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Panic Meter for Every Team's QB Situation Ahead of 2026 NFL Draft
There are a lot of ways to build a championship team in the NFL, but all of them have to include at least competent quarterback play.
It would be interesting to see a sleep study for the GMs in the league who feel comfortable with who they have at quarterback and those that don't.
Sleep comes a lot easier when you're building around an MVP-caliber passer.
That description only fits a few franchises, though. Everyone in the league has a different level of comfort with their quarterback situation and it can be a major driver for draft strategy.
With just a few weeks to go before teams are on the clock, let's take a look at each quarterback situation around the league. Teams with lower scores can have confidence in their answers for 2026 and beyond.
Those with higher scores might be more prone to getting aggressive in a few weeks.
Arizona Cardinals
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QBs: Jacoby Brissett, Gardner Minshew II, Kedon Slovis
The Cardinals did the thing that a lot of teams are afraid to do. They pulled the trigger on moving on from a quarterback who delivered mediocre results.
Now what?
For now, it appears they'll have a journeyman competition between two fun backup quarterbacks. Brissett will likely be the winner after posting a respectable 23 touchdowns to eight interceptions in 12 starts last season.
The Cards seem to be positioning themselves for a run at the position in 2027, but they should probably take a developmental swing.
Going forward in 2026 with no potential long-term option is less appealing than at least seeing what they could get out of Cole Payton or Taylen Green on Day 3.
The 2027 quarterback class looks promising, but relying on it to turn out that way a year in advance is a bad place to be as a franchise.
Panic Meter: 8
Atlanta Falcons
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QBs: Michael Penix Jr., Tua Tagovailoa
There's a pretty good chance that whoever the Atlanta Falcons bring in as their third quarterback is going to matter. Let's start there.
Both Michael Penix Jr. and Tua Tagovailoa have flashed promising skills in their career. They have both struggled with durability issues, though. Penix suffered a torn ACL that ended his season last November. It was the fifth time in eight years his season has ended with an injury.
Tagovailoa has his own lengthy injury history, including multiple concussions since 2022.
The optimist view is that Penix is healthy to start the season and takes to Stefanski's offense quickly. That would just have Tagovailoa serving as a cheap backup option.
Still, there's a very real possibility that neither quarterback is able to stay healthy and the Falcons are back to square one in 2027.
Panic Meter: 6
Baltimore Ravens
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QBs: Lamar Jackson, Tyler Huntley
The Ravens kicked off the new league year by restructuring Lamar Jackson's contract to clear $40 million in cap space. Ideally, they wanted a contract extension, but they weren't able to agree on one before then.
That's not a reason to hit the panic button yet. Jackson still has two years left on his current deal.
What should be more concerning for the Ravens is that Jackson clearly slowed his production as a runner this season. He posted career lows in rushes per game (5.2), yards per game (26.8) and success rate (47.8).
As Jackson enters his age-29 season it will be interesting to see how he evolves his game as his athleticism wanes.
We're still talking about a two-time MVP who is one season removed from being All-Pro. There's just a lot riding on Jackson returning to that form this season.
Adding to the Ravens confidence in the position is that they were able to re-sign backup Tyler Huntley. That should keep them from the debacle that was starting Cooper Rush last season.
Panic Meter: 2
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Buffalo Bills
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QBs: Josh Allen, Kyle Allen, Shane Buechele
The Bills are entering Year 2 of their six-year, $330 million extension they gave Josh Allen last season and they shouldn't have any buyer's remorse at this point. He was once again one of the league's best in 2025.
Allen hasn't shown signs of slowing down as a runner. He's one of the league's best goal-line backs with his third-consecutive season with at least 10 rushing touchdowns.
That helped propel him to third in the MVP voting and he should be right in the thick of the race again. The receiving corps should be better with D.J. Moore coming into the fold.
The backup position hasn't mattered much for Buffalo. Allen's durability has been remarkable given how many hits he takes. He has started all 17 games in each of the last three seasons.
Still, the Bills brought in Kyle Allen after losing Mitchell Trubisky to the Titans in free agency.
Panic Meter: 1
Carolina Panthers
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QBs: Bryce Young, Kenny Pickett
Dave Canales' reputation as a quarterback developer continued in the 2025 season. Bryce Young continued to give the Panthers reasons to believe he can be the team's long-term starter, leading them to a division title even if they went 8-9.
