The Main Obstacle Facing Every NFL Starting QB in 2026

Some are bigger than others. Much bigger. 

Some are mental, or conceptual. Others much more literal. 

Regardless, they are all obstacles. 

Here's the key obstacle each current starting NFL quarterback faces entering 2026.

AFC East

AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell

Malik Willis

Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills: Expectations

The front office and fan base have clearly run out of patience, and Allen is now 30. In his ninth season, he is expected to be an MVP frontrunner with a good-not-amazing supporting cast while finally leading the Bills to a Super Bowl in a brand-new stadium. It is—quite frankly—a lot. 

Malik Willis, Miami Dolphins: A lack of support

Willis finally gets a starting opportunity with a nice salary, but that comes just after the Dolphins have parted ways with their two high-caliber veteran receivers. It won't be easy relying heavily on guys like Jalen Tolbert and Tutu Atwell while getting acclimated to a new/transitioning offensive line in Miami. 

Drake Maye, New England Patriots: A new target on his back

Maye exploded as a sophomore in 2025, but now the whole league will be gunning for him following a high-exposure Super Bowl run. How will he handle that dynamic, especially with a much more challenging schedule in 2026?

Geno Smith, New York Jets: Mistakes

The 35-year-old bridge has thrown a league-high 32 interceptions since the start of 2024. No other quarterback has more than 27 in that span. It's difficult to imagine Smith suddenly overcoming that in what is likely a do-or-die campaign for his career. 

AFC North

AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough

Lamar Jackson

Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens: Critical changes

The John Harbaugh era is over, leaving Jackson to adjust to a new system that is being introduced by 30-year-old incoming offensive coordinator Declan Doyle. On top of that, he's lost a Pro Bowl center in Tyler Linderbaum. 

Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals: Durability

The man has missed 16 games over the last three seasons. Cincinnati's fate is deeply tied to his ability to remain on the field in his age-30 campaign. 

Deshaun Watson, Cleveland Browns: "The gap"

Since the end of the 2020 season, Watson has thrown 19 total touchdown passes in 19 starts over a span of half a decade. Suddenly becoming relevant again after hardly being a factor for five years is a massive challenge, especially with a lack of elite weaponry and Shedeur Sanders breathing down your neck. It honestly feels like an impossible task. 

Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers: Father Time

Dude turns 43 this season. He hasn't put up elite numbers since he was 38 in 2021. The odds of him suddenly turning it on again for a competitive but flawed Steelers team are extremely low. 

AFC South

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Trevor Lawrence

C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans: Adapting to a league that may have figured him out

Stroud has simply been a liability ever since his magical 2023 rookie season. Reversing that trend won't be easy in 2026, especially as he adjusts once again to a significantly retooled offensive line while battling a difficult schedule. 

Daniel Jones, Indianapolis Colts: Negative momentum

Even before he tore his Achilles in the latter part of the 2025 campaign, the 29-year-old Jones had cooled off and returned to what we often saw during his time with the Giants. Jones put up an 84.2 passer rating as the Colts went 1-4 in his final five starts. Now, with Anthony Richardson still on the roster, Jones is tasked with proving that his hot start last year wasn't a fluke while continuing to recover from major surgery. Good luck, bro!

Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars: Question marks along the line and in the backfield

Lawrence finally put together a dominant stretch worthy of a former No. 1 overall pick in the second half of the 2025 season, but his line still ranked in the bottom 10 at Pro Football Focus, and now he's lost top back Travis Etienne Jr. 

Cam Ward, Tennessee Titans: A lack of support

Drafting Carnell Tate and signing Wan'Dale Robinson doesn't fix it entirely. A line that has not lived up to expectations remains a major question mark, and Ward will also be navigating big changes to that unit (in other words, a lack of continuity for a young quarterback) as he gets acclimated to a new offensive system in 2026. 

AFC West

AP Photo/William Liang

Justin Herbert

Bo Nix, Denver Broncos: A delayed offseason with a new system in place

It's a good time to be Bo Nix, who has a shiny new receiving weapon and will continue to benefit from a great offensive line and strong defense in 2026. That said, the 26-year-old is coming off multiple ankle procedures while trying to catch up on Davis Webb's new offensive approach. 

Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs: Current trends

Mahomes is coming off a torn ACL at age 30, the roster around him has been eroding for several years, and a lot of folks are overlooking the fact that the future Hall of Famer has actually been a mediocre performer on paper for three years running. None of this is headed in a positive direction. 

Fernando Mendoza, Las Vegas Raiders: Kirk Cousins

Super literal here. Mendoza may not even be the starter, which makes Cousins his biggest obstacle. But we're listing him rather than Cousins because the No. 1 overall pick is obviously the long-term dude. Conversely for Cousins, Mendoza is obviously the biggest obstacle. 

Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers: Questions along the offensive line

Can his talented tackles actually stay remotely healthy this season? Even if Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt return, another complete retool to the interior would combine with that to leave an utter lack of continuity for this unit as Mike McDaniel takes over. It could be a lot to navigate for the 28-year-old Herbert. 

