still be available when they get on the clock. The organization could instead dip into free agency—repeating a strategy it used for the past two years to find starting passers—to land Malik Willis.

Although Willis struggled to find his footing after being drafted by the Tennessee Titans in 2022, he has fared well in limited action backing up Jordan Love for the Green Bay Packers. It's worth gambling on the upside he's displayed in Titletown, potentially giving Pittsburgh a quality starter at a budget cost (Spotrac estimates Willis' market value at just $10.6 million per year).

If Rodgers retires and Willis regresses during his time with the Steelers, the team could still capitalize on the signing. A rare down year in Pittsburgh would net the club an early pick in 2027, affording a chance to secure a premium QB prospect to build around.