NFL - The Athletic

Mendoza has been thrust into a high-pressure situation with the Raiders as a rookie quarterback, described as being dropped into 'his profession's most challenging cauldron,' yet maintains a positive demeanor despite the adversity.

Saquon Barkley's contract serves as a market baseline; Jahmyr Gibbs, Bijan Robinson, and Jonathan Taylor have all quickly surpassed it, suggesting a significant shift in running back market valuation.

Jonathan Taylor has quickly soared past Saquon Barkley's contract in the running back market, indicating elevated market valuation and demand for his services.

Bijan Robinson has quickly soared past Saquon Barkley's contract in the running back market, indicating elevated market valuation and demand for his services.

Jahmyr Gibbs has quickly soared past Saquon Barkley's contract in the running back market, indicating elevated market valuation and demand for his services.

Kyler Murray was named the Vikings' starting quarterback by Coach Kevin O'Connell, securing the starting role to begin the season.

Coach Kevin O'Connell announced that J.J. McCarthy will not be the Vikings' starting quarterback to begin the season; Kyler Murray was named the starter instead.

Sanders will start the second preseason game for Cleveland as part of the ongoing quarterback competition with Deshaun Watson.

Watson will start the first preseason game for Cleveland as the quarterback competition with Shedeur Sanders continues.

Michael Penix is still not fully cleared, limiting his availability for the Falcons' preseason opener.

Tua Tagovailoa is dealing with some back tightness but is still set to start the Falcons' preseason opener, getting his first live action as a member of the team.

Rice spent 30 days in jail while rehabbing from knee surgery, describing the experience as mentally tough; his offseason was disrupted by legal issues concurrent with his recovery timeline.

Lost Vikings starting QB job to Kyler Murray; coach Kevin O'Connell cited McCarthy's inconsistency as a factor in the decision to bench him in favor of Murray.

Named Vikings starting QB by coach Kevin O'Connell over J.J. McCarthy; the decision was driven by Murray's experience and his ability to push the ball downfield.

McCaffrey missed his first practice of training camp on Monday due to tightness; the 49ers are not concerned about the absence.

Bridgewater signed with Detroit in 2026 and was expected to help fill a leadership void as a backup quarterback, but is now leaving the team and may have played his final NFL game.

Alec Ingold is a fullback for the Los Angeles Chargers.

Arizona's projected third-string quarterback looked great in limited action during the Hall of Fame Game, completing 15 of 19 passes.

The Bills have undergone an offseason reset, but the psychic load on Josh Allen remains heavy; he wants to put it all on himself, suggesting elevated expectations and personal accountability despite roster changes.

King was the ACC Player of the Year last year at Georgia Tech, accumulating 3,619 total yards and 27 touchdowns; he capped a Hall of Fame-caliber game with a game-winning touchdown in the Panthers-Cardinals matchup.

Bijan Robinson's recent contract extension set the market precedent that prompted the Lions to extend Jahmyr Gibbs, establishing a new tier of running back compensation in the NFL.

Jahmyr Gibbs secured an extension with the Lions making him the NFL's highest-paid running back, signaling the team's commitment to him as a featured back and validating his elite role in the offense.

Diggs, 32, signed with the Commanders after a very good 2025 season for the AFC champion Patriots, where he made 85 catches for 1,013 yards and four touchdowns; the move represents a significant role change as he joins a new team and offense.

Stroud doesn't need to carry the Texans; the defense can do that. Houston just needs precision and sound decision-making from its QB, suggesting the offensive burden is lighter and the team's success doesn't depend on Stroud being the primary engine.

Robinson, 24, led the NFL with 2,298 all-purpose yards last year and has now signed a 3-year contract extension with the Falcons that resets the running back market, signaling the team's commitment to him as a featured back and validating his elite production.

Sanders enters his second season under new Broncos coach Todd Monken with a fresh start, though without guarantees of Week 1 starter status. One offensive coach drew parallels to Caleb Williams' 2025 turnaround under Ben Johnson: 'Todd Monken is a great reset in the same way Ben Johnson was a great reset in Chicago. Shedeur gets a fresh start with a no-nonsense, offensive-oriented coach who did a really good job with Lamar Jackson.' However, the same voter cautioned that Sanders must demonstrate professional development: 'If Shedeur has really invested in himself to be a professional quarterback, studying the playbook and knowing his assignments and being able to get the offense in and out of the huddle at an efficient clip, which he could not do last year, then there might be some upside.' Sanders ranked last in EPA per pass play among 37 QBs who started at least seven games last season, just behind McCarthy and Ward. An exec assessed: 'He's inaccurate at all three levels. I can't tell if he is going to get better, but there's a huge gap between him and competent QB play.' A dozen voters placed Sanders in Tier 5. Defensive coordinators offered critical evaluations: one stated 'I'd sleep like a baby if I got to play him every week,' while another noted 'He's not an on-time player, can't really read through the coverages, is a little bit heavy-footed. He is thicker and harder to tackle than expected, but you shouldn't lose to him.' One head coach offered a more measured take: 'I thought he was all right, better than expected. They did a good job with him of making the game simple. And I thought Shedeur played with a chip on his shoulder.'

Murray is positioned as the favorite to start over J.J. McCarthy for the Vikings. An exec highlighted Murray's toughness as a standout trait: 'People are curious to see how he handles this. His toughness was the thing that really jumped out to me watching him play. If you have that, you always have a chance.' However, that toughness has not translated to durability, presenting an ongoing concern.

