If money talks, then the league's biggest contracts confirm it: This position is easily the most integral in every team's hunt for a championship. The truth is a bit more complex: Every signal-caller is often only as good as his setup and situation, though a select few register as transcendent talents.

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins is a logical trade candidate. The 14-year NFL veteran lost his job to Michael Penix Jr. late in the 2024 season, and despite returning for a spot start in Week 8, Cousins remains No. 2 on the team's depth chart.

The similarities are obvious. Daniel Jones, Mayfield, Darnold and Mac Jones were high- or mid-first-rounders, while Smith was an early second-rounder. League executives agreed each player has always possessed the physical skills to start in the NFL, which was indicative of their draft stock.

One NFL executive believes that teams do more to damage talented quarterbacks' prospects than the players themselves.

At a time when few top college quarterbacks are willing to bide their time as backups if they could instead transfer to somewhere they can start.

The Los Angeles Rams will look to pick up a third straight win when when they host the reeling New Orleans Saints on Sunday.

When NFL aficionado Colin Cowherd paired up with a college football expert in Joel Klatt, there was a fascinating discussion to be had about which current colle