NFC East

AP Photo/Matt Slocum

Jalen Hurts

Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys: It's an even-numbered year

Prescott in odd-numbered years since 2019: 1 game missed, 68% completion rate, 133 TD, 40 INT, 7.7 YPA, 102.3 passer rating. 

Prescott in even-numbered years: 25 games missed, 66% completion rate, 43 TD, 27 INT, 7.4 YPA, 91.6 passer rating. 

It's a wild contrast that speaks to his overall lack of consistency and durability, and it doesn't favor him in 2026. 

Jaxson Dart, New York Giants: Increased exposure

Dart generated 24 passing/rushing touchdowns to just five interceptions in 14 games as a rookie. But as was the case with Stroud and Jayden Daniels, the league will adjust. How will he handle being the face of the franchise in America's biggest media market with opposing defenses gunning for him? Let's see. 

Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles: Major changes at OC and WR

Sean Mannion, 34, takes over as Hurts' fifth offensive coordinator in a five-year span, all while he'll likely have to adjust to life without top receiver A.J. Brown. It's not ideal considering that the 27-year-old's rate-based numbers already dropped off in 2025. 

Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders: A lack of weapons 

As Daniels navigates an attempted bounce-back from a sophomore campaign to forget, he'll have to do so despite a distinct lack of standout talent beyond an aging Terry McLaurin at the offensive skill positions. It won't be an easy mission. 

NFC North

AP Photo/Mike Roemer

Jordan Love

Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears: Big changes at key support spots

Gone are veteran receiver D.J. Moore and Pro Bowl center Drew Dalman as the third-year quarterback faces substantial pressure to improve on an unacceptable sub-60 completion rate from his sophomore campaign. 

Jared Goff, Detroit Lions: His big-game reputation

Goff was a mess in Detroit's 2024 playoff loss to the Commanders, and he failed to even get the Lions to big games in 2025. The 31-year-old will need to deliver in key spots following significant offseason turnover along the offensive line. 

Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers: Lack of an elite top target

The Packers have a slew of talented options at wide receiver, but none have become established potential No. 1 targets, and now Romeo Doubs is a Patriot. Love might have to make do without a star receiver yet again in 2026, which could be compounded by the fact that the offensive line has several question marks following big offseason changes. 

Kyler Murray, Minnesota Vikings: Durability

Not only will the soon-to-be 29-year-old Murray be trying to fight off young J.J. McCarthy while getting acclimated to a new offense, but he'll be doing so while trying to stay healthy. And that has always been the top obstacle for a guy who has missed more than a handful of games in three of his last four seasons. 

NFC South

AP Photo/Chris O'Meara

Baker Mayfield

Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix, Atlanta Falcons: Injuries, and each other

This one's simple, regardless of who takes the lead in the battle to start. Tagovailoa has a scary history with concussions and has missed decent chunks of four of the last five seasons, while the injury-prone Penix is coming off the third knee reconstruction of his football career at the age of 26. 

Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers: A lack of continuity 

The league's seventh-lowest-rated qualified passer from 2025 is dealing with a significantly retooled offensive line ahead of a critical fourth season that could determine his future as an NFL starter. 

Tyler Shough, New Orleans Saints: Can he hold up for a full season under the microscope?

Shough faces the same challenge as Dart following a promising rookie campaign. The league will do its best to figure him out following a 2025 season in which the 26-year-old completed 67.6 percent of his passes. For Shough, the question isn't just if he can keep producing, but if he can remain on the field considering his significant injury history in college. 

Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The "middle class" ceiling

In a contract year at age 31, Mayfield faces the pressure of trying to prove that he can be more than a good-not-great starter who appears to have peaked statistically in a 2024 campaign that featured a 106.8 passer rating but also a league-high 16 interceptions. What has changed that would indicate Mayfield hasn't hit a wall? 

NFC West

AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson

Sam Darnold

Jacoby Brissett, Arizona Cardinals: Constant pressure

Via a schedule that Sharp Football Analysis ranks as the toughest in the NFL, as well as the presence of both Gardner Minshew II and Carson Beck on the quarterback depth chart. Throw in whatever might stem from a weird offseason contract dispute and the 33-year-old journeyman's 2026 season looks like one massive obstacle waiting to happen.

Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams: A lack of receiver depth

There isn't a lot of talent or experience beyond Puka Nacua and Davante Adams at that position, which is far from ideal considering that Adams is 33 years old and Nacua has encountered several alarming issues this offseason. If faced with extended stretches without either or both, the 38-year-old Stafford could be in big trouble. 

Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers: The presence of Mac Jones

Jones is considered a starting-worthy quarterback in the right spot, and his very presence should put pressure on Purdy. San Francisco's decision not to trade Jones this offseason therefore becomes an obstacle, especially considering that an offense facing major turnover could have benefited from the results of said trade.

Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks: A bad turnover habit

Darnold is coming off an incredible Super Bowl campaign, but it's hard to envision Seattle getting back there if the 29-year-old once again leads the NFL in turnovers after he coughed it up 20 times in 2025. That's something he'll have to improve on with a target on his back and Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III elsewhere.