Top 10 NFL Teams That Need QBs in the 2026 Offseason

With the Super Bowl complete and the coach hiring cycle basically finished, teams are shifting their focus toward the draft and free agency. Unless a team already has one, the top priority is to find a franchise quarterback. The #1 pick of the 2026 NFL Draft is expected to be a QB, but the class looks bleak beyond that. Teams will be scouring free agency and the trade market to solidify the most important position across all sports. This week, we’re going to examine which teams are most desperate for new signal callers. These rankings are in reverse order (#1 needs a QB the most). Here are the top 10 NFL teams that need QBs this offseason!

10. Carolina Panthers/Houston Texans

This is cheating a bit, but the #1 and #2 picks from the 2023 draft have to be grouped together. Both are in rather uncertain territory. Carolina’s Bryce Young has made strides and averted a true “bust” label, and his team won the NFC South in 2025. It’s still hard to say that he’s the reason why they won though, so the jury is still out. Houston’s CJ Stroud had a fantastic rookie year but has taken a step back behind an awful line. His playoff meltdown clouded his future a bit, but the team still seems high on him. Davis Mills won games while Stroud was injured, so I wonder if any doubt is creeping into some Texans’ minds.

9. Indianapolis Colts

Colts fans can only wonder what would’ve happened had Daniel Jones not gotten injured. The former Giant led Indy to an outstanding start before his leg limited him and finally gave out. By all accounts, the Colts want to renew the partnership. I don’t blame them, but we’ve seen a good Jones season before only for him to fizzle out. We also know that he’s prone to missing time. As a result, the team has to acquire another option. Jones may miss a bit of time recovering from his torn Achilles anyway, so a quality QB who can step in regardless of the reason (injury or performance) will be a crucial acquisition this offseason.

8. Miami Dolphins

Despite his contract not having a true out until 2027, Tua Tagovailoa is likely gone with a new regime in town. That would make Miami one of the neediest teams in terms of QBs, but an impending rebuild and a bad 2026 cap year means that they can wait if they don’t find someone they like. I’m not sure what the Dolphins are doing; Tagovailoa had 3 straight seasons with a passer rating exceeding 100 prior to 2025. He’s a good bet to bounce back with his next team. However, Miami’s choice is clear. Regardless of how Tagovailoa is moved, a large hole opens up under center. Quinn Ewers probably isn’t the answer.

7. Atlanta Falcons

Like Indianapolis above them, the Falcons think they have their guy. But can they be entirely sure? Michael Penix Jr has a live arm and was a first-round pick. That said, his accuracy remains questionable entering year 3, and his injury issues are as bad as ever. Penix is coming off a late-season torn ACL, his third such injury in his football life. At this point, his durability is a major concern, so the Falcons have to hedge their bets at minimum. Kirk Cousins will be released soon, but some sort of veteran is necessary until Atlanta figures out what they have in Penix. QB issues explain why the Falcons have a completely new regime.

6. Las Vegas Raiders

The worst team in football ranks just 6th here for a couple of reasons. First, Geno Smith had a tough year, but he wasn’t close to the only problem. Anyone would struggle behind that line. Second, the Raiders have the #1 pick. Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza will almost assuredly be their next starting QB. Las Vegas is ranked because they have a need, but they have the cleanest path to fixing it among all of these teams. Don’t forget though: the Raiders are far more than a QB away from relevance. I worry about Mendoza behind those blockers and with a mediocre receiving corps. Hopefully he’s not a sacrificial lamb.

5. Cleveland Browns

Despite an absurd Pro Bowl nod for 5th-round rookie Shedeur Sanders, the Browns don’t have a franchise QB on their roster. Sanders has some potential, but he’s far from a sure thing. Third-rounder Dillon Gabriel is a backup at best. The Browns have 1 more year of the horrid Deshaun Watson deal, so their free agency options are limited. I can’t see them finding an answer in the upcoming draft either because this is a weak class. Playing Sanders and hoping he pans out may be the best move. One more season of pain stands between Cleveland and the much better 2027 class. At that point, Watson will finally be off the roster.

4. Arizona Cardinals

It’s about time for the Kyler Murray experiment to end in the desert. The diminutive QB is often hurt and doesn’t win that much when he’s healthy. His contract is horrid, but Arizona can’t afford to wait it out in the cellar for two more years. A trade would be best, but Jacoby Brissett performing better in Murray’s stead makes him a tough sell. Brissett is a fine placeholder, but a true franchise QB is needed. The brutality of the NFC West limits the Cardinals’ ability to compete, but the offense has some really nice pieces to build around. Believe it or not, the last successful QB for Arizona was Carson Palmer, so it’s been a WHILE.

3. Pittsburgh Steelers

Whether or not Aaron Rodgers returns, he’s no longer the answer for the Steelers. He’s a stopgap option that can salvage a one-and-done playoff appearance, but Pittsburgh hasn’t possessed a high-end starter since Ben Roethlisberger retired. I’m a fan of Will Howard, last year’s late-round pick, but this is a team with a new coach and a ton of veterans that need to win immediately. There’s no time to truly develop a young passer unless the Steelers commit to a rebuild, which they’re extremely hesitant to do. Rodgers may hold down the fort yet again, but they should take advantage of his presence to groom their QB of the future.

2. New York Jets

No, a QB does not suddenly make the Jets a good team. However, this franchise has been desperate for a savior since the Joe Namath days. Sam Darnold could’ve been that guy, but they watched him blossom for another team instead. Thus it’s another rebuilding cycle. Nobody in New York wants to see Justin Fields or Brady Cook play ever again, but the team is one agonizing pick away from the Mendoza jackpot. Armed with tons of cap space, the Jets may seek to peruse the trade market and hope to revive a guy like Kyler Murray. Barring a blockbuster like that, we’ll probably see a 2nd-round rookie under center to start the year.

1. Minnesota Vikings

Perhaps the Vikings aren’t as QB-deficient as a few other teams, but their need is most acute because of how good they could be with a franchise passer. Darnold led them to a 14-3 record as proof, while Kirk Cousins and Daniel Jones were both on the roster. Minnesota jettisoned all of them in favor of JJ McCarthy, their misguided 2024 first-round pick. McCarthy is an injury-prone scrub, and even WR Justin Jefferson is letting his frustration be known. Heck, McCarthy’s flop and Darnold’s SB win may have even gotten GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah fired. The Vikings’ credibility is officially on the line; only a new QB can save them.