32 NFL teams, 32 quarterback predictions: We named a Week 1 starter for every offense
#NFL quarterbacks #Week 1 starters #2026 NFL season #quarterback predictions #NFL free agency #NFL trades #Seth Walder #ESPN
📌 Key Takeaways
- ESPN predicts Week 1 starters for all 32 NFL teams for the 2026 season
- Only one top-tier quarterback prospect is expected in the 2026 NFL draft
- Several teams face critical decisions at the quarterback position
- The Browns, Dolphins, Vikings, and Jets are among teams with notable predicted changes
📖 Full Retelling
ESPN analyst Seth Walder and other NFL experts published comprehensive Week 1 starting quarterback predictions for all 32 NFL teams on February 25, 2026, on ESPN, as the 2026 NFL quarterback market opens up with significant uncertainty at the game's most important position for several teams across the league. The analysis comes at a critical time for NFL teams as only one surefire first-round quarterback prospect is expected in the 2026 NFL draft, forcing many organizations to seek new quarterbacks through free agency, trades, or stick with current options. Teams like the Minnesota Vikings face crucial decisions regarding J.J. McCarthy's future, while the Arizona Cardinals must determine whether Kyler Murray has played his last snap for the organization. Other teams including the Indianapolis Colts with injured Daniel Jones, and the Miami Dolphins and New York Jets searching for stability at the position, all face complex quarterback decisions that will shape their 2026 seasons. Among the notable predictions, Walder suggests the Cleveland Browns might pursue Kyler Murray from the Cardinals, despite his declining performance last season, due to his past success and the Browns' ongoing search for a franchise quarterback. The Miami Dolphins are linked to Packers backup Malik Willis, given the new front office's connections to Green Bay and Willis' impressive limited performance. The Minnesota Vikings might bring back Kirk Cousins after his successful 2023 season with the team, while the New York Jets could target Spencer Rattler as a potential long-term solution after his solid performance with the Saints.
🏷️ Themes
NFL quarterback predictions, Team roster decisions, Free agency and trade possibilities
📚 Related People & Topics
List of current NFL starting quarterbacks
In American football, the starting quarterback is considered to be among the most important positions in sports. They are among the most high-profile athletes in North America and are typically viewed as the team's leader. The success of a National Football League (NFL) franchise often rests on the ...
ESPN
American broadcast sports network
ESPN (an initialism of their original name, Entertainment and Sports Programming Network until 1985) is an American basic cable sports broadcasting network and the flagship property of ESPN Inc., a joint venture of the Walt Disney Company (72% and operational control), Hearst Communications (18%), a...
Entity Intersection Graph
Connections for List of current NFL starting quarterbacks:
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Colin Cowherd
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Caleb Williams
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Chicago Bears
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Kirk Cousins
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Tua Tagovailoa
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Original Source
32 NFL teams, 32 quarterback predictions: We named a Week 1 starter for every offense --> Skip to main content Skip to navigation < > Menu ESPN scores 32 NFL teams, 32 quarterback predictions: We named a Week 1 starter for every offense Minnesota Vikings 1h Seth Walder Ranking the NFL's top offseason trade candidates: Who are the best players potentially available? Jacksonville Jaguars 1h Dan Graziano and Ben Solak Are Kevin O'Connell, Rob Brezinksi interested in the Vikings' open GM role? Minnesota Vikings 1h Kevin Seifert Packers GM speaks on Micah Parsons, Josh Jacobs and the tush push 9m Rob Demovsky Patriots VP: Will Campbell's struggles due to knee injury, not arm length 11m Mike Reiss Panthers' Canales cedes playcalls to OC Idzik 12m David Newton Will QB Mac Jones be on the 49ers' roster next season? 12m Nick Wagoner Pitching hypothetical trade offers for Maxx Crosby -- from the Bears, Bucs, Chargers and Cowboys Las Vegas Raiders 5d Jeremy Fowler, +4 More Faces who need new places: We picked 32 players who could use fresh starts with new teams San Francisco 49ers 7d Aaron Schatz How does an NFL player decide to retire? 'I'm not done' Los Angeles Rams 4d Lindsey Thiry 2026 NFL franchise tag updates: Falcons tag Kyle Pitts, Cowboys 'leaning' toward tagging George Pickens Atlanta Falcons 2d NFL Nation Super Bowl 2027 on ESPN: Date, location, venue, more details 13d ESPN Predicting all 32 NFL starting quarterbacks for 2026 season Seth Walder Feb 25, 2026, 06:20 AM ET Close Seth Walder is an analytics writer at ESPN, specializing in quantitative analysis. He is also a regular on "ESPN Bet Live" and helps cover sports betting. Seth has been at ESPN since 2017. He previously worked at the New York Daily News covering the Jets and Giants. You can follow Seth on X via @SethWalder. Multiple Authors Email Print Open Extended Reactions The 2026 NFL quarterback market is about to open up, and the future at the game's most important position hangs in the balance for severa...
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