Full Breakdown
NFL Training Camps Open with a Spotlight on Quarterback Rooms
7/21/2026, 6:26:36 AM
Training Camp Kickoff and the QB Spotlight
Training camps for all 32 NFL teams begin this week, with six clubs—Cardinals, Panthers, Patriots, Seahawks, 49ers and Rams—reporting by July 22 and the remaining 26 following on July 28. As coaches assemble rosters, analysts are zeroing in on quarterback (QB) competitions, a factor that often predicts early-season success. A CBS Sports ranking of the five worst QB rooms places the Cleveland Browns at the top of the list, underscoring the league-wide concern that a crowded or underperforming QB group can derail a season.
Background: Offseason Moves and Injuries Shaping QB Rooms
The offseason saw a flurry of high-profile transactions: the Browns retained veteran Deshaun Watson on a five-year, $230 million fully guaranteed deal signed in 2022; the Jets reacquired Geno Smith via trade, making him the first quarterback since Fran Tarkenton (1972) to return to his original draft team; and the Cardinals opted to stick with Jacoby Brissett after failing to add a proven starter. Injuries also loom large—Watson is returning from two torn Achilles, while other clubs grapple with recovering QBs such as Daniel Jones (torn Achilles) and C.J. Stroud (post-playoff misfires).
The Browns’ QB Room: Why Analysts Label It the Worst
Jordan Dajani’s assessment cites four quarterbacks on Cleveland’s roster: Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel and Taylen Green. Watson’s recent statistical record includes the league’s lowest completion percentage, yards-per-attempt and touchdown-to-interception ratio over the past five seasons, compounded by his absence from game action since October 2024. Sanders, a sophomore, has more career interceptions than touchdowns, while the two backups lack meaningful NFL experience. The combination of a massive contract, poor performance metrics and a crowded depth chart fuels the “weirdest quarterback room” label.
Other Notable QB Situations
- Jets: Geno Smith returns, joining fourth-round pick Cade Klubnik, former starter Brady Cook and veteran Bailey Zappe. The depth is deep, but Smith’s recent regression raises doubts.
- Cardinals: With Jacoby Brissett as the presumed starter, the team entered camp without adding a veteran, leaving them with a thin QB pipeline.
- Seahawks: Sam Darnold faces his fifth offensive coordinator in as many years, a continuity challenge highlighted by the hiring of rookie OC Brian Fleury.
- Chiefs: Salary-cap flexibility (approximately $4.12 million) may allow future QB-related moves, though no immediate restructuring has been announced.
Data & Statistics on QB Performance and Contracts
- Deshaun Watson’s contract: five years, $230 million, fully guaranteed.
- Watson’s five-year career averages: lowest completion percentage, yards per attempt and TD-INT ratio among qualified QBs.
- Jets’ backup Cade Klubnik’s 2025 starter record: 0-4, two touchdowns, seven interceptions.
- Chiefs’ cap space for 2026: $4,119,901, with potential restructuring targets including Chris Jones (up to $22 million) and Trey Smith (up to $12.5 million).
Criticism & Opposition
Analysts argue that the Browns’ commitment to Watson locks up a large portion of the salary cap while offering limited upside, forcing the team to develop an unproven sophomore and two marginal backups. The Jets’ reliance on a mix of veteran and inexperienced QBs is seen as a “lose-lose” scenario, and the Cardinals’ decision to forgo a proven starter is criticized as a missed opportunity to stabilize their offense.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
While CBS Sports ranks the Browns as the worst QB room, no official statements from Cleveland’s front office confirm a strategic plan to resolve the situation. Similarly, the Jets and Cardinals have not publicly addressed the concerns raised by analysts, leaving a gap between media criticism and team-level responses.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The Browns have owned the weirdest quarterback room in the NFL for years now.” — Jordan Dajani, CBS Sports
- “Deshaun Watson is still on the roster thanks to that five-year, $230 million fully guaranteed deal he signed in 2022.” — Jordan Dajani, CBS Sports
- “He owns the worst completion percentage, yards per attempt and TD-INT ratio in the NFL in the five years since one of the worst trades of all time.” — Jordan Dajani, CBS Sports
- “Geno Smith is back in New York, and he actually became the first quarterback to return to his original draft team via trade since Fran Tarkenton in 1972, according to CBS Sports Research.” — Jordan Dajani, CBS Sports
- “The Cardinals were a team expected to be in the market for a proven quarterback this offseason, but they did not add one.” — Jordan Dajani, CBS Sports
As training camps progress, the performance of these quarterback rooms will become a key indicator of each franchise’s early-season trajectory.
