NFL front offices face quarterback competitions that remain unresolved right now. For ESPN and TSN, Dan Graziano evaluated these specific roster battles. He projected the Week 1 starters based on recent practice data. Coaches must finalize their depth charts before the preseason ends. And the tight QB1 races reveal differing approaches to veteran leadership across the league.
Atlanta Falcons
Massive changes restructured the Atlanta organization. Ian Cunningham operates as the general manager following the dismissals of Terry Fontenot and Raheem Morris. Kevin Stefanski clinched the head coaching job. Matt Ryan now commands the front office as the president of football. But the biggest question remains under center. Michael Penix Jr. tore his ACL during November 2025. That injury marked his third career torn ACL. To be fair, he possesses a tiny sample size with just 12 career NFL starts. The Falcons won four of those games. Penix logged 2,757 yards on a 59.6% completion rate. So Atlanta signed Tua Tagovailoa to a one-year minimum contract for veterans in March. Tagovailoa remains fully healthy. He threw for 4,624 yards and 29 touchdowns a few seasons ago. Graziano projects him to win the starting job.
Cleveland Browns
Todd Monken coaches the squad through a complicated recovery timeline. On Oct. 20, 2024, Deshaun Watson suffered an Achilles tear. He can’t play right now. We know exactly the type of injury Watson is recovering from. Since 2020, he has failed to play more than 10 games in a single season. Shedeur Sanders competes directly against him for the top role. In his rookie campaign, Sanders threw seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions across eight games. Monken noted Sanders was “being more decisive” on the field during non-contact practices in June. Watson is the projected Week 1 starter in Cleveland despite the injury timeline.
Las Vegas Raiders
Klint Kubiak wants veterans. From 2019 to 2021, Kubiak served as the offensive coordinator for the Vikings. He coached Kirk Cousins during that span. In early April, Cousins signed with the Raiders. Vegas drafted Fernando Mendoza weeks later. Mendoza must wait because the team doesn’t plan to start the rookie immediately. Kubiak prefers for newly drafted rookies to learn from the sidelines. So Cousins is the projected Week 1 starter.
Arizona Cardinals
Mike LaFleur oversees a crowded quarterback room. Jacoby Brissett battles Gardner Minshew and Carson Beck for the top job. Last season, Brissett threw for 3,366 yards, 23 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. He is the projected Week 1 starter for Arizona. Minshew threw nine touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 14 games played over the last two seasons. He suited up for the Raiders in 2024 and the Chiefs in 2025.
Veteran Preferences Reshape Roster Timelines
Rookie development timelines stall completely when offensive coordinators rely on historical relationships. Fernando Mendoza must sit on the bench this season. His benching is a direct consequence of Kubiak’s past success with Cousins in Minnesota. Coaches face extreme job pressure today. Under that scrutiny, they won’t hand offenses to unproven rookies. Demand for veteran game managers shifts accordingly.