Projected QB Depth Chart for Every NFL Team As NFL Free Agency Begins

Kyler Murray signed with the Vikings this week. | Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images

NFL Free-Agency Tracker 2026: Grading Every Major Move | NFL Free Agency 2026 Live Updates

The new NFL league year and free agency officially commenced at 4:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday, making (almost) all previously agreed upon releases, signings and trades official. We’ve seen a flurry of free agent activity take place in the hours after the tampering period opened on Monday, and the action continued on Wednesday.

Multiple agreements between teams and free agent quarterbacks have been made early on into free agency. A handful of teams were aggressive in addressing the quarterback position, with the likes of the Dolphins, Cardinals, Falcons, Bills, and Panthers wasting no time in locking down pacts with new arms. The Jets also made a move at quarterback, reuniting with Geno Smith after a trade with the Raiders, and the Colts were able to reach an agreement with Daniel Jones.

Let’s take a look at how the early agreements made in the legal tampering have impacted quarterback rooms across the league. Of course, there will be more moves to come as free agency gets going, but the first day of action caused quite the stir for various teams.

AFC East

Drake Maye and Josh Allen will be the only returning starting QBs in the AFC East in 2026. | David Butler II-Imagn Images

Patriots

Projected starter: Drake Maye
Projected backup: Tommy DeVito

Coming off a season in which he was the runner-up for MVP, Maye is a lock to start for the Patriots. The team re-signed Tommy DeVito to a new two-year contract this offseason and later released Joshua Dobbs, an indication that DeVito will be New England’s backup.

Bills

Projected starter: Josh Allen
Projected backup: Kyle Allen

The Bills saw Mitch Trubisky agree to depart for Tennessee on Monday, so in turn they’ve reunited with a familiar face to serve as Josh Allen’s backup. Buffalo agreed to a one-year deal with Kyle Allen on Monday, who played for the team in 2023.

Jets

Projected starter: Geno Smith
Projected backup: Brady Cook

Justin Fields is still under contract with the Jets, though he likely won’t be with the team next season. New York made a move for a quarterback on Tuesday, agreeing to bring back Smith, along with a seventh-round pick, from the Raiders in exchange for a sixth-round pick. They still might look to bring in another veteran arm, too.

Dolphins

Projected starter: Malik Willis
Projected backup: Quinn Ewers

The Dolphins quickly replaced Tua Tagovailoa with Willis, reportedly agreeing to sign the former Packers backup to a three-year, $67 million contract. Willis will take over as Miami’s QB1, with Ewers set to return to backup duties.

MORE: Malik Willis Is a Smart, Though Hopefully Short-Term, Signing for the Dolphins

AFC North

The Ravens re-signed backup QB Tyler Huntley to a new two-year contract. | Jessica Rapfogel-Imagn Images

Ravens

Projected starter: Lamar Jackson
Projected backup: Tyler Huntley

The Ravens re-signed Huntley on a new contract that locks him in as Jackson’s backup for the next two seasons. Huntley started two games for Baltimore last season and has spent five of his six seasons in the NFL with the team.

Steelers

Projected starter: Aaron Rodgers
Projected backup: Mason Rudolph

There’s a lot of uncertainty at quarterback for the Steelers, and it mostly hinges on whether Rodgers intends to return in 2026. He’s set to hit free agency after signing a one-year contract last offseason, but the team would welcome him back. If he retires, Rudolph would move up in the depth chart, though they’d likely sign a veteran, too.

Bengals

Projected starter: Joe Burrow
Projected backup: Joe Flacco

The Bengals will be the latest stop in the journeyman career of Josh Johnson, who agreed to join the team on a one-year deal. Johnson has played for 14 different teams since being drafted in 2008, but he appears destined to be QB3 in Cincinnati. The Bengals signed Joe Flacco to a one-year, $6 million deal on Tuesday, adding him to the mix behind Burrow.

