The NFL has always been defined by its superstar quarterbacks like Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, and Joe Burrow.
But under the glamour of that stardom, there are plenty of underdogs, ready to take over the spotlight – backup quarterbacks, developmental prospects, and those aging veterans hoping for one last chance.
The 2025-26 NFL season promises us another great setting to talk about the exciting knowns and unknowns at the quarterback position. Even offshore online sportsbooks for US players have been tracking odds on which backup could emerge as the next breakout story, showing how much intrigue surrounds this year’s quarterback depth charts.
Probably, none of the following players will start this season, but each will have a story that matters.
In the following, we discuss five quarterbacks that we will be watching — either because of their potential, pedigree, or simply the circumstances they find themselves in.
Jake Browning // Cincinnati Bengals
Jake Browning had a long way to go to even make it to the NFL. After being undrafted in 2019, he worked his way into the big league four years later. Browning has shown he can manage an offense full of elite talent. The value of having a quarterback who is comfortable distributing to elite receivers while operating in a pass-leaning system is great. Following Joe Burrow’s injury in Week 2, Browning stepped in and scored the winning TD for the Bengals against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
While Browning is not a superstar, he is still an effective, game-manager type of quarterback who can protect against explosive potential when the daily driver is not in the game. That tightrope walk — competent enough to keep the machine running, conservative enough to deviate from catastrophe — is precisely why the Bengals have trusted in him as a backup.
Kirk Cousins // Atlanta Falcons
The trajectory of Kirk Cousins’ career is one defined by sustainable competence. He has been a steady producer for over a decade, and he now finds himself with the Falcons in 2025 serving as a backup. This may surprise some because Cousins is a multi-year starter by trade, but the churn of the modern NFL has plenty of experienced QBs embracing roles as mentors or insurance. Cousins gives you a high floor – precision passing, pre-snap command, and a wealth of knowledge about pro-offenses. That is especially important if a starter suffers an injury or inconsistency.
The decision to keep Cousins on the roster serves as an experienced hand behind Michael Penix Jr., demonstrating they value an insurance policy who can manage games and mentor younger passers.
Gardner Minshew II // Kansas City Chiefs
Gardner Minshew’s career has exemplified adaptability. From surprise starter to bridge quarterback to his current role as a backup to Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City, Minshew represents one of the NFL’s archetypes: the athletic, experienced guy who can start credibly in case of emergency. In March 2025, Kansas City brought Minshew into the fold on a one-year deal and demonstrated Minshew’s role as depth behind one of the game’s elite quarterbacks.
For Minshew, it’s a simple role, but consequential – be available, run the offense play when called, and protect the team from one of the dynamics that can occur if a franchise QB misses game time. And because the Chiefs’ offense is sophisticated and explosive, making sure the backup gives the team a clean run of the offense is the most important. That is what makes Minshew a compelling player to watch – he won’t be a starter, legally on paper, but if he plays, and the Chiefs need it, then the outcomes matter immensely.
Jacoby Brissett // Arizona Cardinals
Jacoby Brissett has embodied the role of “bridge quarterback” throughout his professional career. He has started games in multiple systems, accepted short contracts in recent years, and provided the competency that organizations needed. In 2025, he is in a position to offer that type of stability for the Arizona Cardinals — someone to manage an offense, minimize turnovers, and allow the team time to evaluate younger players. Brissett provides an archetype of how franchises assemble quarterback depth — veteran presence and a play-to-win attitude.
Carrying Brissett shows the Cardinals’ preference, at least for now, to be stable in critical periods as opposed to choosing developmental risk. Kyler Murray is untouchable as a starter for the Cardinals, but if a change is needed, the veteran would be ready to play.
Jaxson Dart // New York Giants
Rookies and young back-ups are an entirely different consideration for the “quarterbacks to watch” discussion. Jaxson Dart is a fun player who made a name for himself at Ole Miss as an aggressive passer. Not many expected him to start right away for the Giants, but Brian Daboll was ready to gamble on the rookie. The Giants are not off to a good start, but Dart has been up to the challenge. He is still far from proving that he deserves to be a starter, but the action early in the season is all the rookie needs.
All NFL teams have uncertainties when it comes to their bench, and sometimes, whether you get a break or not in the NFL is dependent on what happens to the starter being available. We have seen some incredible stories related to the playoffs, whether it was Nick Foles in a Super Bowl or Brock Purdy, from basically never being thought of by anyone to being a starter and winning playoff games.
None of these five players should be expected to start when the season begins, but any of them has enough talent or opportunities that when they take the field, offshore online sportsbooks think that there will be a significant impact on the game.
The coach trusts them, and the front office trusts them to lead the team.
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