General manager Dan Morgan acknowledged that Young showed flashes of being a high-caliber quarterback when deciding to exercise his fifth-year option in January.
"Bryce did a great job this year, and I'm just really excited about moving forward and still developing chemistry with our receivers and just the pieces around him," he said, per David Newton of ESPN.
Morgan went on to say they would be looking at the "big picture" when considering if a long-term extension was coming.
For now, the Panthers have seen enough to give Young a two-year window. However, it would be reasonable to expect more out of him before committing to a pricey extension.
Panic Meter: 4
Chicago Bears
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QBs: Caleb Williams, Tyson Bagent, Case Keenum
Caleb Williams faced a lot of scrutiny as a No. 1 overall pick after his first season. It didn't help that Jayden Daniels' incredible rookie season shifted the goalposts a bit.
The 24-year-old put to bed any concerns after his second season. Hiring Ben Johnson and adding real veteran bite to the offensive line were key factors, but Williams took a huge step forward in his sophomore campaign.
Being paired with Johnson helped Williams hone in his game a bit, cutting down on sacks taken (from 68 in 2024 to 24 in 2025) and putting him in a better position to operate the offense.
Still, he hasn't taken away his knack for dramatic plays. Kyle Shanahan praised Williams electric ability with the ball in his hands.
"Caleb is one of the best throwers and most athletic quarterbacks I've ever seen, in terms of his height, weight and speed," Shanahan told media. "He makes some big-time throws. Extremely scary on the perimeter."
Now that the Bears have found the perfect match between head coach and quarterback they get to experience something they've rarely felt about the quarterback position: Peace.
Panic Meter: 1
Cincinnati Bengals
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QBs: Joe Burrow, Joe Flacco, Josh Johnson, Sean Clifford
A healthy Joe Burrow with a competent defense remains the simple recipe for a Cincinnati Bengals team that can be dangerous.
Unfortunately, they haven't had the defense in either of the last two seasons and they didn't get a healthy Burrow last year. The 29-year-old was limited to eight games by a lingering turf toe injury that affected him most of the season.
Despite that, he still posted a QBR of 63.0 which is the second-highest of his career.
The panic the Bengals should be feeling this season has little to do with their quarterback himself and more to do with their team success. Burrow has talked about needing to find the fun in playing football again.
Much of that is out of frustration with the injuries that have compromised both his 2023 and 2025 seasons.
Getting Joe Flacco to come back makes this situation even more solid. He tested the free agent market, but came back to Cincinnati as a veteran backup who can win multiple games if called upon.
Panic Meter: 1
Cleveland Browns
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QBs: Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel, Deshaun Watson
Todd Monken has his work cut out for him.
The Browns have a desperate need at quarterback. They've done nothing about it thus far this offseason.
Heading into the draft, the Browns still have three quarterbacks on their roster from last season. They don't appear to be moving on from Deshaun Watson. They also restructured his contract to clear $36 million in cap space that will be dispersed into future years.
General manager Andrew Berry left the idea of Watson returning as the starter open at the combine. He has played 19 games in four years with the Browns franchise with a success rate of 37.3.
Sanders posted the second-worst QBR in 20 years as a rookie. Even the biggest of Sanders optimists would have to acknowledge he has a long way to go before being considered the long-term answer.
The Browns are scarce on resources to upgrade the position. This isn't a deep draft class and they were limited on cap space to chase trade or free agency options.
There should be panic, but it feels like they'll be pushing that panic into 2027.
Panic Meter: 8
Dallas Cowboys
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QBs: Dak Prescott, Sam Howell, Joe Milton
The 2024 campaign was not kind to Dak Prescott, but he bounced back in a way that should make the Cowboys much more confident moving forward.
He was back to his best after playing just eight games in 2024 with a serious hamstring injury. Fortunately, he came back to start all 17 games in Dallas this season, posting the fifth-highest QBR in the league (70.2).
The Cowboys would love to have more postseason success, but Prescott continues to deliver in every other way. His 2025 season was among his most productive and Dallas has basically doubled down on the passing attack by franchise-tagging George Pickens.
They also made a notable change at the No. 2 spot. Should Prescott's injury woes crop up again, they'll be either turning it over to Joe Milton or newly acquired Sam Howell.
The latter threw 21 touchdowns and 21 interceptions in one full season as the starter in Washington in 2023, but he just spent a year with the Eagles without taking a single snap.
