From quarterback battles to defensive line shakeups, the summer will help define the direction of several NFL teams entering 2026. With the draft done and rookie minicamps underway, attention now turns toward the storylines that could fill depth charts, starting roles, and postseason expectations.
Across the league, organizations face major decisions at key positions heading into the summer. Some are searching for stability. Others are trying to complete rosters built to contend immediately. The draft may provide the blueprint, but July and August are where those plans begin taking shape.
The Quarterback Carousel
Quarterback storylines will dominate the headlines. Whether it’s a veteran trying to hold off a younger challenger or a rookie pushing for the starting job, these situations will go a long way in dictating how franchises open the season.
Cleveland Browns: Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel, Taylen Green
It’s been a while since the Browns have had a true QB1. The last real success came with Baker Mayfield, who led the organization to its first playoff win since returning to Cleveland in 1999. Once again, the Browns enter the preseason with drama at the position.
Cleveland has four quarterbacks on the roster, with Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders expected to push for the starting job. Since arriving from Houston in 2022, Watson has struggled to stay on the field, missing 34 games due to injury and suspension. Sanders did not show enough in his rookie season to inspire much confidence, so Watson enters as the favorite to open the year under center.
Las Vegas Raiders: Kirk Cousins, Fernando Mendoza, Aidan O’Connell, Jacob Clark
Since moving on from Derek Carr in 2023, the Raiders have been searching for a long-term answer at quarterback. Over the past three seasons, they’ve cycled through multiple options with little success. A trade for Geno Smith was meant to upgrade the position, but it resulted in the league’s 32nd-ranked offense.
The Raiders moved on from Smith this offseason, resetting the room and landing the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. With it, they selected Fernando Mendoza, the Heisman Trophy winner coming off a national championship.
Mendoza is viewed as the savior, but his path to the Week 1 job isn’t guaranteed. Las Vegas added 14-year veteran Kirk Cousins after his release from Atlanta. While he was brought in to primarily mentor, I think he’ll push for the starting role and ultimately give Mendoza some time to learn from the sidelines before taking over.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Mason Rudolph, Will Howard, Drew Allar (Aaron Rodgers?)
The Steelers enter a new era following the departure of Mike Tomlin, with Mike McCarthy taking over as the franchise’s 17th head coach. After five straight seasons ending in wild card exits, Pittsburgh is searching for a different offensive direction.
The roster is still in flux as the Steelers wait on a decision from Aaron Rodgers. The 42-year-old has not confirmed whether he will return for his 22nd season, leaving the organization in a holding pattern.
If Rodgers does not come back, the starting job will come down to Mason Rudolph and second-year Will Howard. Rudolph brings experience as he enters his eighth season, but Howard, along with rookie Drew Allar, represents Pittsburgh’s next chapter. The preseason will determine how quickly the Steelers lean into that shift.
Arizona Cardinals: Jacoby Brissett, Gardner Minshew II, Carson Beck, Kedon Slovis
The Kyler Murray era in Arizona ended this offseason when the organization moved on from the former No. 1 overall pick. The Cardinals are now committed to a rebuild centered around Marvin Harrison Jr. While the roster is young, Arizona believes it has a foundation to build on.
The race for the Week 1 job will center on veterans Gardner Minshew II and Jacoby Brissett. Minshew arrives from Kansas City, while Brissett enters his second season in the system. First-year head coach Mike LaFleur will use the summer to decide which option provides more stability early on.
Carson Beck, Arizona’s rookie addition, is also in the mix. The former national champion brings significant college experience and could push for playing time. The veterans enter with the edge, but Beck’s presence makes this one of the more interesting quarterback situations to watch.
Wide Receiver Battles
Philadelphia Eagles: A.J. Brown (?), DeVonta Smith, Makai Lemon, Dontayvion Wicks, Hollywood Brown, Elijah Moore
Fresh off a Super Bowl win, the expectations were sky high as last season began. But after a year that included frustrating inconsistency on offense and too much off-field noise, Philadelphia is reshaping its receiver room.
A.J. Brown is still the top option, though there is plenty of uncertainty surrounding his future there. If he doesn’t return (and I don’t think he will), DeVonta Smith steps into the WR1 role.
That leaves the WR2 and WR3 spots up for grabs. The Eagles added Dontayvion Wicks and Hollywood Brown, and used a first-round pick on promising Makai Lemon, creating strong competition for targets and playing time.
Even with the questions around A.J. Brown, Philadelphia still has plenty of playmakers.
Miami Dolphins: Jalen Tolbert, Tutu Atwell, Malik Washington, Chris Bell, Caleb Douglas
In the post–Mike McDaniel era, Miami brought in new GM Jon-Eric Sullivan and new head coach Jeff Hafley and are looking to completely revamp the roster and basically kickstart the franchise back into relevance. The Dolphins moved on from Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, completely overhauling the receiver room.
Miami added Jalen Tolbert and Tutu Atwell in free agency, then drafted both Chris Bell and Caleb Douglas in the third round. The WR1 role will likely come down to Tolbert and Atwell, but with an entirely new collection of receivers and some talented rookies joining the fray, this will be an intriguing storyline to keep an eye on once August hits.
Defensive Battles
New York Giants: Edge Rush - Brian Burns, Arvell Reese, Abdul Carter, Kayvon Thibodeaux
The Giants have assembled a deep collection of pass rushers capable of consistently pressuring the quarterback. Even after moving on from Dexter Lawrence II following a contract dispute and a high-profile pre-draft trade with the Bengals, the defense still features multiple impact players.
Head coach John Harbaugh and defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson will need to sort out the rotation among Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux, Abdul Carter, and rookie Arvell Reese. The front has been strong in recent seasons, but Lawrence’s departure does leave some questions about the interior rush and run defense.
Burns will most certainly earn a starting role, while Carter, Thibodeaux, and Reese fight for the remaining snaps off the edge.
Dallas Cowboys: Edge Rush - Rashan Gary, Malachi Lawrence, DeMarvion Overshown
Cornerback - DaRon Bland, Cobie Durant, Caleb Downs, Derion Kendrick
Last season was nothing short of a disaster for the Cowboys defense, as they finished near the bottom of the league in several categories and allowed far too many explosive plays. The offseason trade of Micah Parsons only added to the uncertainty.
For the second straight year, the Cowboys enter with a new defensive coordinator. Christian Parker, the youngest in franchise history, arrives after coaching the passing defense in Philadelphia. Despite moving on from Parsons, Dallas still touts a fairly deep interior defense led by Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark.
The edge rush, however, still feels unsettled. Rashan Gary, acquired from Green Bay, struggled late last season and will go head-to-head with first-round pick Malachi Lawrence for the top role.
At cornerback, DaRon Bland is expected to return from an injury-filled 2025 and take on the CB1 role. The opposite side remains open, with Derion Kendrick and Cobie Durant battling for snaps. First-round pick Caleb Downs is expected to move around the secondary, including time in the slot.
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