There’s a big gap in the NFL between teams that feel settled at quarterback and the ones still trying to patch the position together. For this exercise, the focus is on the latter group: the clubs that brought in a new starter for 2026, with the expected winner in any quarterback battle getting the nod.
At No. 5, the Miami Dolphins landed on Malik Willis after his strong run as the Green Bay Packers’ backup. The move doesn’t exactly match the obvious rebuild Miami is in, though the roster turnover this offseason makes it clear the Dolphins are treating this as a reset. The hope here is pretty straightforward: Willis gives them competent play for a stretch while the front office keeps searching for a real long-term answer.
No. 4 belongs to the Las Vegas Raiders, who signed Kirk Cousins this offseason in a move that could also help Fernando Mendoza’s early NFL growth. Cousins’ arrival almost guarantees he’ll start for at least part of the season, since he remains one of the best 32 quarterbacks in football.
But he’s walking into a rough setup. The Raiders still have the worst wide receiver room in the NFL, an offensive line that needs plenty of work, and a defense that has been a weaker unit for years.
That leaves the whole operation in a tough spot if the goal is to ease a rookie quarterback into the league. Cousins should be able to “show Mendoza how it’s done,” at least for a while, and maybe even for the whole season. If he plays well enough in 2026, it’s fair to wonder whether the Raiders would even think about red-shirting the former Indiana quarterback.
In Other News...
Malik Willis Is Already Facing A Dolphins Problem Fans Know Too Well
Malik Willis arrives in Miami with the kind of spotlight that can turn quickly if the supporting cast is thin, and that is exactly why some around the league are already bracing for trouble. The Dolphins have spent the offseason reshaping the roster under new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan, but the broader picture still looks like one of transition, and quarterback is the position where that tends to show first.
For Willis, the challenge is not just proving he can handle the job, but doing it while the offense sorts out what it really has around him. Miami has given him a multi-year commitment, yet the conversation around his future is already tied to whether the Dolphins can stabilize enough to make a 2027 quarterback decision a choice instead of a necessity. [Read more 🡒]
Former Dolphins Lineman Could Make Chargers Fans Regret Everything
The Chargers took a swing on Cole Strange this offseason, betting the former Patriots first-round pick can settle in at guard after a modest run with Miami. Stranges brief Dolphins stint came after James Daniels went down, and he even got a short look in the lineup ahead of Kion Smith, but it never really changed the broader view of him as a player still trying to find his footing in pass protection.
Miami, meanwhile, may have already found a cleaner answer. The Dolphins brought in former Chargers guard Jamaree Salyer, who is battling Jonah Savaiinaea for the right guard job and is viewed as a potential upgrade at a far friendlier price. If Salyer wins the job and settles in quickly, it would only sharpen the contrast between what Miami gained and what Los Angeles is hoping Strange can still become. [Read more 🡒]
Quinn Ewers Is Suddenly Worth Watching In Miami's QB Picture
Quinn Ewers has become a more interesting name in Miamis quarterback conversation after spending the offseason settling in and working through the Dolphins offense. The rookie has talked about feeling more comfortable in the system, and the focus has shifted from trying to memorize every detail to recognizing defensive keys and tells, a sign of how far along he has come since arriving.
Bobby Slowik has also pointed to clear progress, saying Ewers has taken another step and is playing with more conviction and freedom. Miami still chose to bring in Malik Willis rather than simply rolling into 2026 with Ewers as the answer, but the quarterback room does not sound strained by that move, which leaves Ewers in a position where his development remains worth watching closely. [Read more 🡒]