Being a successful NFL quarterback is one of the most challenging and exclusive jobs in the world, with only 32 starting jobs available across the entire league. Teams are desperate to land their quarterback of the future, which often leaves some very talented quarterbacks on the bench as teams scramble to find “their guy” for the future. Currently in the NFL, several of the league’s top quarterbacks held backup jobs before getting a chance to start for their current team.
Maybe the best examples of this are Sam Darnold and Geno Smith, both of whom were draft picks by the Jets. They both struggled to establish themselves in New York and subsequently accepted other jobs elsewhere. Darnold went off to Carolina and then San Francisisco, where he played sparingly, until he landed a starting job with the Vikings. And Geno Smith went on to take backup jobs with the Giants, Chargers, and Seahawks before taking over as the starter in 2022.
Daniel Jones, Baker Mayfield, and many others are examples of quarterbacks who struggled when they first entered the league but developed elsewhere and became high-quality starters. Because there are so few starting quarterback jobs in the NFL, talented players often have to take backup roles to keep their careers alive while they wait for another chance to start. Today, I decided to look at who could be the next Sam Darnold, a quarterback who is on the bench this season but could be picked up as a starter in 2026.
Davis Mills
Coming out of high school, Mills was a 5-star commit to Stanford, who probably would have been the number one overall pick in the 2021 class if he had waited a year to declare for the draft. Mills was a third-round pick in 2020, and he started several games for the Texans in his first two years as a pro. With Houston having Stroud as their franchise guy, Mills could be made available for trade this offseason.
After CJ Stroud suffered a concussion in early November, Mills took over as the quarterback for the Texans. In the game, he replaced Stroud against the Broncos; the Texans lost, but since then, in Mills’ three starts, the Texans are 3-0. Mills has proven he can win games, and he clearly has the talent to be a starting quarterback in the NFL. He has developed well with the Texans, and in the right offence, he could be a starting NFL quarterback for years to come.
Best fits: Jets, Browns, Steelers
Marcus Mariota
Mariota was once a Heisman Trophy winner and the number two overall pick back over a decade ago, in 2015. With Oregon, he was dominant, and he had several good years with the Titans before they decided to move on from him in favour of Ryan Tannehill. He has been a backup ever since, outside of one year with the Falcons, where he really was never given much of a chance.
This season, he has played in seven games for the Commanders after Jayden Daniels went down with an injury, and he has played very well. The stats do not tell the whole tale for Mariota this season, or even in the years past. He has a quality arm and is incredibly mobile, which is exactly what modern NFL playcallers are looking for. In my opinion, Mariota has been in the NFL for 10 years and has never been given a real chance to succeed; he may get that this offseason.
Best fits: Steelers, Raiders (again), Vikings, Panthers
Jacoby Brissett
Brissett has had a tumultuous career, starting his career as a third-round pick for the Patriots in 2016, then being traded to the Colts for Phillip Dorsett. He took over as the starter in Indianapolis after Andrew Luck missed the season with a torn Labrum. He started again in 2019 after Luck announced his retirement. He then went to Miami, starting 11 games in 2021, started 16 games for the Browns in 2022, and has since been a backup for Washington, New England again and Arizona. He is an experienced player with time in multiple roles; he could be a bridge guy for a team in 2026.
Fun fact: He just set the NFL single-game competition record.
Best fits: Jets, Steelers, Dolphins, Falcons
Malik Willis
Willis was my top quarterback in the 2022 class, and at this point in his career, he could arguably be the top QB in that draft. Willis was a third-round pick by the Titans and has made some spot starts during his time with both the Titans and the Packers. His contract expires this offseason, and he will head to free agency, where he could have several suitors.
As far as skills go, Willis is one of the most athletic and mobile players in the NFL, and his ability to create plays with his legs is electric. He has a strong arm, but can struggle with accuracy at times, which has always been the biggest gripe with his player profile. I still think Willis has the potential to be a solid starter in the NFL, and I would love to see the right team pick him up and give him a chance.
Best fits: RAIDERS, Dolphins, Falcons, Vikings
Kirk Cousins
Kirk Cousins is in a very unique situation, and the biggest obstacle for him will be his massive contract, but the Falcons could get out of it this offseason. If he does hit free agency, the Falcons would take on a lot of dead salary, but would set Michael Penix Jr. up to be their starter for the future. Cousins is experienced and has a history of winning; if healthy, several teams could be interested.
Best fits: Dolphins, Panthers, Browns
HMs: Jimmy Garoppolo, Zach Wilson, Jameis Winston, Mac Jones, Gardner Minshew,
