2026 NFL Free-Agent QBs with Potential To Become Next Sam Darnold, Daniel Jones

The situation matters regarding a quarterback’s development, and it’s never been more evident than right now, with the Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones thriving after being considered first-round busts and now with at least their third team.

“In what world do you go from wearing a life vest and learning how to swim to being thrown in the deep end in the middle of a 200-meter freestyle against Michael Phelps?” Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell rhetorically asked The Athletic’s Zak Keefer. “We decide in this league very quickly whether a guy can or can’t play quarterback like it’s a simple yes or no: This is the guy or this isn’t the guy; let’s either have a parade in the streets or let’s move on and try and find another one.”

Just because an organization moves on from a quarterback doesn’t mean he can’t play. Too often, a young quarterback is overwhelmed dealing with outsized expectations to turn around an entire franchise, particularly in the case of many former first-round picks who aren’t necessarily landing with the best-run organizations, while still learning how to play the position at the highest level and become a professional. It’s a lot.

Truthfully, those situations tend to be the primary driving force behind early-career failure. Any NFL fan can look around the NFL and see prime examples of talented signal-callers who are now thriving after landing in the right situation for them.

Mayfield’s has continually gotten better as a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after being discarded by the Cleveland Browns so they could chase the worst trade and contract in NFL history. Darnold played at a near-MVP level last season with the Vikings, and he’s continued his strong play as a member of the Seattle Seahawks. Finally, Jones’ revival with the Indianapolis Colts has been so good to start this season that it almost doesn’t feel real.

These instances provide hope that an organization doesn’t need to invest in a first-round quarterback just to draft one. With the right coaching staff and scheme, talent will be available again next offseason where a legitimate starting quarterback may emerge from the burnt husk of a former draft bust.

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