Six NFL QBs who could be traded or released before Week 1 of 2026 season

NFL general managers, coaches and decision-makers will have plenty of difficult decisions about whether to keep certain players. That will be especially true at the quarterback position, where a handful of young talents and veteran backups could find themselves looking for fresh starts.

Given the importance of quarterback depth at the NFL level, teams aren't usually willing to cut potential-packed players at the position, even if they haven't yet lived up to expectations. Nonetheless, some recent high-end draft picks could be the subject of trade rumors for teams willing to take on a reclamation project.

Who are the best quarterbacks that could find new homes as the NFL's 53-man roster deadline approaches?

Here is a breakdown of six signal-callers to watch as Week 1 of the 2026 season draws nearer.

Anthony Richardson, Colts

Richardson was given permission to seek a trade away from the Colts early in the offseason. Thus far, the No. 4 overall pick from the 2023 NFL Draft has remained in Indianapolis, but perhaps that will change if they get a quality offer in advance of the 2026 season.

Richardson has posted an 8-7 record in 15 career starts but has only completed a meager 50.6% of his passes for 2,400 yards, 11 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. The 6-4, 244-pounder signal-caller has been better as a runner, however, generating 634 yards and 10 touchdowns on 115 rushing attempts.

Any team considering pursuing Richardson would be banking on his elite physical traits, including his cannon arm and elite mobility, allowing him to develop into a quality quarterback. Teams like the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings or even the Miami Dolphins could have an interest in developing the 24-year-old behind the scenes if the Colts decide to roll with Riley Leonard as Daniel Jones' backup.

J.J. McCarthy, Vikings

Speaking of the Vikings, how they handle McCarthy is worth monitoring. The 2024 first-round pick lost the team's starting job to veteran free-agent signing Kyler Murray, so the 23-year-old's future as Minnesota's franchise quarterback is now very much in doubt.

Even so, the Vikings seem unlikely to give up on McCarthy at this point. He's still young and probably wouldn't carry much value on the trade market after starting just 10 games over his first two seasons and completing 57.6% of his passes for 1,632 yards, 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Besides, the Vikings will want some upside behind Murray, who is 29, has a lengthy injury history and is signed only to a one-year deal.

With that in mind, the only way McCarthy won't be a Viking is if Minnesota gets a better-than-expected trade offer for him or are able to acquire a backup quarterback upgrade and trade McCarthy. Neither scenario seems likely, so expect McCarthy to remain with the Vikings for at least one more season.

Mason Rudolph, Steelers

On one hand, it seems like Rudolph is firmly entrenched as the Steelers' backup. He didn't play in the team's second preseason game, which seems to clarify his standing a Pittsburgh's top quarterback option behind Aaron Rodgers.

At the same time, the Steelers have a couple of intriguing young quarterbacks – Will Howard and Drew Allar — waiting in the wings. Pittsburgh may like to keep each former Big 10 signal-caller as it searches for a successor to Rodgers, but it isn't clear whether the Steelers will be willing to keep four quarterbacks.

If the Steelers decide to keep just three quarterbacks and go young behind Rodgers, that could make Rudolph trade bait. The 31-year-old has made 19 carries starts, so he would likely draw interest from teams looking to upgrade their backup quarterback positions.

Aidan O'Connell, Raiders

O'Connell is another backup-type quarterback who could emerge as trade bait. The 2023 fourth-round pick is buried behind Kirk Cousins and Fernando Mendoza on the Raiders' quarterback depth chart, so Las Vegas could be incentivized to trade the fourth-year veteran as he enters the final year of his rookie contract.

O'Connell has started 17 games across his three seasons, completing 62% of his passes for 3,932 yards, 20 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He will only be 28 on Sept. 1, so the Purdue product still has room to grow.

Perhaps a team like the Washington Commanders could consider targeting O'Connell as a longer-term backup behind Jayden Daniels. Washington's current top backup, Marcus Mariota, is dealing with a knee injury and O'Connell was teammates with Commanders offensive coordinator David Blough across two seasons with the Boilermakers.

Dillon Gabriel, Browns

The Browns selected Gabriel in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft, but he has quickly fallen behind on the team's depth chart. Presently, he is Cleveland's third-string quarterback behind Deshaun Watson and fellow 2025 draftee Shedeur Sanders, and the latter will likely block his path to playing time as long as he remains healthy.

Cleveland also has sixth-round rookie Taylen Green on its roster. The Arkansas product has a tantalizing combination of athleticism and arm strength that could eventually allow him to develop into a threatening weapon at the NFL level. That may incentivize the Browns to keep Green over Gabriel, who doesn't have as high a ceiling as his counterpart.

Could the Browns simply keep four quarterbacks? Sure; general manager Andrew Berry indicated he would have no qualms about doing that last season, though trading Kenny Pickett to the Raiders eliminated that from being necessary.

But more likely, if there is an odd man out in Cleveland's quarterback room, it will be Gabriel. If he's traded or released, Gabriel could be a good fit for the Atlanta Falcons, where he would be reunited with former coach Kevin Stefanski on a team that needs a solid third-string option behind Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr.

Further aiding that potential fit is the fact that Gabriel, Tagovailoa and Penix are all lefties.

Will Levis, Titans

The Titans signed Mitch Trubisky during the offseason, which relegated Levis to the third-string role behind Cam Ward and the veteran. Tennessee could still opt to keep Levis as depth, but his status may depend on whether he can beat Hendon Hooker for the team's third-string role.

Levis got off to a rough start in his first preseason game, completing just 3 of 8 passes for 42 yards while being sacked three times. He showed off solid scrambling skills, logging 22 yards on four attempts, but if he can't show improvement as a passer, that will put him firmly on Tennessee's roster bubble ahead of the 2026 season.