Going into every NFL offseason, there are two major carousels that go around that everyone keeps an eye on: head coach and quarterback. The former’s openings typically fill up first, with the signal callers following suit. Every year there are a handful of opportunities at each, and every year we see new coaches and starting quarterbacks become mainstays for years to come on their respective teams.

After looking at all NFL depth charts and contract situations, we have highlighted ten quarterback rooms that are worth monitoring entering the 2026 offseason and how everything would shake out if it was up to the Coin Toss crew.

1. Pittsburgh Steelers

2025 Starting Quarterback(s): Aaron Rodgers

Coin Toss Projected 2026 Starting Quarterback: Aaron Rodgers

This one is probably the easiest situation to predict. After Mike Tomlin and the Steelers mutually parted ways, there was seemingly a zero percent chance they retained Rodgers as their starting quarterback… unless they brought in Packers head coach Matt Lafleur or former Packers head coach Mike McCarthy. Guess what the black and gold did? If a lot of things go right, McCarthy and Rodgers are set for an incredible reunion in Pittsburgh.

2. Las Vegas Raiders

2025 Starting Quarterback(s): Geno Smith, Kenny Pickett

Coin Toss Projected 2026 Starting Quarterback: Fernando Mendoza

This is almost as easy to predict as the Steelers and a Rodgers reunion. The silver and black hold the first overall pick in a draft where there is an obvious top QB prospect. It’s almost impossible to screw this one up (we say almost because it is still the Raiders after all). With the current trend of top QB selections starting on day one of their NFL careers, it makes sense to list the Heisman winner as the Raiders QB1 to begin the 2026 campaign.

3. New York Jets

2025 Starting Quarterback(s): Justin Fields, Tyrod Taylor, Brady Cook

Coin Toss Projected 2026 Starting Quarterback: Kirk Cousins

In terms of landing spots, it’s a toss up between the Jets and Raiders for worst of the worst. The Raiders at least have a couple key pieces on their offense (Ashton Jeanty, Brock Bowers), and while Garrett Wilson is immensely talented, he can’t carry the load for ANY quarterback. There is a solid chance the Falcons cut Kirk Cousins to free up some cap space for another budget-friendly quarterback while Michael Penix rehabs, and the former Redskin/Commander and Viking seemingly did enough at the end of the 2025 season to earn another shot elsewhere. With no obvious “second overall worthy” quarterback prospects on the board after Mendoza, the Jets should look to a quick fix to a long term problem.

4. Indianapolis Colts

2025 Starting Quarterback(s): Daniel Jones, Phillip Rivers, Riley Leonard

Coin Toss Projected 2026 Starting Quarterback(s): Daniel Jones, Tanner McKee

This entire subsection of this post is contingent on Jones’s recovery from a torn Achilles. If he ends up clearly on track to play in Week 1, there might not be a reason to bring in someone like McKee. With that being said, if it was up to us, the Colts would retain Jones AND bring in McKee in 2026.

There is no argument that Daniel Jones did more than enough to solidify his spot as Colts QB of the future in 2026 and potentially even beyond. He essentially took that offense to new heights and put the Colts on track to clinch a playoff spot. Pair that with the fact that they missed the playoffs after he went down, and there should be no doubt he at least deserves his spot back in 2026. HOWEVER, at the risk that he isn’t at full health or takes a significant step back, the Colts need to have a backup plan in place.

McKee is the ideal backup plan for pretty much any franchise. He put up a 5:1 TD:INT ratio through two starts and a couple more brief step-ins for the Eagles, is entering his age-26 season, and wouldn’t cost much. There is a pretty good chance the Anthony Richardson era in Indianapolis is over, and this move makes too much sense not to do.

5. Minnesota Vikings

2025 Starting Quarterback(s): JJ McCarthy, Carson Wentz, Max Brosmer

Coin Toss Projected 2026 Starting Quarterback: Kyler Murray

Maybe I’m jumping the gun too early, but if it was up to me I’d be looking for a new solution to the QB problem that JJ McCarthy didn’t solve. If seeing Sam Darnold go to a Super Bowl in his first season with the Seahawks wasn’t enough, “Nine” turned in a 11:13 TD:INT ratio with four more scores on the ground in 10 2025 starts. Maybe that isn’t horrible, but the tape looked worse. Pair that with the fact that he’s already working with a solid room of skill position players and turned it into no production, and I’m moving on after one season.

If the Vikings didn’t already have a playoff-caliber roster outside of quarterback, I might not be as hasty to give up on a first round pick one year removed from a season-ending injury and bad first year. Justin Jefferson is probably the most talented wideout in football, Jordan Addison is more than capable of filling a WR2 role, and running back is a pretty easy position to upgrade on. The defense wins them games, and it doesn’t look to be getting worse in 2026.

Bringing in Kyler Murray, an established serviceable game manager AT WORST, makes almost too much sense. Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, etc have all turned their careers around after departing franchises that left them out to dry. Murray seems to fit the bill as the new member of this type of player. He has great speed and can still throw the ball accurately, completing 68.3% of his passes in 2025. Giving him the keys to an offense with Jefferson and Addison with QB guru Kevin O’Connell at the helm might be all Murray needs to rejuvenate his career and return to Pro Bowl form. If he does this, the Vikings should be a pretty easy lock for 10+ wins.