Panic Meter: 2
Denver Broncos
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QBs: Bo Nix, Jarrett Stidham, Sam Ehlinger
It's not always easy to build on the success of a strong rookie season, but Bo Nix didn't seem to have any trouble in his second year of starting with the Denver Broncos.
Nix and Sean Payton continue to be a great duo and have forged a bright future in Denver. The QB was given a little more on his plate this season and responded by leading the Broncos to the AFC Championship Game.
The ankle injury that kept him out of that final game put a damper on the end of the season, but it's an undeniably exciting development in Bronco Country.
That excitement is only going to build with Jaylen Waddle coming to Denver. The trade for the former Miami wideout gives Nix the Courtland Sutton running mate he needs to take the passing game to the next level.
Jarrett Stidham returning as the backup should have Denver feeling even more comfortable. This will be his fourth season with the team and he's shown competence in the offense.
Panic Meter: 1
Detroit Lions
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QBs: Jared Goff, Teddy Bridgewater
The Lions had to undergo a lot of changes on offense last season.
Losing offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and Tanner Engstrand was a lot of brain drain, but Jared Goff was a steady hand.
There wasn't much drop off in Goff's production. The 31-year-old was second in the league in passing yards (4,565) and touchdowns (34) while finishing 16th in overall QBR.
The Lions are again breaking in a new offensive coordinator with Drew Petzing taking those responsibilities. Having a veteran like Goff, who excels in executing the game plan, should ease that transition.
The Lions have a pretty good backup plan in Teddy Bridgewater. Hendon Hooker is now off the roster, though, which leaves the possibility that the Lions target another project at quarterback later in the draft.
Panic Meter: 1
Green Bay Packers
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QBs: Jordan Love, Desmond Ridder, Kyle McCord
The arrow continues to point up for Jordan Love. The Packers should feel good about the four-year, $220 million contract that started in 2024.
Love took a step toward being an even more efficient quarterback in 2025. He cut down on turnovers and was third in the league in total QBR. He had a career-low 1.4 interception rate while still throwing for 3,381 yards and 23 touchdowns across 15 starts.
The only reason for any consternation in the quarterback room is Malik Willis' departure. The former first-round pick got paid to be the starter in Miami based on his progress as the backup in Green Bay.
They'll now turn things over to Desmond Ridder if Love is injured. He's not the athletic dynamo that Willis is, but he has an 8-10 mark as a starter in the league. Matt LaFleur and his system have proven to be beneficial for quarterbacks so Ridder could thrive in the role.
Panic Meter: 1
Houston Texans
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QBs: C.J. Stroud, Davis Mills, Graham Mertz
"We are not trading the guy. He's our quarterback," Houston Texans general manager Nick Caserio told media in early March. "He's going to be playing quarterback for the Houston Texans in 2026."
But whether Stroud will be a Texan in 2026 isn't the question they need to answer. Soon, they'll have to figure out if he's worthy of a long-term extension. Stroud is now extension-eligible. The club is expected to exercise his fifth-year option and they'll need to decide if he's worth a massive extension.
He's given Houston an uneven resume to work with. Stroud's rookie season was phenomenal, but he had a pretty severe sophomore slump. He bounced back to lead the team to the playoffs in his third season, but he also threw four picks in a postseason loss to the Patriots.
The Texans need Stroud to be more consistent. He can remove any doubt that he's the Texans franchise quarterback moving forward if he can stack good games this season to put those trade rumors to rest for good.
Panic Meter: 3
Indianapolis Colts
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QBs: Daniel Jones, Anthony Richardson, Riley Leonard, Seth Henigan
There's good news and bad news when it comes to the Colts quarterback situation.
The good news is that giving Daniel Jones a one-year contract ended up being a great decision. Under Shane Steichen, Jones played better than he has in his entire career, going 8-5 as the starter and posting a 100.2 passer rating.
If he had stayed healthy and maintained that over a full season, the Colts could be hovering close to a 1 on the panic meter.
Unfortunately, he suffered a torn Achilles that ended his season and leaves some uncertainty going into 2026. The Colts showed confidence in the quarterback with a new two-year, $88 million contract, however, there's some wiggle room to get out of it after a year.
Essentially, the Colts are once again locked in on a short-term bet for Daniel Jones. If he recovers from his Achilles and picks up where he left off, then the Colts are in good shape.
But if there's a slower recovery process than expected or he regresses then the Colts are still in a tenuous quarterback situation.