Browns

Projected starter: Shedeur Sanders
Projected backup: Deshaun Watson

The Browns will head into training camp with Watson and Sanders under contract, as well as 2025 third-round pick Dillon Gabriel. The situation at quarterback remains fluid in Cleveland, though it’s expected that Sanders and Watson will compete for the top job, and Gabriel will be QB3.

AFC South

Daniel Jones remains without a new contract in Indianapolis. | Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Colts

Projected starter: Daniel Jones
Projected backup: Riley Leonard

Jones and the Colts reached an agreement on a two-year, $88 million deal on Wednesday, making him the 13th highest-paid quarterback in the NFL. Jones returns for two more years in Indy, with Leonard expected to be his backup in 2026.

Jaguars

Projected starter: Trevor Lawrence
Projected backup: Nick Mullens

Lawrence had a career year in 2025, and he’ll be back in the starting role for Jacksonville next season. Mullens is also expected to return, signed for another season at a rate of $2.5 million.

Titans

Projected starter: Cam Ward
Projected backup: Mitch Trubisky

Tennessee acquired a veteran backup to aid in Ward’s development, signing Trubisky to a one-year deal at the start of the legal tampering period. Ward will remain the starter heading into his second season, but Trubisky’s experience will be valuable as he continues to develop.

Texans

Projected starter: C.J. Stroud
Projected backup: Davis Mills

There’s still a possibility a team comes sniffing around for Mills after he impressed in relief of Stroud for a short spell last season. As it stands, however, Houston will run it back with the same quarterback duo as last season.

AFC West

The Broncos will likely run it back with Bo Nix and Jarrett Stidham in 2026. | Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Broncos

Projected starter: Bo Nix
Projected backup: Jarrett Stidham

Denver’s quarterbacks room will likely look the same as it did last year. Nix is entering his third season in the NFL, while Stidham still has one more year left on his contract at $8 million. Meanwhile, Zach Wilson is set to enter free agency.

Raiders

Projected starter: Aidan O’Connell
Projected backup: Fernando Mendoza

The Raiders are expected to draft Mendoza with the No. 1 pick and are also anticipated to be in the market for a veteran quarterback. It is possible Mendoza doesn’t open the season as Las Vegas’s starting quarterback, too. As it stands, O’Connell is the only quarterback currently on the roster.

Chiefs

Projected starter: Patrick Mahomes
Projected backup: Justin Fields

Patrick Mahomes will have a new backup in 2026 after the Chiefs landed Justin Fields in a trade with the Jets, acquiring the veteran quarterback in exchange for a sixth-round pick.

Chargers

Projected starter: Justin Herbert
Projected backup: Trey Lance

Trey Lance agreed to return to the Chargers on a one-year deal worth up to $6.75 million. He will be back for his second straight season as Justin Herbert's backup.

NFC East

The Giants are expected to have Jaxson Dart and Jameis Winston return at quarterback in 2026. | Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Giants

Projected starter: Jaxson Dart
Projected backup: Jameis Winston

Dart will be back under center in 2026 and Winston is expected to return in backup capacity, under contract for one more season. Russell Wilson will head to free agency after his one-year stint in New York.

Eagles

Projected starter: Jalen Hurts
Projected backup: Andy Dalton

The Eagles acquired veteran quarterback Andy Dalton in a trade with the Panthers on Wednesday. Dalton figures to serve as Hurts’s backup, and it’s possible a Tanner McKee trade will follow.

Commanders

Projected starter: Jayden Daniels
Projected backup: Marcus Mariota

The Commanders agreed to re-sign Mariota to a one-year deal on Monday. Daniels has had Mariota as his backup for his entire career in the NFL and the duo will be back together for a third season in 2026.

Cowboys

Projected starter: Dak Prescott
Projected backup: Joe Milton III

Milton still has another two years left on his rookie contract, so he’ll be back in the mix for Dallas in 2026 as the backup to Prescott. The team also signed former Eagles third-string QB Sam Howell to a one-year deal.

