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AIPROPX ReportCBS Sports · 2h ago
Ranking QB changes by expected impact: Can Kyler Murray get Vikings back to the playoffs?
Quarterback is the most criticized position in the NFL , which is why multiple franchises find new starters every offseason. Last year, the Tennessee Titans , New York Giants and New Orleans Saints drafted players they hope can be the face of their respective franchises in the near future, while the Indianapolis Colts took a swing on Daniel Jones to replace Anthony Richardson . We also saw the Seattle Seahawks sign Sam Darnold , who ultimately helped them win Super Bowl LX.
In 2026, there are expected to be five new starters at the quarterback position. Several of these players will have to earn the top spot on the depth chart, but they were brought in for a reason. The Minnesota Vikings, for example, expect to make the playoffs every season, and Kevin O'Connell is hoping his new quarterback can spark a turnaround. Then there are teams like the Las Vegas Raiders , who completely revamped their quarterback room as they begin a new era.
Which of these new signal-callers are set up for success in 2026? Below, we will rank the quarterback changes by expected impact, and give some projected final stats courtesy of the CBS Sports fantasy football team.
CBS Sports' fantasy football projected statline for Malik Willis : 3,096 passing yards, 25 TDs, 17 INTs
I think an interesting question is: what are the expectations for Malik Willis this season? It's not to get the Miami Dolphins to the Super Bowl, or the playoffs, or even to have a winning record. I also wonder what the chances are that Miami drafts a quarterback somewhere early in the first round next year. It appears to be a loaded class with players like Arch Manning, Dante Moore, CJ Carr and others.
The Dolphins are expected to be one of the worst teams in the NFL this season, as they have the second-longest Super Bowl odds at virtually every sportsbook. Willis has a star running back in De'Von Achane , but is throwing to Malik Washington , Jalen Tolbert , Tutu Atwell and Greg Dulcich . It doesn't look like a great situation.
Some Willis fans probably believe he can power this offense by himself, but we only have a small sample size to work with when analyzing him. The former third-round pick out of Liberty started one game last season for the Green Bay Packers , which they lost to the Baltimore Ravens , 41-24. Still, Willis completed 18 of 21 passes for 288 yards and one touchdown, while also leading the team in rushing with 60 yards and two more touchdowns. According to CBS Sports Research, he became the first quarterback to ever complete 85% of his passes while averaging 13 yards per attempt, and rush for 60 yards in a game (min. 20 pass attempts). Willis also became the first quarterback since Michael Vick in 2002 to throw for 100 yards and a touchdown in a first half with zero incompletions, and rush for a touchdown.
Willis didn't put up as massive numbers in his two starts with Green Bay back in 2024, but did win both games. Willis accounted for three touchdowns and zero turnovers in those starts. He proved he could run Matt LaFleur's system, and it will be up to offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik to make life easier for him.
CBS Sports' fantasy projected statline : 2,934 passing yards, 24 TDs, 16 INTs
The New York Jets had arguably the worst quarterback situation last season. The starter they brought in, Justin Fields , went 2-7 while averaging 6.2 yards per attempt. The Week 6 loss to the Denver Broncos in London, where Fields threw for just 45 yards, set the sport of football back decades. Backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor won just one of his four starts, then rookie Brady Cook lost all four of his starts.
The Jets now turn to a familiar face in Geno Smith, who is coming off one of the worst seasons of his 13-year career. Not only did the 35-year-old go 2-13 as the Raiders' starter, but he also led the league in sacks taken (55) and interceptions (17). It was a disaster, but I would argue that Smith is upgrading his situation, going from Sin City to New York.
The Jets definitely have a better offensive line than the Raiders did in 2025, with Olu Fashanu, Dylan Parham , Josh Myers , Joe Tippmann and Armand Membou . The Jets also have legit weaponry with Breece Hall , Garrett Wilson , Omar Cooper Jr . and Kenyon Sadiq . I certainly don't view Smith as one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, but I do view him as an obvious upgrade from what the Jets had last year. He had two 4,200-yard passing seasons in three years with the Seahawks. If Smith can just rely on his playmakers and take care of the football, the Jets will average more than 263 yards of total offense in 2026.
CBS Sports' fantasy projected statline : 3,460 passing yards, 24 TDs, 10 INTs
There is a quarterback battle going on in Atlanta, but Michael Penix Jr. is coming off a third ACL tear, while the Falcons quickly pursued and signed Tua Tagovailoa . The CBS Sports fantasy team believes Tagovailoa is going to see extensive action in 2026 compared to Penix.
When paired with Mike McDaniel, Tagovailoa looked like an efficient point guard for a high-powered passing attack. Most of the time. His 44 wins were the most by a Dolphins quarterback since Dan Marino retired, and he led the NFL in passer rating in 2022, passing yards in 2023 and completion percentage in 2024. Then, last season happened. Tagovailoa threw a career-high 15 interceptions and averaged 6.9 yards per attempt, which was his worst mark with McDaniel.
Tagovailoa went 4-14 vs. teams with a winning record under McDaniel, and has clearly regressed since that big 2023 season. That's why it was a bit curious that the Falcons immediately pursued Tagovailoa as soon as the Dolphins swallowed an NFL-record $99 million dead cap hit just to cut him. With that said, all Kevin Stefanski wants is an effective point guard to run his offense, because it's full of talented playmakers such as Bijan Robinson , Drake London and Kyle Pitts . Can Tagovailoa play that role? We'll find out.
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