Some NFL backups are ready for an damage to create a chance. These three quarterbacks may use the 2026 season to persuade a special workforce handy them a beginning job subsequent yr.
Mac Jones may observe acquainted path out of San Francisco
Mac Jones has already accomplished the tough portion of his profession rehabilitation.
After flaming out in New England and spending a season in Jacksonville, Jones landed with Kyle Shanahan and the San Francisco 49ers. He went 5-3 whereas changing an injured Brock Purdy in 2025, throwing for two,151 yards and 13 touchdowns throughout 11 appearances.
Jones stays firmly behind Purdy, which makes his future in San Francisco pretty apparent. He’s scheduled to turn into an unrestricted free agent after the season and acknowledged that one other contract is on his thoughts.
Jones may observe the trail Sam Darnold took after rebuilding his fame underneath Shanahan. One other robust look or two would make him one of the vital skilled choices accessible to quarterback-needy groups in 2027.
Joe Milton III may turn into beneficial Cowboys commerce chip
Joe Milton III won’t change Dak Prescott in Dallas. His path to a beginning job runs via one other metropolis.
Milton owns one of many NFL’s strongest arms, however accuracy and decision-making considerations adopted him from faculty. His newest preseason work suggests these tough edges might lastly be smoothing out.
The 26-year-old accomplished 12-of-15 passes for 107 yards and one landing in his first preseason appearance. He adopted that efficiency by connecting with Jonathan Mingo for a 53-yard landing towards the Arizona Cardinals.
Dallas acquired Milton from the New England Patriots for a fifth-round decide earlier than the 2025 season. If he secures the backup job and continues displaying improved management, the Cowboys may obtain calls from groups looking for an affordable quarterback with huge bodily upside.
Milton stays underneath contract past this season, so he can not merely go away in free company. A commerce would require one workforce to consider his arm is lastly hooked up to a quarterback able to deal with an NFL offense. Each deep completion makes that gamble simpler to justify.
Mason Rudolph may obtain one other likelihood elsewhere
Mason Rudolph is just not going to encourage a parade. He may nonetheless turn into an inexpensive answer for a workforce unable to land a franchise quarterback.
The veteran has made 19 career starts and owns a 9-9-1 document. He additionally rescued Pittsburgh’s 2023 season by profitable three consecutive video games and guiding the Steelers into the playoffs.
Rudolph returned to Pittsburgh on a two-year contract in 2025 and is positioned to again up Aaron Rodgers once more. With Drew Allar and Will Howard ready behind him, the Steelers seem unlikely to view Rudolph as their long-term reply.
One other workforce might even see issues in a different way.
Rudolph has completed 64.4% of his profession passes whereas throwing 30 touchdowns towards 22 interceptions. These numbers are unspectacular, however respectable quarterback play turns into awfully enticing when the choice is a rookie who is just not prepared or a veteran whose greatest days disappeared three groups in the past.
Jones affords the strongest resume, whereas Milton brings the best ceiling. Rudolph represents the fallback plan. All three may enter 2027 sporting totally different uniforms and receiving alternatives unavailable with their present groups.
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