Myles Garrett's Trade Set It Off: Cleveland Fans Have No Idea What's Coming at QB

Alright, 12s, listen up! It’s early June 2026, and the NFL quarterback picture for the upcoming season is already shaping up to be wild. This year, the usual guessing games are gone; we're seeing some clear cut situations develop. Teams are wrapping up voluntary OTAs, and trust me, some competitions are far more obvious than you’d think. Seismic shifts are happening, and a few fanbases are about to get rocked.

The Vegas High Roller and the Achilles Comeback

First off, let’s talk serious money and big comebacks. Down in Vegas, the Raiders pulled a classic Raiders move with Kirk Cousins. They shelled out a five-year, $172 million deal, but here’s the kicker: it’s really a one-year, fully guaranteed $20 million contract, split with the Falcons after Atlanta cut him. Twenty million for a potential backup? That’s wild! The Raiders might start him for a few games, but No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza is definitely lurking. Meanwhile, in Indy, Daniel Jones is set to take back the reins. The Colts apparently gave Anthony Richardson’s reps the green light to seek a trade, and it sounds like suitors aren't exactly lining up for the 24-year-old. Jones, who led the Colts to a top AFC seed before his Achilles went out, is a no-brainer QB1 for 2026, assuming full recovery. You can't argue with that kind of impact.

From Draft Busts to Second Chances

Elsewhere, guys are getting second chances. Kyler Murray, for example, signed with the Vikings in free agency, and you know he got some guarantee to start over J.J. McCarthy. McCarthy, the 2024 No. 10 pick, had a rough first season, throwing more interceptions than touchdowns. With Justin Jefferson out there, Minnesota needs someone to get him the ball. Murray’s looking to turn his career around, much like our own Sam Darnold did a few seasons ago. It's a path we've seen work here in the Emerald City. Then there's Tua Tagovailoa in Atlanta. New Head Coach Kevin Stefanski loves a QB controversy, but injuries complicated things for Michael Penix Jr., the Falcons’ No. 8 overall pick from 2024. Stefanski, a two-time Coach of the Year with a high-priced contract to fix Atlanta, will trust the veteran Tagovailoa over Penix in a very winnable division.

The Browns' Shocking Youth Movement

But the biggest jaw-dropper? What’s going down in Cleveland. All the noise says Deshaun Watson is ahead of Shedeur Sanders for the starting job. But hold up, the Myles Garrett trade to the Rams changes everything. Seriously, trading a superstar like Garrett signals a full-on youth movement, especially with 25-year-old EDGE Jared Verse coming in. Sanders is six years younger than Watson, who hasn’t played good football since 2020. After three big injuries and two full seasons on the sideline, expecting the 30-year-old Watson to return to form in the final year of that disastrous contract is a pipe dream. This isn’t just a competition; it’s a clear path for Sanders to lead a new era. It’s wild how quickly the QB landscape can shift, isn't it? From massive contracts to surprising trades or guys getting redemption, like Sam Darnold showed us, these battles are setting the tone for the entire season. We’ll be watching closely as these situations unfold when the season officially kicks off. What a time to be an NFL fan!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.