The Worst Projected Starter For Every NFL Team Going Into 2026
This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.
The 2026 NFL season is approaching, along with training camp and the preseason, as each team evaluates its talents and starters heading into the regular season.
A lot of guys are projected to play incredibly well right off the bat, while some guys who we think will do well might not have a good statistical season.
These guys will become liabilities for their respective teams moving forward, as teams must find a way for them to improve.
Who are the worst starters for each NFL team in 2026?
Arizona Cardinals: Jacoby Brissett
Brissett is projected to be the worst starter for the Cardinals heading into the new NFL season, as he’s viewed more as a bridge quarterback, going 1-11 during his starts in 2025.
Brissett lacks the upside needed to contend, but offers steady, serviceable play to keep the team afloat during the regular season.
He’s also on the hot seat, as Gardner Minshew and drafted rookie Carson Beck are both waiting in the wings for their time on the field.
Atlanta Falcons: Tua Tagovailoa
If Tagovailoa wins the starting job for the Falcons, he’s projected to be the team’s worst starter due to his injury history in the NFL, having a sharp increase in interceptions during his final season with the Dolphins, and his durability concerns.
Tagovailoa currently has a Pro Football Focus grade of 62.1, ranked 34 out of 43 quarterbacks, and was brought in on a short one-year deal to compete against Michael Penix Jr. for the starting job.
Baltimore Ravens: Ethan Pocic
Pocic is projected to be the Ravens’ weak link, as he has a history of injuries and is recovering from an Achilles injury.
Pundits have noted that Pocic is more of a steady pass-blocker than a dynamic, elite-run blocker for the Ravens’ run-heavy offense during the season.
Buffalo Bills: Keon Coleman
Coleman is projected to be the weakest starter on the Bills’ offense, as he has not lived up to expectations in Western New York and hasn’t had a 1,000-yard season yet.
Coleman has struggled with foot speed and fluidity, failing to create meaningful separation from opposing defensive backs, and he has low production, catching 116 receptions for 960 yards and scoring 8 touchdowns so far in the league.
Carolina Panthers: Nick Scott
The Panthers’ secondary is expected to take a big leap in the 2026 season. However, Nick Scott is projected to be the team’s weak link due to his lack of playmaking and coverage grades.
Scott has had only one interception so far in his tenure with the Panthers and has struggled in passing situations against opposing defenses.
Chicago Bears: Braxton Jones
Jones is projected to be the weak link in the unit heading into the 2026 season, due to regression and lingering injuries he sustained in 2025.
Even though the offensive line improved, Jones’ weaknesses in pass-protection will stand out during the 2026 season, and he faces stiff competition from Jedrick Willis Jr. and Theo Benedet, as being a starter isn’t given because they’re earned in the NFL.
Cincinnati Bengals: Dylan Fairchild
Fairchild started in 15 games during his rookie year, but he has a lot of improvements to make during the 2026 season, as he’s considered a weak link on their offensive line for 2026, as he surrendered two sacks and has shown to be an asset in the Bengals’ run game.
Not to mention, Fairchild has a low pass-block rate, allowing 31 pressures and five quarterback hits, and finishing the 2025 season with a 59.1 grade per PFF, ranking 46 out of 81 guards.
Cleveland Browns: Deshaun Watson
This should surprise no one, as Watson’s time in Cleveland has been a complete disaster, as he’s struggled on the field with turnovers, injury history, and a steep statistical decline.
Watson also faces immense competition from Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel, and rookie Taylen Green, who have outperformed Watson when out on the field for games.
Dallas Cowboys: Shavon Revel Jr.
The Cowboys’ secondary is talented, but Revel Jr. is a weak link in the unit, as he struggled during his rookie season, posting a 35.2 grade with PFF, the lowest amongst graded cornerbacks.
Revel Jr.’s struggles can be attributed to being rushed back too early from a torn ACL he suffered at East Carolina, as he played in seven games, had 35 tackles and three pass deflections, but no interceptions, while wearing a knee brace that limited his mobility.
Revel Jr. has been practicing without a knee brace and has been working well in defensive coordinator Christian Parker’s system.
Denver Broncos: Alex Singleton
Singleton is viewed by many as the Broncos’ weak link due to his aging athleticism, as he’s going to be 33 when the NFL season concludes, and well-documented struggles in pass coverage plays as a starter.
Fans and analysts expected the Broncos to upgrade their interior linebackers with new free agents or younger draft picks, but the front office re-signed Singleton to a two-year, $15.5 million deal.
