QBs That NFL Teams Must Pursue in Trades Right Now

There are two types of teams in the NFL: Those that have a franchise quarterback and those that do not.

You can usually find the latter group at the bottom of the standings. Recent years have shown how instability at quarterback can drag down otherwise talented rosters in places such as Cleveland, Arizona and New York.

However, there are teams from both groups who could use an upgrade at the position. For some, it's a matter of upgrading the backup behind an established starter—ask the San Francisco 49ers how important it is to have a capable backup quarterback. Others have a situation at starter that is either unsettled or flat-out not good.

We have already seen more than a little movement at the position this offseason, and the end of July admittedly isn't an ideal time to be pursuing help at a position where teams can be loathe to trade away players—even those who have struggled to this point in their careers.

But there are a handful of quarterbacks it makes sense for teams to kick the tires on in a trade, whether it's as a stopgap starter or improved depth.

Mac Jones, San Francisco 49ers

AP Photo/Chris Szagola

You can bet the rent that if an NFL team develops a need under center between now and the start of the season, their first call will be to the San Francisco 49ers.

Mac Jones made eight starts for the Niners last year, completing a career-high 69.6 percent of his passes and posting the best passer rating of his career at 97.4.

The 2021 No. 15 overall pick told reporters he'd very much like to be a starter in the NFL again after making 42 starts over his first three seasons with the New England Patriots:

"I'm still 27. I have some good scars and bad scars, but I know I can play. But I do want to get that chance again, to run a team and be the guy. It's hard when it's Brock's team—or any backup—I'm sure they deal with that. But if you can get that chance again, I feel like I can really elevate people around me. And whether that comes soon or later or never, I know I'm going to be ready for it. I hope it does happen."

Jones arguably played the best football of his career last year, and there were undoubtedly teams that reached out to San Francisco about him, especially after seeing what a stint in San Francisco did for Sam Darnold's career.

The problem is that given Brock Purdy's durability concerns, the 49ers don't appear to have any real desire to move Jones unless another team makes a Godfather offer.

Anthony Richardson, Indianapolis Colts

AP Foto/John Amis, Archivo

If Mac Jones is a Sam Darnold-type capable of starting for a team right away, Anthony Richardson of the Indianapolis Colts is closer to Malik Willis—a developmental project who might benefit from a change of scenery.

Richardson's time in Indy has not been great. After being drafted fourth overall back in 2023, he played in just four games as a rookie due to injuries.

The 24-year-old started 11 games for the Colts in 2024, completing just 47.7 percent of his passes with eight touchdowns and 12 interceptions. By 2025, the Colts had moved on to Daniel Jones, and an eye injury relegated Richardson to spectator status even after Jones tore his Achilles.

Richardson has since requested a trade, although he told reporters after showing up at OTAs that he bears the Colts no ill will.

"The Colts are still giving me a chance to go out there and work, work hard and potentially get on the field," Richardson said. "Glad to be able to stay in the NFL and put the work in. Just showing up at OTAs, it was a blessing in disguise for me because I just wanted to work and they allowed me to do that so I'm thankful for that."

Richardson is a 6'4", 244-pounder with 4.43-second speed—there's a reason the Colts drafted him so high. He has just been inaccurate as a passer in the pros.

If another team can turn that around, it would be huge for both Richardson and that franchise—because recent reporting suggests the Colts may not even view him as their primary backup anymore.

J.J. McCarthy, Minnesota Vikings

AP Photo/Seth Wenig

To be clear, the Minnesota Vikings aren't likely to trade J.J. McCarthy.

While appearing on The Dan Patrick Show, Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell insisted that the battle to start for the Vikes in 2026 remains an open competition between Kyler Murray and the third-year pro:

"Really the goal going into this offseason was to elevate the quarterback position because when we have a certain standard of play that we feel like we have multiple guys in that room that we feel are capable of reaching that standard, the Minnesota Vikings win football games. The best way to achieve that is having a daily attempt to have guys push each other and not just always need the outside noise or not always need what the narratives may be. Let's roll the ball out there, and let's try to help the Minnesota Vikings get better."

However, the reality is that Murray is in the Twin Cities because McCarthy's 10 starts in 2025 were mostly dismal—a completion percentage of less than 58, more interceptions than touchdowns and the second-highest bad throw percentage in the league.

Unless Murray implodes in training camp, he's going to win this "competition." And if that's the case, moving on could be best for both parties. Minnesota also has Carson Wentz on the roster and a new GM who had nothing to do with drafting McCarthy 10th overall in 2024.

McCarthy doesn't project as a long-term NFL starter. But there are some teams (the Colts and Chargers perhaps) that could use an upgrade at QB2 or a short-term fill-in.

Dillon Gabriel, Cleveland Browns

AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki

The Cleveland Browns simultaneously have four quarterbacks but no quarterback.

The belief among most is that it's essentially a two-man race to start in Cleveland between veteran Deshaun Watson and youngster Shedeur Sanders.

However, new head coach Todd Monken told reporters that Dillon Gabriel remains in the mix after making six starts as a rookie:

"I wouldn't say it's a two-man race. I would just say that at every position there's competition. Irrespective of the reps that they get, everybody ought to be competing. What I have liked with Dillon is the way he goes about his business. Very professional, highly intelligent, understands football, has a certain charisma about him and a confidence that's hard to create. He has it innate. You saw it throughout his career. You don't go to three different programs and have the success he had if he doesn't have a belief in himself."

Of course, the practice reps so far this summer say differently—Gabriel appears firmly third on the depth chart in Cleveland. If that's the case, other teams should kick the tires on acquiring him on the cheap.

To be clear, Gabriel is what he is—he doesn't have elite arm talent. But he's an intelligent player who didn't make a ton of mistakes last year, throwing seven touchdowns against just two picks. He profiles better as a long-term NFL backup than as a full-time starter, and he has the potential to fill that role for a long time.

That would have value to more than a few NFL teams.

Jacoby Brissett, Arizona Cardinals

AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh

This last one is a long shot unless a starter suffers a significant injury in camp, creating a situation similar to what we saw with Teddy Bridgewater in Minnesota. There are obstacles to a trade for journeyman quarterback Jacoby Brissett.

The biggest is Brissett himself. After setting career highs pretty much across the board (And despite the fact that he won just once in 12 starts a year ago), he wants a raise and hasn't been shy about it.

The 33-year-old skipped voluntary workouts but showed for mandatory workouts—a situation Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk noted could make for an awkward training camp, especially with Brissett serving as his own agent:

"If Brissett the agent advises Brissett the client to punch the clock and go home (or to decline to practice), it opens the door for one of the other quarterbacks to fill the void. Whether it's Gardner Minshew or rookie Carson Beck (or a little of both) remains to be seen. But it could be that Brissett will choose not to operate at all times (or at all) like the starter unless and until he's compensated like a veteran starter."

However, if a QB-needy team comes to Arizona with an offer and a willingness to give Brissett a modest raise, the Redbirds should pounce. They also have Gardner Minshew II and rookie Carson Beck on the roster, and Arizona is likely to be among the NFL's worst teams no matter who starts under center.

With that said, outside Mac Jones, Brissett is probably the best short-term option who could reasonably be available this summer.

And desperation can be a powerful motivator.