McCarthy drew 10 votes in Tier 5, the second-most in QB Tiers history for a first-round quarterback entering his third NFL season; only Anthony Richardson drew more (11 votes last year). An offensive coach stated: 'Football looks hard for him.' Despite entering an enviable situation with Justin Jefferson and highly regarded play-calling coach Kevin O'Connell, McCarthy faces durability concerns and fundamental questions. An exec noted: 'The head coach and QB coach (Josh McCown) are quarterback snobs because they played the position. Backup QBs love the fundamentals because it's their only chance to spend 3-4-5 years in the league. So, the question is, when is their patience going to run out when J.J. keeps doing those unnecessary climbs in the pocket and keeps overthrowing the ball?' A former GM added: 'He has tools, but he was coming out of that Michigan offense, and as an NFL passer, he needed development even though he had arm strength, was athletic, could run. There was the body, too. He's not a big guy.' The Vikings' roster of expensive veterans may not afford time for development.

Defensive coaches rated Brissett higher than offensive coaches, producing the third-largest split in that direction behind Tagovailoa and Prescott. At age 33 with seven stops across six teams, he fits the journeyman veteran archetype. Executives and coaches characterize him as a classic Tier 4 option: strong in quick-dropback, rhythm passing games with accurate short throws and occasional deep shots, but lacking scrambling ability and creative playmaking. One defensive coach noted: 'He could help you win in a quick-dropback, rhythm passing game and make the short throws and take the occasional 7-cut shot or the occasional go-ball fade. But he is not going to scramble for you, not going to create. I do think he is smart.' An exec summarized: 'Great veteran presence, everything very positive, except, you know, when he has to play for long stints.'

McCarthy's 10 votes in Tier 5 are the second-most in QB Tiers history for a first-round quarterback entering his third NFL season, behind only Anthony Richardson's 11 last year. No other QB has had more than four Tier 5 votes at this stage (Tagovailoa in 2022). An offensive coach said football looks hard for him, reflecting widespread concerns about his development.

Brissett, a 33-year-old veteran of seven stops with six teams including two with New England, is a journeyman. An exec called him a classic Tier 4 with great veteran presence and everything positive except durability for long stints. A defensive coach noted he could help in a quick-dropback, rhythm passing game with short throws and occasional deep shots, but is not a scrambler or creator.

Brissett has a 2-15 starting record over the past two seasons partly because his teams (New England and Arizona) have been so bad on defense and special teams; of 28 quarterbacks with at least 17 starts over two seasons, none has gotten worse defense/special teams support than Brissett (-6.8 EPA per start). A defensive coordinator praised his ability to read defenses, place the ball accurately, get it out quickly, and challenge downfield, noting he operated as well as any quarterback they saw. Defensive coaches rated him higher than offensive ones, producing the third-largest split behind Tagovailoa and Prescott.

Penix's inability to vary his touch on passes has been one of the most consistent criticisms. An offensive coach noted he is similar to when he came out of college and did not see a lot of strides, just physical talent.

Penix, who tore his right ACL twice in college, suffered a partially torn ACL in his left knee in November and has yet to be cleared for full-team drills. He is competing with Tagovailoa for the Falcons' starting job. A GM noted that while he would have leaned Tier 3 if Penix had played the whole year, durability concerns necessitate a Tier 4 rating.

Most assume Watson and Shedeur Sanders will both start at various points. A coach noted that new coach Todd Monken's offense, which emphasizes reading the whole field over reading coverages, is better suited for both Watson and Sanders.

Watson ranks 59th among 60 quarterbacks to start at least 10 games since the Browns acquired him in 2022 in EPA per pass play. An offensive coach said he cannot suddenly regain drive, desire, and processing skills, placing him in Tier 5. Watson has started only 19 games for Cleveland since acquisition, missing 11 games to suspension in 2022, undergoing shoulder surgery in 2023, and suffering a torn Achilles tendon in 2024 that re-tore during rehab. At 31 in September, he should be in his prime but faces durability and performance questions.

Smith suffered the largest year-over-year decline of any quarterback, falling from a career-best 2.90 average to 3.70, with an 11-spot ranking drop tied for largest. A defensive coordinator said he looked terrible on film. Defensive coaches noted the Raiders' poor offensive line (he was sacked 10 times in one game against Cleveland) and lack of offensive identity hurt him, though coaches gave him more benefit of the doubt than execs, with one offensive coach willing to rate him Tier 3 pending better circumstances.

Willis received 17 of 50 Tier 3 votes as a legitimate starter despite only six starts and 155 career pass attempts. An exec noted his energy and bounce as a passer and runner, suggesting he could ascend to Tier 2 with a couple years. However, a former GM cautioned he could look like a Tier 4 quickly behind Miami's line, and another former GM warned Year 1 has potential to be rough as the team builds infrastructure around him.

Cousins has only one Tier 2 vote over the past two seasons after commanding a career-best 31 entering 2024, his first season with Atlanta. An offensive coordinator cited lack of mobility as a big concern; a former GM noted the torn Achilles tendon from 2023 is a hard injury to overcome at his age, and those deficiencies have worsened. At 38 before the season, a GM placed him in Tier 4 because durability concerns make it questionable whether he can hold up for 17 games without a successor like Fernando Mendoza.

Tagovailoa was limited with a back injury to open training camp, while competing with Michael Penix Jr., who has yet to be fully cleared from a torn ACL. A defensive coach did not discount the possibility of Penix winning the job if it's a true competition and the team can harness his arm strength.