2026 Free Agency and Draft: QB

[JimmyinSD]

I just think he's cooked. Led the league in interceptions. I get the Raiders were bad, but Geno played his part. His famous quote a few years ago of "they wrote me off, I ain't write back though" was great, but Geno, I think you wrote them back last year.

I'm not very up on Smith,  but maybe the raiders staff/offense just werent a good fit for him?

[supafreak84]

I'm not very up on Smith,  but maybe the raiders staff/offense just werent a good fit for him?

It was Pete Carroll...the only coach he's had any success under at all in his pro career. The Raiders were not a good team but Geno played his part in that. 

We have to do better than Geno Smith.

[MaroonBells]

It was Pete Carroll...the only coach he's had any success under at all in his pro career. The Raiders were not a good team but Geno played his part in that. 

We have to do better than Geno Smith.

I was not a fan of the Geno idea, but I'm coming around to it. I would think for those that want JJ to be the starter next year, Geno might be exactly who you'd want. 

If you divide the candidates into groups, I think there are QBs who would be de facto starters (Murray, Mac J, maybe Rodgers), QBs who would be de facto backups (Mariota, Trubisky), and then QBs who would give us the true competition we're looking for. I tend to think Geno (and maybe Cousins) are options who would provide a competition that could go either way.

[supafreak84]

I was not a fan of the Geno idea, but I'm coming around to it. I would think for those that want JJ to be the starter next year, Geno might be exactly who you'd want. 

If you divide the candidates into groups, I think there are QBs who would be de facto starters (Murray, Mac J, maybe Rodgers), QBs who would be de facto backups (Mariota, Trubisky), and then QBs who would give us the true competition we're looking for. I tend to think Geno (and maybe Cousins) are options who would provide a competition that could go either way.

If Geno is our starter next year in a loaded NFC North, we'll be drafting very high in the 2027 draft and OConnell will be a goner. Maybe that's not the worst thing in the world..

[JimmyinSD]

I was not a fan of the Geno idea, but I'm coming around to it. I would think for those that want JJ to be the starter next year, Geno might be exactly who you'd want. 

If you divide the candidates into groups, I think there are QBs who would be de facto starters (Murray, Mac J, maybe Rodgers), QBs who would be de facto backups (Mariota, Trubisky), and then QBs who would give us the true competition we're looking for. I tend to think Geno (and maybe Cousins) are options who would provide a competition that could go either way.

I think I would rather see us bring in another young bust that will likely have potential upside,  but make them understand that they are going to sit and learn the O, before they get any chance to compete for the starting role.  Gives JJ at least half a season to make it his IMO.

My goal in 2026 isnt to see how far we can go in the playoffs,  its to settle the JJM matter,  if he cant stay healthy ( physically or mentally) then we need to have somebody in the wings that might fill that role in 27.   I would consider any QB that is under 30 and could be available for no more than a day 3 pick or is a free agent.  I dont think we are a SB contender right now,  but I would like to think that with the right additions and moves this year that 27 could be the target.

[MaroonBells]

I think I would rather see us bring in another young bust that will likely have potential upside,  but make them understand that they are going to sit and learn the O, before they get any chance to compete for the starting role.  Gives JJ at least half a season to make it his IMO.

My goal in 2026 isnt to see how far we can go in the playoffs,  its to settle the JJM matter,  if he cant stay healthy ( physically or mentally) then we need to have somebody in the wings that might fill that role in 27.   I would consider any QB that is under 30 and could be available for no more than a day 3 pick or is a free agent.  I dont think we are a SB contender right now,  but I would like to think that with the right additions and moves this year that 27 could be the target.

I disagree that the Vikings would not be Super Bowl contenders next season with the right QB. We've all seen what getting the QB right can do for a 4-13 team like the Patriots, while the Seahawks went from mid to champions. I think the Vikings are every bit as good as those teams if they get the QB right. 

Interesting comments from Albert Breer: 

"Kyler's got $36.8 million guaranteed this year, and then another $19.5 million guaranteed next year. So, that complicates trading for him, [and] that complicates cutting him.


So, I think you see the way that that splits up, and I think it probably makes it more likely that Arizona just flat out has to move off of him and cut him and let him go to the market.

I think he will find a place that'll view him as that sort of reclamation project. Maybe it's Minnesota. Maybe it's the Jets. We'll see.

But I think the contract situation makes it a little harder for the Cardinals to hang onto him, and a little harder for the Cardinals to trade him, which makes it more likely that they'll cut him."