NFC North

Jordan Love will top the Packers QB depth chart in 2026. | Matt Marton-Imagn Images

Packers

Projected starter: Jordan Love
Projected backup: Desmond Ridder

With Malik Willis set to take over as the Dolphins’ starting quarterback, the Packers are left with a quarterbacks room consisting of Love and Ridder, the latter of whom is entering the final year of his contract.

Lions

Projected starter: Jared Goff
Projected backup: Teddy Bridgewater

After Kyle Allen agreed to return to the Bills, Goff was the lone quarterback remaining on the Lions’ roster. Detroit locked down a deal with veteran quarterback Teddy Bridgewater on Tuesday, bringing him back after his two-year stint with the team in 2023 and ‘24.

Vikings

Projected starter: Kyler Murray
Projected backup: J.J. McCarthy

The Vikings signed Kyler Murray a day after he was released by the Cardinals. Murray and J.J. McCarthy will compete for the starting job, and Murray should have a strong chance to win the gig outright come training camp.

Bears

Projected starter: Caleb Williams
Projected backup: Tyson Bagent

Both Williams and Bagent are set to return in 2026, though there has been some rumored trade interest in Bagent, who is considered one of the premier backups in the league.

NFC South

Bryce Young is entering his fourth NFL season in 2026. | Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

Panthers

Projected starter: Bryce Young
Projected backup: Kenny Pickett

Andy Dalton is likely out as a Panther this offseason after Carolina agreed to sign Pickett to a one-year deal in free agency. Young returns for his fourth season as the Panthers’ starting quarterback.

Buccaneers

Projected starter: Baker Mayfield
Projected backup: Jake Browning

Teddy Bridgewater returned to the Lions in free agency, but the Buccaneers quickly found a replacement to backup Mayfield. The team signed former Bengals backup Jake Browning to a one-year deal on Wednesday.

Falcons

Projected starter: Michael Penix Jr.
Projected backup: Tua Tagovailoa

Atlanta scooped up Tagovailoa on a league minimum deal worth $1.3 million. After departing from Miami, Tagovailoa will compete with Penix for the Falcons’ starting role in 2026.

Saints

Projected starter: Tyler Shough
Projected backup: Zach Wilson

Shough emerged as the Saints’ starter last season and is projected to start the 2026 season atop the depth chart, too. Rattler is still under contract for two more years, but after he lost his grip on the starting role, it’s possible he’ll be traded this offseason, especially considering New Orleans signed Zach Wilson on Tuesday.

NFC West

Brock Purdy and Mac Jones are projected to be the 49ers’ top two quarterbacks in 2026. | Kevin Ng-Imagn Images

49ers

Projected starter: Brock Purdy
Projected backup: Mac Jones

Jones filled in brilliantly for Purdy when he went down with an injury. Both players remain under contract in 2026, and barring a significant trade offer from a quarterback-needy team, Jones will return next season as Purdy’s backup.

Rams

Projected starter: Matthew Stafford
Projected backup: Stetson Bennett IV

Jimmy Garoppolo is set to hit free agency, so Los Angeles will be entering the season with Stafford as its starter and Bennett as the backup. There’s a chance they’ll look to add another arm in free agency, too.

Cardinals

Projected starter: Jacoby Brissett
Projected backup: Gardner Minshew II

With Kyler Murray out in Arizona, the Cardinals agreed to sign Minshew to a one-year deal. He’s projected to be the backup behind Jacoby Brissett, who looks set to take the reins for the Cardinals’ offense in 2026 after starting 12 games last season.

Seahawks

Projected starter: Sam Darnold
Projected backup: Drew Lock

After winning the Super Bowl last season, the Seahawks have both Darnold and Lock under contract in 2026. Jalen Milroe will return as the third-stringer, and could potentially be in the mix to be the backup.

---