Panic Meter: 4
Jacksonville Jaguars
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QBs: Trevor Lawrence, Nick Mullens, Carter Bradley
The Jaguars hired Liam Coen, in part, to get the most out of Trevor Lawrence.
Mission accomplished. After struggling through several coaching changes during Lawrence's time in Jacksonville, they put together a strong season.
The 2021 No. 1 overall pick helped lead the Jags to a 13-4 season and the AFC South title behind one of the league's best offenses over the second half of the season.
There should be excitement in Jacksonville about what Lawrence can do with another full offseason with Coen. The QB hasn't had much continuity in his career.
Coen will change that and help solidify Lawrence's spot as the franchise quarterback in Jacksonville.
Mullens works well as a backup for the Jaguars. There isn't a pressing need to chase a high-upside No. 2, and he has proved to be a solid option in that role.
Panic Meter: 2
Kansas City Chiefs
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QBs: Patrick Mahomes, Justin Fields, Chris Oladokun, Jake Haener
In the long term, the Chiefs are just fine. Patrick Mahomes did not have a banner year by his standards, but those standards are still among the highest in the league.
Any panic the Chiefs are feeling at the quarterback position has to be about the beginning of the season. Kansas City no longer has the margin to sleepwalk through the first part of the season and still lift the Lombardi Trophy at the end of the year.
So, the fact that Mahomes could miss the early part of the season after tearing his ACL in December is concerning for next year. The 30-year-old hopes to be ready for Week 1, but that's a tall order coming off a major knee injury.
The Chiefs addressed their potential need for a Week 1 starter by trading for Justin Fields. The 2021 first-rounder has had his shot as the starter with three separate franchises. It's telling that he hasn't stuck with any of them, but he should get just enough dual-threat production to keep the Chiefs dangerous in Mahomes' stead.
Panic Meter: 3
Las Vegas Raiders
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QBs: Aidan O'Connell
Help is coming. Every sign and indication points to the Las Vegas Raiders making Fernando Mendoza the top pick in the 2026 NFL draft.
Mendoza is the third overall prospect on our big board heading into the draft. He's the clear QB1 with Ty Simpson coming in at No. 26. B/R scout Dame Parson gives Fernando Mendoza a comp to Matt Ryan with better mobility.
The Raiders have a much lower panic rating based on the fact that they got the No. 1 pick in a draft that only has one consensus top-five quarterback prospect.
That said, we must acknowledge that Mendoza still doesn't take things down to a 1. He didn't put up the most gaudy numbers at Indiana, joining JJ McCarthy and Anthony Richardson as the only Round 1 quarterbacks with less than 240 yards passing per game in his final season since 2015.
Still, getting the top talent in the draft and pairing him with an offensive mind like Klint Kubiak is a legitimate reason for excitement.
Panic Meter: 3
Los Angeles Chargers
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QBs: Justin Herbert, Trey Lance, DJ Uiagalelei
Justin Herbert was held back by two things last season: Protection and scheme.
The banged-up Chargers offensive line was 32nd in pass-block win rate (and 31st in run block win rate). Losing both tackles Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt made things just about impossible, and the offensive coordinator didn't have many answers.
Still, Herbert made the best of a bad situation, leading the Chargers to an 11-5 mark while posting a respectable 60.6 QBR.
Now the 28-year-old will get a chance to work with Mike McDaniel. His time as head coach with the Dolphins might not have gone great, but there's no denying that he's a strong offensive mind who will accentuate Herbert's strengths.
The Chargers have already done some things to address the offensive line. They signed Cole Strange and Tyler Biadasz on the interior. A healthy Slater and Alt on the outside could do wonders.
Both Trey Lance and DJ Uiagalelei were with the team last season so they should continue their development under Jim Harbaugh. There's a lot to like about the potential in the room in 2026.
Panic Meter: 1
Los Angeles Rams
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QBs: Matthew Stafford, Stetson Bennett IV
The Rams' panic meter is more nuanced than you'd think for a team that brings back a reigning MVP at the quarterback position.
When healthy, Matthew Stafford showed he can be the league's top quarterback last season. He is set to begin his 18th career season and admitted during his MVP speech that retirement was a consideration.
He has demonstrated an incredible ability to play through injuries in his career. Even his MVP season last year was slowed at times by back issues. At 38, those concerns aren't going away.
So any sense of panic comes from what happens next for the franchise. Sean McVay and general manager Les Snead have built a ready-made Super Bowl contender. What happens next at the quarterback position will be key.
