All articles tagged with #quarterbacks
At Vikings training camp, coach Kevin O’Connell says the quarterback job won’t be a closed competition, stressing a daily contest between Kyler Murray, J.J. McCarthy and veteran Carson Wentz to drive the team toward a winning standard. The plan includes naming a Week 1 starter early enough to prep for the season, keeping the Murray–McCarthy duel front and center in Minnesota.
Albert Breer surveys all 32 NFL teams at summer break, highlighting quarterback battles, coaching shifts, and roster strengths as training camps loom.
Offseason workouts are behind us and the NFL is already shaping its season: George Pickens will play the franchise-tag game with a potential big-money season ahead; Geno Smith and Frank Reich are reshaping the Jets’ offense; Calais Campbell likely eyes a final run with Baltimore; Bills’ left guard competition becomes a focal point; Michael Penix Jr. is on schedule for Falcons camp; Xavier Worthy is emerging in Kansas City; Detroit’s secondary still unsettled by injuries; Cameron Jordan returns to the Saints; the 49ers’ Brandon Aiyuk situation drags on; and many teams are trimming minicamps as the league readies for a longer schedule.
USA TODAY ranks Brendan Sorsby’s potential NFL supplemental-draft fits, with the Arizona Cardinals highlighted as the top landing spot thanks to a nearly blank quarterback slate under new coach Mike LaFleur, while nine teams are listed as possible fits and teams would have a short evaluation window if he’s admitted.
Rising quarterback salaries are reshaping NFL contracts through “new money” math, with Deshaun Watson’s 2022 deal and recent Mahomes/Allen restructures front-loading guarantees in the first four years, signaling a shift in how value is measured and paid. The piece also highlights Rams executive Nicole Blake’s rapid rise in analytics/scouting, and offers brief notes on Kyler Murray’s starter-rep challenges, Brandon Aiyuk’s contract status, Frank Ragnow’s retirement reflections, and the growing push to install grass fields in stadiums alongside NFL lore like Aldon Smith’s career arc.
Vikings Day 3 minicamp at the IPF featured helmet-off drills that highlighted a budding QB battle between Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy, standout plays from Da’Veawn Armstead and UDFA Zemaiah Vaughn, and a defense that looked sharp under Brian Flores. Five players were out (Caleb Banks, Blake Cashman, Terrill Davis, Tristan Leigh, Marcus Sanders Jr.), but the offense showed progress with Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison flashing, Murray delivering a mobile pitch to Tai Felton, and McCarthy connecting with Addison. Will Reichard was reliable on field goals, O’Connell praised the QB group and said the team is entering the summer competition phase, and Vikings staff announced Walsh Diversity Fellows while honoring Rosemount High School’s state champion girls flag football team.
Philadelphia could target a quarterback in the 2026 Supplemental Draft, with insiders suggesting Howie Roseman might select Brendan Sorsby despite gambling concerns, signaling a potential willingness to move on from Jalen Hurts. The roundup also covers Eagles depth at running back with Dameon Pierce, media clarifications around A.J. Brown, and broader NFC East storylines tied to other teams’ camps.
Tom Brady attended the Las Vegas Raiders' OTA session and watched the offense as quarterback reps showed big plays. Kirk Cousins remained the No. 1 quarterback this week, with Aidan O'Connell and Fernando Mendoza following in the rotation. OC Andrew Janocko called Brady an unbelievable resource, and Brock Bowers said Brady has been around more this offseason. Absences included Jermod McCoy (knee), Taron Johnson, Nakobe Dean, and Ian Thomas, while Matt Gay, Jalen Nailor, and Benito Jones returned. The starting offensive line stayed the same from last week (Miller, Burford, Linderbaum, Powers-Johnson, Glaze), with Trey Zuhn at guard and a plan for him to play all five positions. Tre Tucker praised Mendoza's elite mentality and Malik Benson drew praise for work ethic and coachability.
Sports Illustrated ranks all 32 NFL teams by the strength of their coach-quarterback duos going into 2026, noting that pairing quality, QB health, and coaching tenure drive the standings. At the top, the Kansas City Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid sit No. 1, followed by the Rams (Stafford/McVay), Patriots (Maye/Vrabel), Chargers (Herbert/Harbaugh), and Packers (Love/LaFleur). The list continues through mid-pack teams like the 49ers, Seahawks, Jaguars, and Bears, with the bottom two spots occupied by the Arizona Cardinals and Cleveland Browns; ties are broken by the higher-ranked quarterback, and the piece flags first-year coaches and uncertain QB situations as key factors affecting several teams (Bills, Ravens, Raiders, Saints, Titans).
The piece highlights Aaron Rodgers’ announced retirement after his upcoming season and surveys the best and worst final QB seasons among Hall of Fame quarterbacks, naming Tom Brady’s 2022 and Drew Brees’ 2020 as the peak finales, alongside others like Roger Staubach, Norm Van Brocklin, and Otto Graham. It also lists less fortunate endings for Johnny Unitas, Joe Namath, Dan Marino, Y.A. Tittle, and Brett Favre, illustrating how a last season can define a legacy in unpredictable ways.
Day 2 of Browns OTAs featured four quarterbacks—Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel and Taylen Green—rotating through two-spot drills to maximize reps and development, with no clear frontrunner yet. Watson showed his athleticism, Sanders has progressed in decision-making, and Gabriel/Green split reps to keep all options in play. A highlight was Watson-to-Denzel Boston for a deep TD in 7-on-7, while veterans returning from injury (Dawand Jones, Elgton Jenkins) saw action and Judkins contributed on the backfield. The defense created turnovers in 7-on-7, underscoring a competitive spring session ahead of minicamp.
Aaron Rodgers waited until the final moment to decide on returning to the Steelers, signing a one-year deal after weighing retirement and other options. The 42-year-old informed team officials days before minicamp, ending months of speculation and giving Pittsburgh clarity for its quarterback plans. Rodgers posted 24 TDs, seven interceptions and more than 3,300 passing yards last season, and the Steelers—who won the AFC North at 10-7 but lost in the wild-card round—are moving into a new era with incoming coach Mike McCarthy after Mike Tomlin's departure, while the QB depth chart includes Mason Rudolph, Will Howard and Drew Allar.
Doug Whaley warns that the Steelers’ plan to overhaul Drew Allar’s mechanics at rookie minicamp is alarming, arguing that players often revert to instinct under pressure. Pittsburgh, led by Mike McCarthy, hopes the adjustments—especially improved footwork—will unlock Allar’s upside, with the quarterback likely spending 2026 learning behind veterans and a potential 2027 window for starting duties, depending on Rodgers’ status.
Doug Whaley floated a hypothetical plan to trade Aaron Rodgers if the Steelers falter under Rodgers and Mike McCarthy, suggesting a move that could bring a late-round pick and would require Rodgers’s approval; the idea is seen as idle offseason speculation rather than a concrete option.
A ranking of the NFL's 10 weakest quarterback rooms entering 2026, with Week 1 starter projections for each team. The Browns lead the list with Deshaun Watson atop a chaotic roster including Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel and Taylen Green; other entries predict Daniel Jones (Colts), Bryce Young (Panthers), Kyler Murray (Vikings), Tyler Shough (Saints), Malik Willis (Dolphins), Tua Tagovailoa (Falcons), Jacoby Brissett (Cardinals), Drew Allar (Steelers, barring Rodgers' return), and Geno Smith (Jets).