Life comes at you fast in the NFL, especially at the quarterback position.
Some teams have unlimited patience with quarterbacks, but even high draft picks are not exempt from franchises tired of waiting for a breakthrough. And ahead of the 2026 NFL season, there could be a number of notable quarterbacks on the move.
Some of these quarterbacks have big-time NFL Draft pedigree, while others are caught in the numbers game on teams with deep rooms. We're going to take a closer look at four quarterbacks who could be on the move as teams have to assemble their initial 53-man rosters by Sunday, August 30.
4 QBs who could be traded at 2026 NFL roster cuts (and landing spots for each)
1. Anthony Richardson, Indianapolis Colts
The writing has been on the wall for Anthony Richardson with the Colts for quite some time. And at this point, some team is going to be taking him on as a complete reclamation project, because Richardson has done pretty much nothing to increase his value for the Colts in recent weeks or months.
The Colts are going to give him the opportunity to at least put something on tape, having him play with some of the starters in the preseason finale. It's the most obvious trade showcase imaginable.
Richardson is entering a contract year with the Colts. He might have a better chance to stick somewhere else, and a change of scenery could be good for him long-term. At this point, the Colts aren't going to get much at all for the former 4th overall pick. They have plunged head-first into the Daniel Jones era, and they have Riley Leonard and Easton Stick as backups.
Landing spot: Baltimore Ravens
2. JJ McCarthy, Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings could hold JJ McCarthy hostage after all that has transpired this offseason, but after losing the QB1 battle to Kyler Murray, it seems like there's a reasonable chance McCarthy could now lose the backup job to veteran Carson Wentz.
If that's the case, the Vikings couldn't possibly damage McCarthy's reputation any worse. The fact of the matter is, McCarthy's on-field play has done most of the talking up to this point, but he's still such a young player. There are humbling moments for young players in the NFL, and then there is what the Vikings have done with McCarthy.
The 2024 1st-round pick still has plenty of time to grow in his craft at the professional level, even if he has a lot of growing to do.
He needs to get to a place where his confidence can be rebuilt, where he can be afforded more patience with less immediate pressure, and where his reputation can be resurrected.
Landing spots: Chargers, Steelers
3. Will Levis, Tennessee Titans
Will Levis may be known more for being a meme legend than a quality quarterback at this point, but he has two things NFL teams simply cannot quit:
- Elite arm talent
- Outstanding athletic traits
Levis is stuck behind last year's #1 overall pick Cam Ward as well as veteran journeyman Mitchell Trubisky with the Titans right now, and the current regime really has no ties to him. Just like most of the guys on this list, the Titans aren't likely going to get much for Levis, but they could get something for him, and you never know what a change of scenery can do for a player.
Levis was a 2nd-round pick in 2023 who opted for surgery last year and missed the entire season while rehabbing. We'll know soon enough whether or not he has much of a market.
4. Will Howard, Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers can't possibly keep four quarterbacks on their roster, can they?
No...there's no way.
With Aaron Rodgers and Mason Rudolph seemingly entrenched as the top two QBs on the Steelers' depth chart, the 2025 6th-round pick has been battling it out with 2026 3rd-round pick Drew Allar this offseason to be the 3rd QB on the roster.
Pittsburgh might prefer to try and sneak Howard onto the practice squad, considering they've vocalized they believe Allar is a 1st-round type of talent, but keeping 4 QBs is just too unorthodox no matter what way you slice it.
Getting some value for Howard, who has shown well in his opportunities despite some mistakes and inconsistencies.
Landing spots: Detroit Lions
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