Despite leading the team in tackles with 135, Singleton has also been criticized for his form and for racking up a high volume of missed tackles.
Detroit Lions: Christian Mahogany
Mahogany is projected to be the Lions’ weakest starter heading into the 2026 NFL season due to struggling in pass protection and being in a battle for the left guard job against veterans Ben Bartch and Miles Frazier.
Mahogany has a 40.7 PFF pass-blocking grade, ranking him 77th out of 81 qualified offensive guards, and he has surrendered 27 total pressures, including six sacks on 699 offensive snaps.
Green Bay Packers: Aaron Banks
Banks is a weak link on the Packers’ offensive line due to his disappointing 2025 season, in which he struggled with pass protection and zone blocking. He earned a 53.5 grade from PFF after the 2025 season, ranking him 64th out of 81 qualified offensive guards, while his pass-blocking grade is 52.2.
Banks signed a four-year, $77 million deal with the Packers in the 2025 season and has not lived up to expectations.
Banks has also dealt with back, ankle, and groin injuries heading into training camp, which is never a good sign.
Houston Texans: Reed Blankenship
Although Blankenship signed a three-year, $24.75 million deal with the Texans during the offseason, he’s projected to be the team’s worst starter, according to PFF, as he finished the 2025 NFL season with a grade of 46.6, ranking 92nd out of 98 safeties.
Not to mention, his defensive coverage has been brutal, as he has a PFF coverage grade of 29.9, which is dead last amongst qualified safeties.
Blankenship may have championship experience, but he’s considered a weak link on arguably the league’s best defense heading into the 2026 season. Could DeMeco Ryans help clean things up? We’ll just have to see.
Indianapolis Colts: A. J. Haulcy
Haulcy was drafted in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft, but is projected to be one of the Colts’ worst starters due to transitional concerns, which is typical amongst rookie defensive backs.
Although Haulcy is an experienced safety, he has struggled with tackling, missing 16 tackles during his 2025 season with the LSU Tigers, and he is less effective in man coverage than he is in the zone. He also lacks top-end speed to recover when out of position.
Despite that, Haulcy has shown he has a sharp football IQ and ball-hawking tendencies.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Patrick Mekari
Mekari is projected to be a weak link on the Jaguars’ offensive line due to struggling to transition to right guard and has dealt with a lingering back injury in the 2025 season.
Mekari also had a run-blocking grade of 55.1 and a pass-blocking grade of 51.8 per Pro Football Focus. Not to mention, he’s got competition for the starting spot against guys like Wyatt Milum and Emmanuel Pregnom before the 2026 season kicks off.
Kansas City Chiefs: Jaylon Moore
Moore had an incredibly inconsistent 2025 season with the Chiefs, struggling in pass protection, allowing 9 pressures, and suffering a knee injury near the end of the season. PFF graded him 57.1 for pass-blocking and 62.9 for run-blocking.
On top of that, Moore has signed a two-year, $30 million deal with the team and has not lived up to expectations, opening the door for competition from Esa Pole and Khalil Benson.
Las Vegas Raiders: DJ Glaze
Glaze is projected to be the Raiders’ worst starter due to the severe sophomore slump he endured in the 2025 NFL season. According to PFF, he gave up 48 pressures and 10 sacks, ranking him as the second-worst tackle in the league for pressures allowed.
Glaze also doesn’t fit Klint Kubiak’s and offensive line coach Rick Dennison’s wide-zone blocking system, as he has limited mobility and slow footwork.
Los Angeles Chargers: Jake Slaughter
Slaughter is projected to struggle at the offensive line position due to a difficult transition to the NFL and being asked to move from center to guard, as the team is cross-training him for the position.
Slaughter also lacks the ideal mass and elite physicality traits for interior line play and has struggled against pure power and heavy bull-rushers.
Los Angeles Rams: Omar Speights
Speights is projected to be a weak link on the Rams’ defense because of his struggles in pass coverage and lack of splash plays like sacks, tackles for loss, and forced fumbles. In 2025, Speights had 85 tackles and a pass deflection, but no sacks at all.
As a starter for this NFL team, Speights has struggled against covering speedy tight ends and running backs, which doesn’t help. However, he still holds value in defensive coordinator Chris Shula’s system and has to clean things up before and during the 2026 season.
Miami Dolphins: Jonah Savaiinaea
Savaiinaea is projected to be the Dolphins’ worst starter due to an incredibly poor rookie season in the NFL, in which he earned a dismal PFF grade of 28.4, the worst among 81 guards since the site began collecting data.