It's interesting that the Rams haven't done anything about the backup quarterback position to this point. There isn't much Stetson Bennett has done to show he can be the heir apparent.
This all makes the Rams a sneaky candidate to take a quarterback with the 13th, 61st or 93rd pick. They could elect to pick Stafford's eventual replacement while there's still time to develop a prospect behind their MVP.
Panic Meter: 3
Miami Dolphins
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QBs: Malik Willis, Quinn Ewers, Cam Miller
The Dolphins have gone to great lengths to turn over their roster for a new era. That includes a change at the game's most important position where they are eating an unprecedented dead cap charge to move on from Tua Tagovailoa.
They followed it up by making a fun gamble at the position in the form of a three-year, $67.5 million contract for Malik Willis.
It's not a massive contract by QB standards. If Willis works out, they'll actually get him for an affordable $22.5 million annual average value. That's currently 17th in the league.
There is risk, though. Willis is essentially coming in based on the two-year stretch he had as the Green Bay Packers' backup after struggling for two years in Tennessee.
After joining Matt LaFleur's squad, Willis completed 70 of 89 pass attempts (78.7 percent) for 972 yards while throwing six touchdowns to no interceptions. He also chipped in 261 rushing yards.
At his best, he's an exciting dual-threat player who is going to have to lift a supporting cast that has been gutted this offseason and no longer features Tyreek Hill or Jaylen Waddle.
It was a move that kept the Dolphins from having to turn things over to Quinn Ewers after his rookie season or depend on this year's draft class. Still, things will feel unsettled until Willis proves he can be the guy.
Panic Meter: 5
Minnesota Vikings
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QBs: Kyler Murray, J.J. McCarthy, Carson Wentz, Max Brosmer
On paper, the Vikings had everything they needed last season to be a legitimate contender...except a quarterback.
By signing Kyler Murray and Carson Wentz this offseason, they have put J.J. McCarthy on notice and provided insurance that the quarterback situation will be improved.
McCarthy's debut season as a starter was a disappointment. He threw 11 touchdowns to 12 interceptions despite one of the league's best offensive coaches in Kevin O'Connell and weapons in Justin Jefferson at his disposal.
Signing Murray for the league minimum could be the steal of the offseason. He has exposed limitations as a seven-year starter in the league, but he has also demonstrated the ability to play at an MVP level for stretches in a season.
Murray's presence should be a floor-raiser. All the ingredients are there for the Vikings to be effective on offense. Then again, Murray is only on a one-year contract and is coming off a foot injury that cost him most of the 2025 season.
There's reason for hope. There's not enough reason for peace.
Panic Meter: 6
New England Patriots
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QBs: Drake Maye, Tommy DeVito
Having a quarterback capable of competing for the MVP award on a rookie contract is the dream scenario for any team in the league.
The Patriots are living the dream.
Drake Maye narrowly lost the MVP award to Matthew Stafford in the second year of his career. He had one fewer first-place vote after throwing for 4,394 yards with 31 touchdowns to eight interceptions with another 450 yards and four touchdowns on the ground.
He'll cost the Pats $10 million against the cap next season.
That has allowed the Patriots continue to invest in the offense with Romeo Doubs and Alijah-Verah Tucker in free agency.
Tommy DeVito has proved to be a capable backup who can win multiple games if called upon. So, even if Maye is injured, the Patriots are in a good position with their QB situation.
Panic Meter: 1
New Orleans Saints
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QBs: Tyler Shough, Spencer Rattler, Zach Wilson
The Saints raised some eyebrows when they took Tyler Shough with the 40th overall selection in the 2025 draft.
By the end of the season, they looked pretty smart.
Shough ended up taking over the starting job in Week 9 and didn't look back. He led the Saints to a 4-1 record over the final five weeks of the season throwing for five touchdowns to one interception and averaging 263.2 passing yards per game.
It all points to Shough being able to develop into a legitimate starter in the league.
That's an exciting development for a team that was on shaky ground after Derek Carr's retirement last season.
But it still has to come with caveats of any second-year quarterback who wasn't a slam-dunk prospect. Shough's age (26) was a concern in terms of how much he could develop and we're still feeling good about a relatively small sample size.
Still, the Saints are in a much better spot than many would have thought a year ago.
Panic Meter: 3
New York Giants
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QBs: Jaxson Dart, Jameis Winston
There are a lot of reasons for Giants fans to get excited and Jaxson Dart is providing a lot of them.
