Who’s the Man? These Are the Quarterback Battles to Watch This Offseason
The NFL is the best reality show on television. Breakups, power struggles, locker room drama, emotional arcs, and billion-dollar stakes—it's Real Housewives but ya know, with tackling and stuff. And my favorite storylines every offseason? The quarterback competitions.
Here are the biggest ones to watch this year…
Ranked. Because this is America, and we rank everything.
5. Seahawks: Sam Darnold vs. Jalen Milroe
This might not be a real competition—but I’ve seen this movie before. In 2012, Seattle paid Matt Flynn to be The Guy… then drafted Russell Wilson in the third round. By Week 1, Wilson had stolen the job outright. Fast forward to 2025: enter Sam Darnold, this year’s presumed starter, and Jalen Milroe, a third-round pick with a cannon and legs. John Schneider was GM for both, for what it’s worth.
4. Titans: Cam Ward vs. Will Levis
If I were a betting man, and with how often I’m right I probably should be, I’d bet on Cam Ward as the Day 1 starter. He went #1 overall, and in the modern NFL, top picks almost always start right away. The last No. 1 pick who didn’t was Jared Goff in 2016, and even he took over midseason.
That said, there is a case for letting Cam Ward sit behind Will Levis — at least for a little while. Guys like Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, and Josh Allen weren’t Day 1 starters, and that patience paid off. Maybe the Titans take the long view and let Levis hold the wheel until Ward is fully ready.
But realistically? #1 picks play. This is Cam Ward’s job to lose.
3. Colts: Anthony Richardson vs. Daniel Jones
After leading the Giants to a surprise playoff berth in 2022 (despite just 15 touchdown passes), New York handed Daniel Jones a jaw-dropping $160 million contract. A year and change later, he flamed out and finished the 2024 season as the Vikings' emergency fill-in.
Now he’s in Indy on a one-year, $14 million prove-it deal—a bargain by starting QB standards.
But let’s not forget who he’s competing with: Anthony Richardson, the No. 4 overall pick in 2023. Richardson has elite tools, but so far, the results haven’t come close to matching the pick selection. He’s struggled with accuracy, decision-making, and consistency.
Still, the Colts have way more invested in Richardson. And if the competition is even remotely close, they’ll give their former top pick the shot.
2. Giants: Russell Wilson vs. Jaxson Dart (and maybe Jameis Winston)
Russ is cooking again—well, more like microwaving leftovers—but he’s good enough to start this season. The Giants traded back into the first round to snag Jaxson Dart after loading up on veteran QBs on short-term deals, which tells you everything about their long-term vision. Wilson likely starts Week 1, but unless he puts together an MVP season, this is Dart’s job in 2026. Jameis is just here for the vibes (and maybe a Hail Mary or two).
1. Browns: Joe Flacco vs. Kenny Pickett vs. Dillon Gabriel vs. Shedeur Sanders
This is the most chaotic, unpredictable QB room in the NFL—and maybe the deepest, depending on your definition of "deep." Flacco is the veteran. Pickett is the bust. Gabriel is the mid-round flyer. And Shedeur? He’s the 5th-round steal with first-round buzz and a documentary crew probably already following him around.
Here’s how I see it:
Pickett will be cut or traded.
Flacco is the early favorite to start Week 1.
Shedeur is QB2 (for now).
Gabriel’s the third string.
But don’t rule out Flacco being the one dumped. He didn’t exactly shine in Indy last year. If the Browns decide to go young and cheap, Pickett and Shedeur might survive while the veteran walks.
QB drama. Bad contracts. Redemption arcs. Surprise cuts.
Let’s be honest: the best battles of the NFL offseason aren’t on the field—they’re in the QB room.
And I’ll be watching every snap.