The Dolphins slotted Savaiinaea at left guard, but he surrendered eight sacks and 45 quarterback pressures and looked overwhelmed by NFL speed and physicality compared to his collegiate days.
Minnesota Vikings: J. J. McCarthy
McCarthy is projected to be the Vikings’ worst starter after playing a disastrous 2025 season, where he threw 11 touchdowns against 12 interceptions, was sacked 27 times, and fumbled the ball six times, losing two of them.
Not to mention, McCarthy has struggled with inconsistencies and poor ball mechanics.
Kyler Murray recently signed a one-year deal with the team, which will force him and McCarthy to compete for the coveted starting job before the 2026 season kicks off.
New England Patriots: Jared Wilson
Wilson is projected to be a weak link on the Patriots, as he was forced to play out of position at left guard during his rookie season.
Wilson had 93 career snaps at guard, making his transition to the NFL very difficult, and he struggled in the run game, giving up ground to superior defensive linemen.
New Orleans Saints: Nathan Shepherd
Shepherd is projected to be a weak link on the Saints’ defensive line due to his struggles against the run and declining pass-rush efficiency.
Even during a productive 2025 season when he had 47 tackles and three sacks, he rarely finishes plays at an elite starting caliber level.
New York Giants: John Michael Schmitz
Michael Schmitz is projected to be a liability for the G-Men due to poor pass protection metrics, as he struggled to anchor against interior rushers and has had recurring durability issues.
He may have given up one sack in 2025, but he also allowed 14 pressures, making it difficult for quarterbacks to operate in clean pockets. On top of that, he’s missed multiple games in his career due to injuries, like a finger injury he had that ended his 2025 season.
New York Jets: Geno Smith
Even though Smith has returned to the Jets, he’s projected to be one of the league’s worst quarterbacks after his dismal 2025 season with the Raiders, when he took 55 sacks and threw 17 interceptions.
Smith will also be 36 when the season concludes, as there are declines in his arm strength and his reaction time. On top of that, the Jets have three first-round picks in the 2027 Draft, making Smith a bridge quarterback, rather than a long-term solution. Plus, he’s facing off-court issues, too.
Philadelphia Eagles: Marcus Epps
Epps is projected to be the weakest starter on this NFL team due to documented limitations in coverage and a lack of playmaking abilities.
Epps hasn’t had an interception since the 2021 season and hasn’t had a fumble recovery since the 2023 season. On top of that, Epps has been a liability for the Eagles, as they have one of the best cornerback units in the league.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Jalen Ramsey
Ramsey is projected to be the Steelers’ weakest starter heading into the regular season, as he’ll be 32 when the season ends and has seen a decline in his coverage speed at outside cornerback. He’s had a difficult time switching to safety.
Opposing quarterbacks have thrown the ball more towards Ramsey due to his struggles adjusting to safety, a position he hasn’t played since college.
San Francisco 49ers: Ji’Ayir Brown
Brown is considered one of the 49ers’ weakest starters due to tackling struggles and seeing regression in his coverage during NFL games.
In 2025, Brown was flagged for missing a career-high 12 tackles and has competition from second-year safety Marques Sigle.
Seattle Seahawks: Anthony Bradford
Bradford is projected to be a weak link on the Seahawks’ offensive line due to his major inconsistencies in pass protection and athletic limitations in the offensive system.
Bradford also has an abysmal PFF grade of 50.1, ranking 70th out of 81 guards, and has surrendered 28 pressures and three sacks in 2025.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: SirVocea Dennis
Dennis is projected to struggle in the 2026 NFL season, as he’s a liability in pass coverage and has had shortcomings on passing downs as a starter.
Dennis may be effective against the run as a blitzer, but PFF graded him at a low 49.1 overall and allowed a 114.9 passer rating when targeted in coverage.
Tennessee Titans: Cody Barton
Barton is likely going to be the Titans’ worst starter heading into the upcoming season due to not fitting in Robert Saleh’s new defensive scheme, and he had an underwhelming 2025 season, having 81 tackles (which was lower than 2024) and three interceptions.
Barton will also be 30 when the season ends, and the team has younger options waiting in the lineup.
Washington Commanders: Treylon Burks
Burks is considered a weak link for the Commanders due to his history of nagging injuries and a lack of consistent production.
When on the field, his output has been underwhelming, as he’s failed to surpass 444 receiving yards in a single season.
