The quarterback position is the most important in all of sports, and we have seen teams really up the aggression in trying to find a QB of the future. Whether it's via trade, massive free agency deal, or a pick in the NFL Draft, quarterbacks have come in various forms.
The main issue here, though, is that the supply of franchise QBs does not meet the league-wide demand, so teams are continually trying to convince themselves that the quarterback they have is indeed a franchise player. In most instances, that is far from the case, and we're to the point now where we have some questionable quarterbacks in the playoffs.
In fact, these three teams currently in the playoffs might make some quarterback changes in the 2026 NFL Offseason.
These three teams might make a QB change in the 2026 NFL Offseason
Seattle Seahawks
Sam Darnold went 14-3 in 2024 with the Minnesota Vikings, but there is a reason why the Vikings did not bring him back. Darnold had a 77.6 passer rating and took nine sacks in the Vikings playoff game last year. That seemed to be enough for the team to move on. Darnold signed a three-year deal with the Seattle Seahawks this pasts offseason.
The Hawks went 14-3 in the regular season, and while Darnold was good this year, he did throw 14 interceptions and fumbled the ball 11 times. What would Seattle do if they went one-and-done in the playoffs due to a bad Darnold performance?
There are legitimate questions about if Darnold is able to perform in bigger games, as he didn't do it last year and struggled a bit this year. The three-year contract Darnold signed with the Seahawks last offseason can be easily ripped up after this year, and with the possibility that offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak gets plucked for a head coaching job, the Seahawks might again be starting fresh at the position.
It might seem wild to think that Seattle could cut Darnold, but the 14-3 Vikings let him leave in free agency last year.
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers have to get more serious about the quarterback position, period. Aaron Rodgers signed with the team this year on a one-year deal, and it's been largely known, for the most part, that the 2025 season will be Rodgers' last in his NFL career.
He's a four-time MVP and a future Hall of Famer with likely one more crack at the playoffs. The Steelers are hosting the Houston Texans in the Wild Card Round, and you get the sense that Rodgers is going to call it quits after this year no matter how far the Steelers go.
He's flirted with retirement before, as the 42-year-old is really getting up there in age. Pittsburgh should also have been preparing for this behind the scenes, but this team has not been able to put forth a logical, long-term QB plan, so there is no guarantee that GM Omar Khan has a plan when Aaron Rodgers retires.
Rodgers has been good this year - he's thrown 24 touchdown passes against just seven interceptions for a solid 94.8 passer rating. This year is likely his last in the NFL.
Carolina Panthers
Bryce Young had his best NFL season this year. He went 8-8 in 16 starts and averaged less than 200 passing yards per game. Simply put, Young is not a franchise quarterback and has largely been a bust in the NFL. The regime that drafted Young back in 2023 isn't there anymore, so there is no connection that the current regime has to Young.
The Panthers finished with a losing record this year, so while the playoff berth is a fun story, this team isn't anything close to a contender and likely won't make the playoffs in 2026 with another 8-9 finish. Until the Panthers find an upgrade over Bryce Young, they'll continue to underwhelm. GM Dan Morgan could be in the market for an upgrade in 2026.