The 10 Worst Quarterback Situations in the NFL Entering the 2026 Draft

There aren't a lot of major quarterback questions to be settled this NFL offseason. 

We're still unsure about the status of one future Hall of Famer, but it looks like a near-certainty that the draft's only consensus blue-chip quarterback will team up with Kirk Cousins in Las Vegas to shore up the Raiders' quarterback room for at least a little while. 

So, congrats to them for not being included on this countdown of the 10 worst quarterback situations in football as we embark on the heart of draft season.

10. Tennessee Titans

AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File

Cam Ward

Why it's Bad: As the No. 1 overall pick in 2025, Cam Ward averaged a league-worst 5.9 yards per attempt. He was the lowest-rated passer among those with more than 10 starts and took an NFL-high 55 sacks. 

Silver Lining: A lot of successful quarterbacks have overcome horrible rookie campaigns. Ward was always considered a bit of a project with limited support. He's still just 23, and it's possible new offensive coordinator Brian Daboll will take him to the next level. For what it's worth, the Titans have plenty of backup options in Will Levis, Mitchell Trubisky and Hendon Hooker. 

Outlook: Critically, Ward posted six touchdowns, zero interceptions and a 103.8 passer rating in the final four weeks of his rookie year. It's probably a toss-up as to whether he becomes a franchise quarterback or fades away.

9. Houston Texans

AP Photo/Greg M. Cooper

C.J. Stroud

Why it's Bad: C.J. Stroud's 2023 season was one of the best rookie campaigns in NFL history, but he has since fallen off a cliff. Stroud arguably hit rock bottom when he committed seven turnovers in two playoff games this past January. 

Silver Lining: Stroud is still only 24 years old, so it's entirely possible he puts it back together and has a fantastic career. And for what it's worth, the defensively stout Texans won all three of backup Davis Mills' starts in 2025. 

Outlook: Stroud will soon become very expensive, assuming the team signs him to a long-term deal and/or exercises his fifth-year option for 2027. Alternatively, the Texans could hit pause and turn this into a make-or-break year for the 2023 No. 2 overall pick. 

8. Indianapolis Colts

AP Photo/Michael Conroy

Daniel Jones and Anthony Richardson

Why it's Bad: Daniel Jones is now a highly-paid, injured, potential less-than-one-year-wonder, while Anthony Richardson has been such a bust that they're paying Jones $44 million a year anyway.  

Silver Lining: The 28-year-old Jones was a No. 6 overall pick and performed extremely well for a large portion of the 2025 season. Richardson was a No. 4 overall pick and is still only 23 years old. 

Outlook: We don't even know if Jones will recover from a torn Achilles in time for the start of the 2026 season. The reality is, he has a career passer rating of 86.6 over seven NFL seasons. It's fair to say the Colts are gambling, but what choice do they have?

7. Atlanta Falcons

Winslow Townson/AP Images for Panini

Michael Penix Jr.

Why it's Bad: Even prior to suffering a partially torn ACL midway through his sophomore season, former No. 8 overall pick Michael Penix Jr. wasn't inspiring much confidence. Now, he's recovering from said injury while the team rolls the dice on Tua Tagovailoa following his flameout in Miami. 

Silver Lining: Both are talented top-10 picks on the right side of 30. In Tagovailoa's case, you've got a guy with three triple-digit-rated seasons on his resume. And it could help that the offense is loaded with talent at running back, receiver, tight end and along the offensive line.  

Outlook: At least the two aren't costing much and could theoretically push each other. I just don't see either becoming the long-term quarterback. 

6. Minnesota Vikings

AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez

J.J. McCarthy

Why it's Bad: In practically every way you can measure a quarterback, J.J. McCarthy was the least qualified passer in the NFL during his sophomore campaign. Now they've added Kyler Murray, who missed significant action in three of his last four seasons in Arizona and has a 90.3 passer rating since 2022. 

Silver Lining: As with Atlanta, you're looking at two highly drafted guys in their 20s working with strong weapons and a stellar offensive line. And if it's a crapshoot, at least they get two rolls of the dice. They're also both cheap. 

Outlook: The problem is that both have proven injury-prone. It's really hard to imagine either becoming a consistently reliable option.

5. Miami Dolphins

AP Photo/Jim Rassol

Malik Willis

Why it's Bad: They've given up on Tagovailoa in favor of Malik Willis, who flashed as a backup in Tennessee and Green Bay but is a soon-to-be 27-year-old with six career touchdown passes under his belt. Willis is now the 18th-highest-paid quarterback in the NFL. 

Silver Lining: Willis absolutely balled out in performances against Chicago and Baltimore in place of Jordan Love last season. They're really only married to him for the next two years. 

Outlook: He's not overly young. He wasn't highly drafted in the first place. He wasn't intriguing enough for the Titans or Packers to keep him around, while the Dolphins don't realistically have a backup plan. 

4. Pittsburgh Steelers

AP Photo/Terrance Williams, File

Aaron Rodgers

Why it's Bad: They're left waiting on the whims of an inscrutable 42-year-old who is well past his prime anyway. 

Silver Lining: Said over-the-hill 42-year-old (Aaron Rodgers) is still a four-time MVP who posted 24 touchdowns to just seven interceptions in 2025. 

Outlook: Rodgers is very unlikely to suddenly lead this team on a deep playoff run, and they have the talent elsewhere. So they could be wasting this window even if he returns. If not, it's Mason Rudolph, Will Howard, maybe a second-tier rookie like Ty Simpson? Ugh. 

3. Cleveland Browns

AP Photo/David Richard

Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders

Why it's Bad: Deshaun Watson hasn't been a factor in the NFL since 2020, but remains on the roster because they've got little to lose and he's too costly to cast aside. The only other options are unproven 2025 middle-round picks in Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. 

Silver Lining: Sanders made the Pro Bowl as a rookie! And while that deserves a big "LOL," it's worth noting the fifth-rounder had some somewhat promising performances. Gabriel isn't a write-off either after posting seven touchdowns to two interceptions in limited action. And sure, Watson was once a superstar. 

Outlook: I wouldn't be surprised if they were to add yet another middle-rounder to the stable, whether it be Simpson or someone like LSU's Garrett Nussmeier, Taylen Green out of Arkansas, Penn State's Drew Allar, or Carson Beck from Miami. 

2. Arizona Cardinals

AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh

Jacoby Brissett

Why it's Bad: The Kyler Murray era is over, leaving the Cards with two high-end backups and potential bridges in Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew II. 

Silver Lining: Brissett was actually a higher-rated passer than Stroud, Trevor Lawrence, Baker Mayfield, Caleb Williams, Patrick Mahomes and Bo Nix in 2025. 

Outlook: That success in a small sample for Brissett is dwarfed by his career 86.4 rating. He is 33, while Minshew (who is on his sixth roster in seven years) will be 30 in May. They may swing at Simpson or one of those middle-round quarterback candidates, but this is realistically about 2027 at this point. 

1. New York Jets

AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin

Aaron Glenn

Why it's Bad: The Justin Fields era is already over, leaving the Jets with a high-end backup and potential bridge in Geno Smith as their only hope for "the promised land."

Silver Lining: Apparently, the 35-year-old Smith—who led the NFL with 17 interceptions in 2025 and has one good season in his 12-year career—"really, really wants this"?

Outlook: Even if Smith surprises, they know they need another long-term option. Just like Arizona, they're left contemplating whether to take Simpson or a middle/late-round quarterback, versus waiting for next year. That's not fun.