The 25th overall pick of the 2025 draft made an immediate impact once he got the opportunity to start last season. He went 4-8 as the starter, but threw for 15 touchdowns to five interceptions while adding another nine scores and 487 yards on the ground.
The fact that he did it without Malik Nabers is even more exciting.
Dart's success undoubtedly played a role in the Giants being able to land John Harbaugh as their new head coach. The former Ravens boss could have had his pick of openings in the league, but the chance to work with Dart was part of the reason for taking the job.
Nabers should be back healthy this season and the Giants added Isaiah Likely, Darnell Mooney and Calvin Austin to give them a much deeper arsenal this season.
Panic Meter: 2
New York Jets
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QBs: Geno Smith, Brady Cook, Bailey Zappe
If you had to sum up the Jets' quarterback situation in 2026, it would be "punt."
As in, that seems to be what the Jets have decided to do for the year and something their offense will be doing a lot.
Geno Smith's career arc has been a fun ride. He should be commended for the turnaround that he engineered in Seattle, but the 35-year-old is not an inspired starting option for the Jets at this point.
The most likely reason to go with him is the fact that he was the Raiders' starting quarterback last season and they are now in line to draft Fernando Mendoza at No. 1 overall.
Smith threw 17 interceptions in his lone season in the Silver and Black. It was a return to a similar recklessness with the ball that he demonstrated during his early career with the Jets.
The backup situation isn't exciting, either. Brady Cook was a calamity in four starts for the Jets last season, and Bailey Zappe is already on his third team in four seasons.
We won't call this full-blown panic. It's more like surrender to wait until 2027 to find their real solution at the position.
Panic Meter: 7
Philadelphia Eagles
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QBs: Jalen Hurts, Tanner McKee, Andy Dalton
Any "panic" around the Philadelphia Eagles quarterback situation comes purely from being in the pressure cooker that is Philly as a sports town.
Jalen Hurts is the entrenched starter and he's coming of his third Pro Bowl season. He set a new career-high with 25 passing touchdowns while only throwing six interceptions and rushing for 421 yards and eight touchdowns.
The dip in rushing production is actually encouraging. It came with a bump in his passing production and shows that Hurts could become more reliant on his passing as he ages into his current five-year, $255 million contract that is set to expire in 2028.
The most intrigue comes at the backup position where Tanner McKee enters the final year of his rookie contract. The Eagles recently traded for Andy Dalton which could be read as a sign that McKee could be on the move.
The Eagles reportedly wanted a second-round pick in return for McKee when the Jets inquired about trading for him. That points to how highly they view him despite his limited playing time.
Dalton gives them a reliable veteran backup even if they decide to cash in on McKee's perceived value around the league.
Panic Meter: 1
Pittsburgh Steelers
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QBs: Mason Rudolph, Will Howard
The outlook on the Steelers' quarterback decision rests squarely on the shoulders of Aaron Rodgers. The club is still waiting on an official decision from the 42-year-old.
It's a position the Green Bay Packers know all too well.
This isn't the first time Rodgers has dragged his feet. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Media, he is still mulling his decision (h/t Andrew Vazquez of Steelers Wire):
"I don't know if Aaron Rodgers is going to play next year. It does not seem like the Steelers and Mike McCarthy know whether or not Aaron Rodgers is going to play next year. If you talk to people who know him well, they do not know if Aaron Rodgers is going to play next year. [There] does seem to be some real uncertainty about whether or not Rodgers will or will not play."
Regardless of whether Rodgers returns, there is still considerable uncertainty about 2027 and beyond that should have the Steelers considering QB options in this class. They seem to like Will Howard after drafting him in the sixth round last year, but he alone is not a viable succession plan.
Mason Rudolph could be the starter if Rodgers opts to retire. He's a reasonable backup option, but downright disappointing if he's the starter.
Panic Meter: 7
San Francisco 49ers
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QBs: Brock Purdy, Mac Jones, Kurtis Rourke, Adrian Martinez
Brock Purdy continues to show that he's exactly what Kyle Shanahan needs when he's healthy. He was once again one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the league in 2025.
Purdy was second in total QBR for the season. He completed nearly 70 percent of his passes (69.4) on the season and threw for 20 touchdowns to 10 interceptions in a year where the Niners were constantly dealing with injuries.
