QBs Who Will Be Under the Most Pressure Entering the 2026 NFL Season

Every year, the NFL quarterback carousel draws headlines. Signal-callers face immense pressure as general managers try to find their franchise guy.

At the most important position, competition is at its height—even among teammates set to battle for one role. 

Quarterbacks who were first-round picks must meet mounting expectations, while unheralded players have to make the most of limited opportunities. 

Young veterans have only a few years to show they're worth a lucrative extension, and the older ones are trying to extend their careers as starters.

With all those factors in mind, we profiled seven quarterbacks who will be under the most pressure entering the 2026 season.

Kirk Cousins, Las Vegas Raiders

AP Photo/John Locher

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins

Kirk Cousins accepted the pressure that comes with joining a team that has the No. 1 overall pick and a need at quarterback. 

As a free agent, Cousins signed with the Las Vegas Raiders, knowing they were likely to select Fernando Mendoza with the first pick in this year's draft.

Ironically, two years ago, the Atlanta Falcons signed Cousins to a four-year, $180 million deal and then selected Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 overall pick, a move that surprised the veteran signal-caller.

Late in the 2024 season, the Falcons benched Cousins in favor of Penix. 

Cousins is familiar with the pressure of playing ahead of a rookie first-rounder. He expects to compete for the Raiders' lead job. If the 37-year-old loses the battle, he would take on a mentor role as a backup for the rookie.

According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the Raiders expect Cousins to start the entire year while Mendoza learns from the sideline.

Even if that's the Raiders' intended plan, fans and the team could get impatient with Cousins if he recklessly turns the ball over and losses start to pile up.

In today's NFL, first-round quarterbacks play early. Last year, Cam Ward started in Week 1. Jaxson Dart took over for Russell Wilson in Week 4 for the New York Giants, who lost their first three games of the season. 

If Cousins wins the job, he must retain it every week with his play on the field.

Kyler Murray, Minnesota Vikings

AP Photo/Jessica Tobias

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray

Kyler Murray's career could go in one of two ways. 

On the one hand, Murray could prove that he's a quality starter in a career resurgence with the Minnesota Vikings, but if he struggles, it could be the start of a journeyman stage in his pro outlook.

Murray played seven seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, leading them to the playoffs once and making the Pro Bowl twice.

Murray seemed to know that his time in Arizona had run its course when a reporter asked him about the team's plans for a new training facility. He didn't have enough success to secure his future with the club under a regime that didn't draft him.

Furthermore, Murray's former teammates have questioned his leadership skills.

Heading to Minnesota, Murray can reinvent himself with a strong supporting cast of pass-catchers that includes two-time All-Pro Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and two-time Pro Bowler T.J. Hockenson.

Like Sam Darnold, who flourished in lead skipper Kevin O'Connell's offense before winning a Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks, Murray will have a chance to show he can lead a winning club with good coaching.

Michael Penix Jr., Atlanta Falcons

AP Photo/Brynn Anderson

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr.

Michael Penix Jr. will experience a different side of a high-pressure quarterback situation. Two years ago, he was the newcomer. Now, he's the incumbent.

In 2024, the Atlanta Falcons drafted Penix in the first round after signing Kirk Cousins, prompting questions about the latter's long-term status with the team despite his new contract. 

This offseason, Penix must harness the urgency to beat out Tua Tagovailoa for the starting job, or he could be looking for opportunities elsewhere.

The Falcons turned over their front office and coaching staff. So, Penix isn't playing for the regime that selected him with the No. 8 overall pick two years ago.

Moreover, Falcons' new general manager Ian Cunningham didn't name a starting quarterback, which sets the stage for a training camp battle between Penix and Tagovailoa, whom the team signed in free agency.

Keep in mind that Penix is recovering from knee surgery, which adds a layer of difficulty to his objective of winning the starting job.

Shedeur Sanders, Cleveland Browns

AP Photo/David Dermer

Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders

Typically, players with Shedeur Sanders' draft pedigree aren't in the spotlight. They don't face the high expectations that come with leading a franchise.

