Overview of Quarterbacks at a crossroads in 2026
This episode of The Athletic Football Show examines six quarterbacks whose 2026 outlooks could change dramatically depending on how the upcoming season plays out. The hosts define a “crossroads” quarterback as a player whose performance this year could push their career, contract status, or team’s long-term plan in one direction or another. The discussion centers on C.J. Stroud, Bryce Young, Jalen Hurts, Justin Herbert, Michael Penix Jr., and Malik Willis, with a quick opening reaction to the Browns naming Deshaun Watson their Week 1 starter.
Key Takeaways
- The episode is less about who is “good” or “bad” and more about what kind of quarterback each player is becoming.
- Several of these quarterbacks are not necessarily in danger of being benched or cut, but this season could determine:
- whether they get a major extension,
- whether their teams fully commit to them,
- or whether the league’s perception of them changes.
- The hosts repeatedly emphasized that context matters: offensive line quality, supporting cast, coaching, and roster strength all shape how these quarterbacks should be evaluated.
Opening Topic: Deshaun Watson Named Browns Starter
Reaction
The show opens with a blunt reaction to Cleveland choosing Deshaun Watson as its starting quarterback:
- The hosts call it unsurprising given the contract and the long-running setup.
- They view it as a deeply disappointing and, for Browns fans, demoralizing decision.
- The tone is that Watson has been bad as a player in addition to everything else surrounding the saga, so the football justification is weak.
Main Point
The Browns are essentially trapped by the contract and are choosing the path that gives them the best short-term chance to win, even if it is unpopular and unpleasant.
C.J. Stroud: Good Enough to Pay, But Still on the Cusp of a New Tier?
Why he’s a crossroads player
The hosts do not think Stroud is in danger of leaving Houston, but they do think this season matters a lot for defining his long-term arc.
Main arguments
- Stroud’s numbers last year were not clearly worse than his rookie season.
- The Texans’ offense was still messy and one-dimensional, with a poor run game and a rough offensive environment.
- Even so, Stroud has not yet made the leap many expected after his rookie year.
- The biggest question is whether he becomes:
- a solid long-term starter,
- a true top-tier quarterback,
- or a player whose ceiling never fully materializes.
Key nuance
The hosts were split on how close Stroud is to being paid:
- One view: he is clearly a quarterback worth extending and should be Houston’s guy long term.
- The other: the team may still hesitate to immediately commit top-tier money unless he shows more growth this season.
Bottom line
Stroud is viewed as a likely franchise quarterback, but this year will shape whether the league sees him as merely good or as a legitimate elite-level player.
Bryce Young: Can He Reach a Level the Panthers Actually Want to Keep Building Around?
Why he’s a crossroads player
Bryce Young’s fifth-year option makes him easy to keep for now, but the bigger question is whether Carolina will want to keep him beyond that.
Main arguments
- The hosts are skeptical that Bryce’s ceiling is much more than mid-tier starter level.
- His production across his career has been near the bottom of the league by many measures.
- Even his better stretch last season did not look like the kind of output that usually inspires a long-term commitment.
- The Panthers may still need to explore other quarterback options unless Bryce makes a meaningful jump.
Supporting-cast note
There is some optimism because:
- Carolina finally has a better set of pass-catchers,
- including Tetairoa McMillan, Jalen Coker, and added backfield help,
- which could give Bryce his best environment yet.
Bottom line
The question is not really whether Bryce can stay on the roster for 2027; it’s whether he can play well enough to keep Carolina from seeking a new starter.
Jalen Hurts: Can He Be a Different Kind of Quarterback in a Different Kind of Offense?
Why he’s a crossroads player
This was framed as one of the clearest “can he adapt?” situations in the league.
Main arguments
- The Eagles’ recent success with Hurts has depended on a very specific offensive formula:
- elite running game,
- strong offensive line,
- and top-end receiver talent.
- The current environment is less favorable than the one that helped them win the Super Bowl.
- Without A.J. Brown, and with changes on the line and at coordinator, Hurts may need to operate differently than he ever has before.
- The hosts are skeptical that the Eagles can repeat their exact formula and skeptical that Hurts has yet proven he can thrive in a more conventional passing structure.
Tension in the discussion
- One side: Philadelphia’s infrastructure and track record earn them more benefit of the doubt.
- The other side: the historical profile of Super Bowl winners suggests you still usually need a more consistent passing game than the Eagles have provided with Hurts.
Bottom line
Hurts is at a crossroads because the offense is changing, and he may need to become a more complete and adaptable passer for the Eagles to stay championship-level.
Justin Herbert: The “What’s Your Excuse Now?” Season
Why he’s a crossroads player
The hosts agree this is a major year for Herbert because:
- he has a new offensive setup,
- a highly regarded play-caller,
- and more help than he’s had in prior seasons.
Main arguments
- Herbert’s talent has never been in question.
- The issue has always been whether the Chargers can build a system that unlocks him fully.
- His past coordinators were major limitations, but now he has an opportunity with a stronger offensive mind.
- If things still do not click, the criticism around Herbert will become much harder to dismiss.
Important nuance
This is not framed as a make-or-break year for his job security. Instead, it is a year that could reshape the league’s perception of him:
- Is he truly a top-five-ish quarterback?
- Or is he simply a very talented player whose production keeps falling short of the hype?
Bottom line
If Herbert does not take another step now, the conversation may shift from “poor supporting cast” to “maybe this is just who he is.”
Michael Penix Jr.: Can He Establish Himself as a Real NFL Starter?
Why he’s a crossroads player
Penix is interesting because he already has a defined style and a limited profile:
- strong arm,
- aggressive downfield mindset,
- quick checks to the outlet,
- but limited mobility and some durability concerns.
Main arguments
- He looks like a mature, functional NFL quarterback with a clear process.
- He also has enough flaws that the hosts are skeptical he’ll become a true top-12 player.
- The bigger question is whether he can play well enough to make himself a real long-term option somewhere, even if not necessarily in Atlanta.
Team context
There is concern that the Falcons may already be planning for another quarterback path soon, depending on how Penix and the season go.
Bottom line
Penix’s crossroads is about whether he proves he can hold down a starter job long enough to matter in the next wave of quarterback decisions.
Malik Willis: Can He Turn a Chance Into a Real Career Reset?
Why he’s a crossroads player
Willis is in the classic backup-quarterback trap:
- one meaningful opportunity,
- one chance to prove he can function as a starter,
- and potentially no second act if he fails.
Main arguments
- He may not need to be great; he just needs to be competent enough to create future interest.
- The hosts compared this kind of situation to players like Tyrod Taylor or Matt Flynn—quarterbacks who got a window to show enough to earn another shot.
- Miami’s roster and offensive line give him a real chance to survive and make some plays, even if the surrounding passing game is shaky.
Bottom line
If Willis can look functional, he could turn that into future backup or bridge-starter opportunities elsewhere. If not, this may be one of his last real chances.
Final Thoughts
The episode’s central idea is that quarterback careers do not move in straight lines. For some of these players, the difference between “good starter,” “franchise guy,” and “replaceable” may come down to this one season.
Biggest themes across the discussion
- Development matters more than raw talent.
- The surrounding environment can distort quarterback evaluation.
- A player can be good enough to keep, but not good enough to fully trust.
- This season may define the next few years of each player’s career.
Notable Context From the Show
- The hosts also touched on how their earlier “most at stake” discussions applied to players like Kyler Murray, Baker Mayfield, and Caleb Williams, but those were not the focus of this episode.
- The upcoming AFC West preview was teased as the next episode, with division previews planned for the following stretch of the show.