6. Arizona Cardinals

2025 Starting Quarterback(s): Kyler Murray, Jacoby Brissett

Coin Toss Projected Starting Quarterback: Malik Willis

Pretty much every analyst and reporter has Willis going to the Dolphins, but I think the Cardinals makes almost as much sense. Willis fits the dual-threat but safe play style of Cardinals QBs before him (Kyler Murray, Brissett), and will only be 27 when next season kicks off. He has looked solid as a fill-in for Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers over the past two seasons, totaling 9 total touchdowns to zero interceptions with a 2-1 record.

Brissett filled in admirably for the injured Murray last season, so if he gets a full-time gig in the desert, we wouldn’t be surprised. But he only has one year left on his current contract and is already 33, so switching to the younger Willis might just make more sense overall.

With a wide receiving corps lead by 2025 breakout Michael Wilson and hot-and-cold Marvin Harrison Jr, perhaps the best receiving tight end in the NFL in Trey McBride, and a new head coach in Mike LaFleur, the Cardinals QB1 spot might be the most desirable of the bunch for pending free agents.

7. Miami Dolphins

2025 Starting Quarterback(s): Tua Tagovailoa, Quinn Ewers

Coin Toss Projected 2026 Starting Quarterback(s): Tua Tagovailoa Carson Beck, Quinn Ewers

It seems that the Tua experiment in Miami is coming to an end. The former first round pick was benched for rookie Quinn Ewers at the end of the year, and there’s a real chance the former doesn’t get another shot for the Dolphins. However, it wouldn’t hurt to keep him around for one more year as a safety blanket in what could turn out to be an interesting QB1 battle in the preseason.

Enter Carson Beck, the quarterback who just brought the University of Miami to a National Championship game and fought until his last breath. A 30+ TD campaign, National Championship berth, and former first-overall hype should do enough to keep Beck in Day 2 consideration. His late-game decision making is easily his biggest knock, which probably will steer away any first round interest. The Dolphins hold the 43rd pick, which is about where Beck should go. Staying in Miami might make sense, while also keeping Tua and Ewers around for a three-headed competition for the starting role. This feels more like predicting the entire QB room than just the top spot, and that’s ok.

8. Los Angeles Rams

2025 Starting Quarterback(s): Matthew Stafford

Coin Toss Projected 2026 Starting Quarterback(s): Matthew Stafford, Ty Simpson

This one is pretty simple. If Stafford doesn’t retire, he’s starting for the Rams next season. If he retires, he isn’t starting for the Rams next season. No matter what, the Rams should draft Ty Simpson to take over when Stafford eventually does retire.

After Fernando Mendoza, Simpson is the only surefire first round selection at the QB spot in 2026. Carson Beck, Drew Allar, Trinidad Chambliss and others may work their way into the conversation, but for now, Simpson is the only other obvious Day 1 QB. The Rams don’t have many glaring holes on either offense or defense, and Stafford will be 38 when the season begins. There isn’t a better landing spot for a QB that needs time to develop than with the Rams and Sean McVay/Stafford. Simpson seems like a slam dunk selection, even if the Rams have to trade up a couple spots to make it happen.

9. Atlanta Falcons

2025 Starting Quarterback(s): Michael Penix Jr, Kirk Cousins

Coin Toss Projected 2026 Starting Quarterback(s): Michael Penix Jr, Anthony Richardson

Penix was selected with the 8th overall pick a couple years back, and while he hasn’t done enough to completely lose his starting spot while rehabbing from a torn ACL, the Falcons should absolutely bring in some reinforcements WITH UPSIDE just in case. Penix has suffered quite a few season-ending knee injuries between college and the pros, and his play had been inconsistent leading up to last season’s abrupt end.

Anthony Richardson might be the perfect fit in Atlanta as the 1B quarterback. He still has a cannon for an arm and can run circles around opposing defenses. His health is just as much of a question mark as Penix’s, but if given the opportunity, he might be able to find the talent that made him a 4th overall pick for the Colts in 2023. I speculate that Kirk Cousins is going to depart and land with the Jets as a full-time bridge starter in 2026, so Penix’s competition remains wide open.

10. Cleveland Browns

2025 Starting Quarterback(s): Joe Flacco, Dillon Gabriel, Shedeur Sanders

Coin Toss Projected 2026 Starting Quarterback(s): Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel

To be honest, this was as hard as can be. On one hand, both Sanders and Gabriel showed promise that should give them both a realistic shot at the starting role next season. On the other, both showed plenty to open the door for almost anyone else to start next season.

If I were Cleveland, I’d stick with the sophomores for one more season while mainly looking ahead to 2027. This team can’t contend for a title with any available quarterback in this year’s class (free agency, trade block, or draft). Why not give Sanders and Gabriel a shot to see if they can significantly improve in year 2? After this, it would be wise to cut bait with either if no steps forward are taken. Plus, Sanders puts fans in the stands. That doesn’t hurt, right?