However, Sanders isn't an ordinary Day 3 pick. As a son of Hall of Famer Deion Sanders and the most talked-about fifth-round rookie in NFL history, the 24-year-old will be in headlines as he battles for the Cleveland Browns' starting position. 

Sanders will compete against Deshaun Watson and Dillon Gabriel for the lead role. Rookie sixth-rounder Taylen Green will probably be a third-stringer or practice squad player.

According to Cleveland.com's Mary Kay Cabot, Watson is the front-runner for the starting spot.

Nonetheless, critics and supporters will keep tabs on Sanders, who fell further in the draft than most expected.

Although Sanders' celebrity status is a factor in this high-pressure situation, he could prove his doubters wrong and show why a team should've selected him in the first round of the 2025 draft.

Geno Smith, New York Jets

AP Photo/Ashley Landis, File

New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith

Geno Smith's pro career has been a rollercoaster ride, and it's come full circle.

The New York Jets selected Smith in the second round of the 2013 draft. He started in his first two seasons but struggled mightily, throwing for 25 touchdowns and 34 interceptions with a 58 percent completion rate.

After four years with the Jets, Smith was a backup for five seasons until the Seattle Seahawks elevated him as Russell Wilson's replacement in 2022.

Smith had his best years with the Seahawks, earning a couple of Pro Bowl nods, but he wanted out of Seattle after the 2024 season. 

The Las Vegas Raiders traded for Smith, but his reunion with head coach Pete Carroll didn't work out well.

In 2025, Smith threw 17 interceptions, the most leaguewide, and only won two games as a starter. The Raiders fired Carroll and traded Smith to the Jets.

At 34, Smith will once again try to revive his career as a starter—this time with the team that drafted him.

Having gone through career trials and tribulations, Smith can turn things around for himself, but he'll try to do it with a franchise that hasn't had stability at quarterback for decades.

If Smith has another down year, he's unlikely to get another chance to be a full-time starter in the league. 

C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans

AP Photo/Ashley Landis

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud

The Houston Texans aren't in a rush to extend C.J. Stroud's contract.

Instead, Houston exercised the fifth-year option in Stroud's rookie deal. So, the team has him on the books for another two years. 

Usually, clubs prefer to work out new contracts with star players to get ahead of rising salaries. 

The Texans signed edge-rusher Will Anderson Jr. to a three-year, $150 million extension in his first year of eligibility for a new contract. Yet they'll show patience with Stroud, who led them to the playoffs in three consecutive years.

Perhaps the Texans are a bit hesitant to ink Stroud long-term because of his lack of development since his rookie campaign. 

After winning the 2023 Offensive Rookie of the Year award, Stroud has thrown for 39 touchdowns and 20 interceptions. He's tossed six touchdown passes and six interceptions in six postseason outings.

Although Stroud isn't in danger of losing the lead job to Davis Mills, who went 3-0 as a fill-in starter last season, his performances in the 2026 term could impact contract talks with the Texans' front office next offseason.

Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers

AP Foto/Jacob Kupferman

Carolina Panthers QB Bryce Young

Bryce Young is in a situation similar to C.J. Stroud, though he's been less productive in three seasons. The Carolina Panthers exercised the fifth-year option in his contract, but they haven't had talks about a long-term extension.

Entering his fourth season, Young is still in the prove-it stage as a potential franchise player.

As the No. 1 overall pick from the 2023 draft, Young fell well short of expectations in his first two seasons. Early in the 2024 campaign, head coach Dave Canales benched him in favor of Andy Dalton.

Dalton suffered a thumb injury in a traffic accident, allowing Young to regain the starting position, and, to his credit, he's played at his best since returning to the starting lineup.

Last season, Young posted career highs in several passing categories, throwing for 3,011 yards, 23 touchdowns and 11 interceptions while leading six game-winning drives.

Even though Young is coming off his best season, his volume passing numbers are still underwhelming given his draft status.

If Young builds on the previous campaign, he could get a new contract, but if there's regression, Canales could turn to a backup again. The 24-year-old signal-caller must show more development to earn a long-term commitment from the Panthers' front office.

Maurice Moton covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @MoeMoton.