Backup quarterback is arguably the most underrated position in the NFL. Quarterback is the most important position on the roster, and fans will understandably shine the biggest spotlight on the starter.
However, the reality of this physical sport is that the backup quarterback is just one hit away from becoming the starter.
The NFL isn’t expected to see major turnover across the league among starting quarterbacks. The Miami Dolphins, New York Jets and Las Vegas Raiders are the only teams guaranteed to have a different primary starter in 2026 than in 2025. Other teams, such as the Pittsburgh Steelers, Minnesota Vikings and Cleveland Browns, have question marks at starting QB but could return the incumbent. The Kansas City Chiefs and Indianapolis Colts might have a different starter in Week 1, but there’s no question who QB1 will be for them when the starter returns to good health.
The year-over-year change among starting quarterbacks is expected to be fewer than 10. The backup quarterback position is a different story. Over half the league might have a new No. 2. With the NFL Draft later this month, the veterans still available — like Russell Wilson or Jimmy Garoppolo — and the roster churn following cutdowns in August, depth charts could still change between now and September.
But we do know which teams will have a new backup, and a good idea of who that might be, so let’s take a look around the league at the guys who are a play away from the spotlight.
Arizona Cardinals
Out: Jacoby Brissett
In: Gardner Minshew
The Cardinals have gone through a big change at quarterback, parting ways with longtime starter Kyler Murray. That means Jacoby Brissett, last year’s backup, is penciled in as the starter, hence his being “out” as the backup.
The Cardinals added journeyman Gardner Minshew, who has 23 starts over the past three seasons with three different teams. Most came with the Colts and Raiders in 2023 and 2024, respectively, plus one start last season after Patrick Mahomes went down for the season before Minshew himself suffered a season-ending injury.
Atlanta Falcons
Out: Kirk Cousins
In: Tua Tagovailoa/Michael Penix Jr.
Kirk Cousins was signed to be the starter a couple of years ago, then became the league’s most expensive backup after the Falcons drafted Michael Penix Jr. in the first round and benched Cousins midway through 2024. Penix went 3-6 last year in his second season before suffering a season-ending injury. He could be the Falcons’ starter, though he will face competition from Tua Tagovailoa, who is coming off a fall from grace in Miami.
Buffalo Bills
Out: Mitchell Trubisky
In: Kyle Allen
The last couple of years, the Bills have had a backup quarterback with some draft pedigree in Mitchell Trubisky, the No. 2 pick in 2017. Following Trubisky’s departure, the Bills have swung hard the other way, signing Kyle Allen this offseason.
Allen went undrafted in 2018 and has been on five different teams the past five seasons, including the Bills in 2023. Allen has two starts in that span and 19 starts in his NFL career overall. Shane Buechele is the other backup on the roster. Superstar starter Josh Allen has the league’s longest active streak of consecutive starts at 139 (including playoffs), so the Bills haven’t had to count on a backup recently.
Carolina Panthers
Out: Andy Dalton
In: Kenny Pickett
The Panthers have had former Cincinnati Bengals starter Andy Dalton entrenched as the backup since they drafted Bryce Young No. 1 in 2023. After trading Dalton to the Philadelphia Eagles, the Panthers will now have Kenny Pickett serving as the backup.
Pickett started in Pittsburgh for his first two NFL seasons but has bounced around the league the past two, spending time with the Eagles and Browns before making two starts in Las Vegas last year in place of Geno Smith.
Cleveland Browns
Out: Shedeur Sanders/Dillon Gabriel
In: Shedeur Sanders/Dillon Gabriel/Deshaun Watson
In typical Browns fashion, the entire quarterback situation is a question mark. Joe Flacco, Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders all got starts last year, with Gabriel and Sanders carrying a chance to be the starter in 2026.
Deshaun Watson is now over a year removed from his Achilles injury and could factor into the conversation in some capacity, whether as a starter or backup. If Watson ends up as the backup, the Browns will have a new backup from last year, but if he takes the starting job, they don’t fall in the category of teams with a new backup.
Dallas Cowboys
Out: (potentially) Joe Milton
In: (potentially) Sam Howell
The Cowboys have been playing an interesting game of musical chairs at backup quarterback in recent years, having some mix of Trey Lance, Cooper Rush and Joe Milton. Lance and Cooper left the team last offseason, and Milton, despite carrying some promising tools, has been underwhelming. Dallas signed Sam Howell, who started 17 games for the Washington Commanders in 2023 before moving into an invisible backup role the past two years. Howell will compete with Milton for the top job behind Dak Prescott.
