All articles tagged with #quarterbacks
Sports Illustrated ranks 25 college football players with the most to prove and the most to gain in 2026, spanning quarterbacks, edge rushers, receivers and linemen, led by Jeremiah Smith of Ohio State; the feature highlights breakout potential, transfer stories, and how a big season could reshape teams’ ceilings and players’ NFL prospects.
Michael Penix Jr. has been medically cleared, bringing increased clarity to Atlanta’s quarterback depth and Week 1 readiness. With Penix healthy alongside Tua Tagovailoa and Cooper Rush, the Falcons must decide roles and protect the QB3 spot, where Jack Strand has shown potential this preseason. The discussion is informed by the Falcons’ preseason win over the Colts and Penix’s mental and injury-history considerations as roster decisions loom.
The article spotlights a cadre of must-draft QBs and TEs for 2026 fantasy football: Brock Purdy as a low-risk, efficient late-round value; Dak Prescott as a potentially undervalued high-floor option; Drake Maye as a high-upside quarterback who could lead the position; and tight ends Juwan Johnson and Jake Ferguson as reliable top-10-ish producers who offer solid target shares and steady points. The piece stresses strategic drafting to maximize depth at other positions while securing these players.
Baltimore beat Minnesota 13-3 in its second preseason game as a wave of rookies boosted stock: undrafted OLB Ethan Burke shined with a sack, two PBUs, a forced fumble, and strong coverage; undrafted QB Joe Fagnano continued to look poised under pressure; Mike Green, Aeneas Peebles, and rookie TE Josh Cuevas contributed on defense and offense, with Cuevas totaling 46 receiving yards on three catches. Punter Ryan Eckley pinned Vikings with six punts for 332 yards, while OL Vega Ioane and LB Adisa Isaac had rough moments that temper early optimism.
Dane Brugler’s 2027 NFL Draft preseason QB rankings place Arch Manning and Dante Moore atop the list, with CJ Carr in the top tier and a crowded field that includes Mestemaker, Trinidad Chambliss, LaNorris Sellers and Darian Mensah. He notes Moore would have been a high pick in 2026 had he declared, details each prospect’s strengths and growth areas, and says the rankings will continue to shift over the eight months leading up to the draft. The piece also includes top seniors and top draft-eligible quarterbacks.
Rodgers remains the high bar for the Steelers' QB room as Allar shows elite arm talent and growing poise; Rudolph provides steady veteran depth; Howard grades show promise with mechanical corrections and improved play, setting up a competitive quarterback mix entering the preseason.
Week 1 of the 2026 NFL preseason delivered a mix of promising debuts and early-season concerns: Drew Allar starred for the Steelers with a sharp and productive outing, Fernando Mendoza and Jeremiyah Love flashed for the Raiders and Cardinals, Ty Simpson impressed for the Rams, and De’Zhaun Stribling and Ja’Kobi Lane looked like rookie contributors for the 49ers and Ravens. On the flip side, Cam Ward struggled for Tennessee, the Bengals’ offensive line allowed Burrow to be hurried, Andy Borregales had several missed kicks for New England, Shedeur Sanders underwhelmed for Cleveland, Tyrone Tracy drew scrutiny for the Giants, and Tua Tagovailoa’s Falcons debut wasn’t clean, with the team also looking off in that game—all highlighting early roster battles to watch."
Tennessee held its first fall scrimmage, with early notes centering on quarterback performances Faizon Brandon and George MacIntyre.
Miami’s 20-7 preseason loss to Washington offered a mix of optimism and questions: Malik Willis delivered a poised 14-play, 93-yard TD drive, highlighting QB upside in a rebuild year, while the rest of the QB group struggled and underscored the depth issues at quarterback. Ollie Gordon II and De’Von Achane flashed at running back, Caleb Douglas and Malik Washington stood out as the top healthy receivers, and Will Kacmarek and Caedan Wallace impressed with blocking. Jalen Reagor disappointed, and several linemen showed mixed pass protection, leaving a path for progress but multiple roster battles to resolve.
The Buccaneers head to MetLife for Friday’s preseason opener against the Jets with 23 rookies on the roster and many veterans unlikely to play. Five players to watch: QB Jalon Daniels, who’s competing for the No. 3 job and has shown a live arm; CB Ayden Garnes stepping up with injuries around him; OLB David Walker, returning from ACL injury and pushing for a pass-rush role; RB Josh Williams looking to prove himself on special teams and depth; and DL DeMonte Capehart developing on the defensive line. Rueben Bain Jr. isn’t expected to play much, and the team will decide whether to carry three quarterbacks as they evaluate their young talent.
Pat Forde lists the 25 most intriguing quarterbacks for the 2026 season, led by Miami’s Darian Mensah following his high-profile Duke transfer, with Arch Manning and a mix of portal moves, freshmen, and returning players shaping a dynamic, uncertainty-filled QB landscape.
Dwain McFarland presents a four-question framework for 2026 fantasy QB drafts—league-winning criteria, supply/demand, scoring/starting requirements, and value vs. cost—centered on averaging 20+ PPG (with early-round QBs often surpassing 21 PPG) and using ADP to decide when to pounce or wait; Jalen Hurts is highlighted as a top-priority target alongside other projected stars such as Josh Allen, Jayden Daniels, and Kyler Murray.
The Jets’ offseason rebuild highlights their persistent quarterback problem as Geno Smith struggled in a joint practice with the Buccaneers—10-of-16, multiple sacks, and two interceptions—far underscoring the team’s QB instability despite a talented supporting cast. Roookie edge rusher David Bailey flashed as a breakout, the defense looked strong, and players like Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall provide hope, but without a reliable quarterback the Jets still appear unlikely playoff contenders. The Buccaneers, led by Baker Mayfield, look like legitimate contenders, while the practice also featured several on-field fights.
The Pittsburgh Steelers may trade one of their four quarterbacks this season, with Mason Rudolph and Will Howard as the most likely targets, as coach Mike McCarthy weighs roster cuts. Rudolph has drawn praise from the coaching staff while Howard has slid from second-team to third-team, and the Detroit Lions—in need of a veteran backup after Teddy Bridgewater’s retirement—are among potential trade partners, making a move before the season plausible as Pittsburgh narrows its quarterback depth chart.
Former Raiders/Saints quarterback Derek Carr has joined UCLA as a special advisor to head coach Bob Chesney, assisting with game-planning and the quarterback room; Carr, who last played in 2024, could pursue an NFL return but would need a deal with the Saints, who hold his rights.