Bold statement: the quarterback carousel is about to take center stage, spinning faster than a spinning wheel of fate in the NFL. And here’s the core beat you’ll want to follow: veteran signal-callers will be cut, traded, or signed as teams redraw the depths chart at the game’s most pivotal position. This is where the real winter reshaping happens, even before the draft.
As the league eyes a new league year, the veteran QBs on rosters—and the fresh options that could join—will face decisive moves. In a recent forecast about contract prospects for Packers backup Malik Willis, several veteran options surfaced. Below is a snapshot of the teams with serious decisions about quarterbacks currently on the roster or potentially added once the new year commences.
Dolphins: Miami must decide what to do with Tua Tagovailoa. He’s scheduled to earn $54 million in 2026. If they cut him, the dead-cap hit would be steep—around $99.2 million spread over one or two years, depending on timing. The Dolphins must weigh whether to stick with Tua, pursue a veteran addition such as Willis, or explore a trade that could offset some of the cap burden by including a draft pick attached to his contract. Keeping him would carry an additional $3 million fully guaranteed for 2027.
Jets: Justin Fields is likely to be released, given half of his $20 million 2026 salary is already guaranteed. The Jets will probably seek a veteran, perhaps on a short-term deal, to implement new coordinator Frank Reich’s system.
Steelers: Pittsburgh is biding time for a potential long shot upgrade with Aaron Rodgers, which would push early free-agent options out of reach. If Rodgers doesn’t return, Willis or Kirk Cousins could be appealing fits, depending on what each team learns before March 11.
Browns: Deshaun Watson’s contract runs for another season at $46 million, and others like Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel are in the mix. With a new leadership at the helm under coach Todd Monken, the Browns could look outside for a veteran if they decide that route.
Ravens: The unlikely scenario of trading Lamar Jackson would create a starting QB vacancy, likely filled by a veteran with starting experience.
Colts: Daniel Jones seems poised to return after his torn Achilles, while Anthony Richardson has one more year on his rookie deal and $5.385 million guaranteed for 2026. If Jones departs, Indianapolis would again need a veteran presence behind Richardson.
Raiders: Geno Smith has an $18.5 million cap hit in 2026, with an additional $8 million fully guaranteed on March 13. A trade or a cut is possible, though keeping him as a bridge to a top pick like Fernando Mendoza remains on the table if the team views him as a long-term option.
Vikings: Minnesota is seeking a veteran to compete with J. J. McCarthy. The dynamic here is tricky: a veteran will want a real chance to be QB1, but McCarthy’s 2025 showing suggests a fair competition could be attractive to a capable veteran who believes in winning a true, level playing field.
Falcons: Atlanta hasn’t locked in Michael Penix Jr. as Week 1 starter, in part because Penix is recovering from an ACL injury. A veteran like Kirk Cousins could be possible if released, though that path seems unlikely. Another veteran addition isn’t out of the question for the reorganized operation led by Matt Ryan, Ian Cunningham, and Kevin Stefanski.
Cardinals: The moment Kyler Murray landed on injured reserve with a healing foot issue, the writing was on the wall: Murray’s era in Arizona could be ending. The Cardinals owe him $36.8 million for 2026, plus additional payments in 2026 and 2027. If not traded, he’ll be released. Willis could be a reasonable option for Arizona, and a big-name fallback like Rodgers might also surface.
With the Scouting Combine approaching, the market begins to move. On Tuesday and Wednesday, coaches and GMs will face pointed questions, and agents will begin conversations with teams across the league. This is where rumors crystallize into plans, and plans become decisions that shape teams for the next calendar year. Are you ready to pick a side on which veteran QB lands where, and how those moves will ripple through the rest of the league? Tell us in the comments which scenarios you think are most likely—and why.