Detroit Lions
Out: Kyle Allen
In: Teddy Bridgewater
You probably haven’t considered the backup quarterback much in Detroit, as Jared Goff has started all 17 games in each of the past four seasons. After Kyle Allen left the team this offseason, the Lions brought in Teddy Bridgewater for his second stint with the organization.
Green Bay Packers
Out: Malik Willis
In: Desmond Ridder
The Packers had to test their backup quarterback situation late last season in a playoff run, and that game and a half — plus two victorious starts in 2024 — got Malik Willis a starting opportunity this offseason in Miami. That leaves the Packers in a more delicate situation at backup quarterback, as Desmond Ridder steps into the top spot behind Jordan Love. Ridder has one start over the past two seasons and was underwhelming when he had his shot as a starter in 2023 with the Falcons.
Kansas City Chiefs
Out: Gardner Minshew
In: Justin Fields
The Chiefs might have Mahomes back for the season opener, but that remains a question mark. Justin Fields has been viewed as some semblance of a starter in each of his first three stops in the NFL, but he’s now clearly the backup in Kansas City. Fields is capable of delivering a winning performance every now and then, but there’s no consistency. The Chiefs have to hope he can find that version of himself if Mahomes misses time.
Las Vegas Raiders
Out: Kenny Pickett
In: Kirk Cousins/Fernando Mendoza
There’s no question who the starter will be in the long haul for Las Vegas, but the front office and coaching staff have openly discussed not throwing expected No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza into the lineup as a starter to begin his rookie season. The top two quarterbacks on the depth chart will be some version of Kirk Cousins and Mendoza, but the order is yet to be determined. Either way, both spots will look different than in 2025.
Los Angeles Rams
Out: Jimmy Garoppolo
In: Stetson Bennett
Jimmy Garoppolo, a former NFL starter, is still a free agent, and a reunion with the Rams shouldn’t be dismissed. With Matthew Stafford back for another year, the Rams are in win-now mode, and Garoppolo offers more clarity than Stetson Bennett. But if Garoppolo does not return, Bennett is in line to be the backup to Stafford.
Minnesota Vikings
Out: Carson Wentz
In: Kyler Murray/J.J. McCarthy
Carson Wentz was not only with the Vikings last year, but he started five games in place of J.J. McCarthy. However, following the signing of Kyler Murray, it’s hard to imagine the top backup quarterback spot not going to McCarthy or Murray, whoever loses the competition for the starting job. The Vikings did re-sign Wentz, but he might be the third-string quarterback in 2026.
New England Patriots
Out: Joshua Dobbs
In: Tommy DeVito
The Patriots’ backup last year was Joshua Dobbs, who was on his 11th NFL stop since entering the league as a fourth-round pick in 2017. The Patriots were comfortable letting him walk and re-signing Tommy DeVito this offseason to a two-year deal. DeVito started eight games for the New York Giants over two seasons as a backup before serving as New England’s third-string quarterback last year.
New York Jets
Out: Tyrod Taylor
In: Brady Cook
The Jets had a disastrous one-two punch at quarterback last year between Fields and Tyrod Taylor. Head coach Aaron Glenn has already named Geno Smith as the starter, but the Jets might very well be in the quarterback market during the NFL Draft. As it stands, last year’s third-string quarterback, Brady Cook, is in the No. 2 spot, and former Patriots starter Bailey Zappe is also in the mix.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Out: (potentially) Mason Rudolph
In: (potentially) Will Howard
The Steelers continue to wait on a decision from Aaron Rodgers. If the 21-year veteran returns for another season, the Steelers could return the same quarterback depth chart from a year ago. If Rodgers doesn’t return, Mason Rudolph could be elevated to the starting spot, making Will Howard the new backup. Regardless of Rodgers’ decision, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Steelers add a quarterback in the draft.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Out: Teddy Bridgewater
In: Jake Browning
Tampa Bay’s biggest question at quarterback is atop the depth chart, as Baker Mayfield enters the final year of his contract. The Bucs don’t have much behind Mayfield in the way of potential future starters, but longtime Bengals backup Jake Browning signed with them this offseason and slots in as this year’s backup behind Mayfield. Tampa Bay could add more to its quarterback room later this month in the draft.
Tennessee Titans
Out: Brandon Allen
In: Mitchell Trubisky
Last year’s top pick, Cam Ward, became an instant No. 1 for the Titans, making all 17 starts and playing 95 percent of the snaps. Ward was injured in the season finale, which is when Brandon Allen stepped in for Tennessee. The Titans added Trubisky to the fold this offseason, instantly making him the top backup to Ward.