Unfortunately, Purdy was among those who dealt with injuries throughout the season. He was limited to nine games on the season, in which the Niners were 7-2.
Purdy's injuries gave Mac Jones a chance to show that he's one of the league's best backups, though. There's been trade speculation, but San Francisco hasn't shown a willingness to part with Jones who posted a career-high 97.4 passer rating with 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
San Francisco went 5-3 in the eight games he started, proving that they can win regardless of which of their quarterbacks is starting.
Panic Meter: 1
Seattle Seahawks
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QBs: Sam Darnold, Drew Lock, Jalen Milroe
One of the core questions a team has to ask about any franchise quarterback is whether it can win a championship with him running the offense.
The Seahawks don't have to wonder.
Trading away Geno Smith to give Sam Darnold a three-year, $100.5 million contract was considered bold last offseason. Darnold had just one season of really good production as a starter in Minnesota after all.
Darnold had no problem carrying that momentum over to a championship season in Seattle. The Seahawks dominant defense did some of the lifting, but Darnold made the offense explosive with the second-highest yards per attempt in the league.
Seattle might not be able to depend on Darnold to have the week-to-week consistency of some of the most efficient quarterbacks. But he's always going to be able to get hot enough to lead them on a postseason run.
That's a pretty good place to land after their big bet last offseason.
Panic Meter: 1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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QBs: Baker Mayfield, Jake Browning, Connor Bazelak
The Buccaneers had the pleasure of experiencing all phases of the Baker Mayfield experience in 2025.
A hot start to the season led to a 6-2 record and early MVP buzz. That's how well he can play in stretches. Then came injuries. He played all 17 games but was clearly beat up over the last half of the season, saw his productivity dip and the Bucs finished 8-9 with Mayfield playing his worst season since coming to Tampa Bay.
All of that is bound to complicate extension talks this summer. Mayfield's current deal is set to expire at the end of the 2026 season.
The question the Bucs will have to mull over is whether the 30-year-old is worth what they will inevitably have to pay him to stick around.
Tampa is moving toward a new era in the passing attack. Mike Evans left in free agency and Chris Godwin's injury history raises questions. Whether Mayfield can again earn another contract could be a real question if the Bucs don't come to an agreement this summer.
Perhaps targeting a rookie to bring along on Day 2 or 3 of the draft could give them a backup plan.
Panic Meter: 3
Tennessee Titans
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QBs: Cam Ward, Mitchell Trubisky, Will Levis
Caleb Williams and the Bears taught us two things to keep in mind when evaluating a No. 1 pick after one season. It isn't wise to compare them to other rookie quarterbacks and it's important to keep the context in mind when evaluating.
That's pertinent for Cam Ward and the Titans. Both Tyler Shough and Jaxson Dart received more votes for Rookie of the Year, but neither had to deal with the same circumstances.
Ward showed some of the tools that made him the top pick last season. The full 17-game stats don't leap off the page, though. He completed less than 60 percent of his passes (59.8 percent) and tossed just 15 touchdowns to seven interceptions in 17 games.
There are mitigating factors. Ward took 55 sacks, which is partially on him, but also speaks to offensive line woes. His top receiver was tight end Chig Okonkwo and there was little run game to speak of.
Ben Johnson isn't coming to save the day, though. Instead, Ward will have to lean on new offensive coordinator Brian Daboll and veteran backup Mitchell Trubisky to help in his development.
It's far too early to hit the panic button, but the pressure will be on for Ward to show growth.
Panic Meter: 3
Washington Commanders
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QBs: Jayden Daniels, Marcus Mariota, Sam Hartman
It had to be both exciting and terrifying to watch Jayden Daniels recently play in the Fanatics Flag Football Classic.
On one hand, it was good to see Daniels moving well and making plays after missing all but seven games last season. On the other, the fans know all too well how important his health is going to be in the coming seasons.
He showed superstar potential as a rookie who took the Commanders to a 12-5 record while earning Rookie of the Year honors. The sophomore season didn't quite live up to those expectations. He threw eight touchdowns to just three interceptions, but Washington was still 2-5 in the seven games he started.
New offensive coordinator David Blough intends to use Daniels under center far more than he's played in his career. That could be a move that helps reduce his exposure, but it also goes against the type of quarterback he's been to this point.
Ultimately, the Commanders still have a potential superstar at quarterback. The 2025 season will be considered a blip on the radar if he can stay healthy and return to 2024 form.
Panic Meter: 2
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