Not every NFL offseason features a bevy of quarterback competitions to track, but this one will. Several former starters switched teams during the early offseason, including Geno Smith, Kirk Cousins, Tua Tagovailoa, and Kyler Murray.
Smith is expected to start for the New York Jets following his trade from the Las Vegas Raiders, though New York did take a fourth-round flier on Clemson’s Cade Klubnik.
Tagovailoa, meanwhile, will compete with Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr., who is recovering from a season-ending knee injury. Murray will compete with 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy for the Minnesota Vikings gig. Most expect Murray to beat out McCarthy, who played poorly in 2025, but Minnesota continues to insist it’s an open competition.
“Training camp’s open,” head coach Kevin O’Connell said, per The Athletic’s Alec Lewis. “I want to see these guys in very, very unique and difficult circumstances elevate their games to help the Minnesota Vikings.”
Cousins took Smith’s place in Las Vegas and is expected to be the Week 1 starter, though he’s also merely a placeholder for No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza. While Mendoza isn’t likely to steal the starting job away from Cousins in camp, his progress will be worth tracking.
The Arizona Cardinals, meanwhile, brought back Jacoby Brissett, who started 12 games in 2025. However, they also added Gardner Minshew and rookie Carson Beck to the QB room.
Like Mendoza, Beck could eventually be the future for his team.
“I don’t know about Week 1 unless something crazy happens, but he definitely has a chance to be a guy for sure,” Cardinals tight end Trey McBride told Bussin’ With the Boys (h/t ProFootballTalk’s Josh Alper).
The Cleveland Browns may not have their QB of the future on their roster, but they will hold a competition between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders during training camp. Watson had the edge earlier in the offseason, but things could change quickly once camp opens.