The 2026 season is only in Week 2, but plenty of NFL teams are already staring down the same uncomfortable truth: their quarterback answer might not be the real answer.
That’s why the 2027 draft is already drawing attention. The class is viewed as loaded at the top at quarterback, with Texas star Arch Manning, Ohio State’s Julian Sayin, and Oregon star Dante Moore among the names getting the most buzz.
Moore had been projected as a top-10 pick in April before deciding to return to school, and the appeal of that group is obvious when you remember what the position means in this league. Quarterbacks win MVPs year after year, and every team knows how hard it is to find one who can carry a franchise.
ESPN’s Pete Thamel identified 10 teams that could be in the market for a quarterback next year: the Browns, Cardinals, Colts, Dolphins, Falcons, Jets, Saints, Seahawks, Steelers, and Vikings.
Some of those cases are easy to spot. Cleveland is a clear example, with Thamel’s list reflecting how unstable things are at the position.
Arizona has Jacoby Brissett, who is a quality quarterback but not the kind of player expected to push a team all the way to a Super Bowl. Indianapolis is working with Daniel Jones, though his durability has been questioned, especially after the brutal injury he suffered last season.
Miami has Malik Willis starting, which fits a rebuilding phase but does not scream long-term solution.
Atlanta is dealing with two injury-prone quarterbacks, while Geno Smith, now 35, couldn’t lift the Jets out of mediocrity. New Orleans has Tyler Shough, a solid signal-caller, but not someone expected to get anywhere near Drew Brees’ level.
Pittsburgh’s situation is also trending toward a reset, with Aaron Rodgers set to retire after the 2026 season, leaving the Steelers needing to get younger at the position. Minnesota’s quarterback room is described as a mess, and J.J.
McCarthy has been pushed further down the depth chart.
Seattle is the most interesting name on the list. The Seahawks do have Sam Darnold, who helped lead the team to a Super Bowl last season, but they still need a backup quarterback who could eventually become a starter.
In Other News...
Browns Rookie Tackle Faces A Tough Truth After Uneven Debut
Spencer Fanos first game at left tackle for the Browns came with the kind of immediate stress test that can shape how a rookie is viewed around here. Against the Jaguars, he ran into a tough matchup and spent plenty of snaps dealing with pressure, with Deshaun Watsons play style only adding to the challenge. It was the sort of debut that reminded everyone how unforgiving the position can be, especially when a young lineman is being asked to hold up in less-than-ideal circumstances.
The reviews reflected that reality, with analysts offering mixed assessments of how Fano handled the assignment and where the pressures came from. For Cleveland, the bigger question is not whether the debut was uneven but how quickly he can translate a rough start into growth. The Browns do not need perfection from a rookie tackle right away, but they do need signs that he can adapt, clean up the leaks and keep improving as the season unfolds. [Read more 🡒]
Deshaun Watson Put Browns Fans Through Another Brutal Spotlight
Deshaun Watsons latest press conference only widened the spotlight on a Browns season that already feels like it is under a microscope. After the loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, Watson drew criticism from Stephen A. Smith, who took aim at the quarterbacks play and said the focus should be on what happens on the field, not on complaints about media attention.
Watson is still lined up to start Week 2 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but the patience around him is not exactly limitless. For Cleveland, the bigger issue is simple: if the performance does not improve quickly, the conversation around Watson is only going to get louder, and the questions about his place as the starter will keep following the Browns everywhere they go. [Read more 🡒]
Josh Allen Is Making An Old Browns Mistake Look Even Worse
Josh Allens fast start to the 2026 season is only adding to the old ache around the Browns quarterback history. Through two games, the Bills star has piled up nine total touchdowns and 582 passing yards, a reminder of how different things might have looked in Cleveland had the draft gone another way back in 2018. Instead, the Browns chose Baker Mayfield, and the franchise has spent years living with the familiar churn that comes from missing on the most important position in the sport.
The latest surge from Allen has also revived a curious little footnote from that draft cycle, when Jenna Jameson reportedly urged the Browns to take him before the selection was made. It is anecdotal, not an official team position, but it fits the broader pattern in Cleveland: the warning signs were there, the debate was real, and the consequences still linger. Every big Allen performance now works like a fresh reminder of how expensive quarterback instability can be when a team gets the decision wrong. [Read more 🡒]