NFL teams to potentially tank for Dante Moore, Arch Manning and Co.

Now, the NFL is a completely different animal. For one, it's much more physical than the NBA, making tanking a serious danger risk. Not going full speed results in injuries in football, while in basketball, that same lack of effort results in a wide open dunk or three-pointer. It's a different game.

But the aspect of putting replacement-level players on the field is still a strategy that can be implemented. For the Jets, potentially benching veteran stop-gap quarterback Geno Smith and replacing him with fourth-round rookie Cade Klubnik is a quiet, yet deliberate way to tank their way to the bottom of the standings.

"After the trade deadline [in early November 2026] is when things will really start to pivot," an NFC executive told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. "By then, you'll have a feel for which quarterbacks will emerge as primary options atop the draft, and teams will understand where they are in their trajectory."

"In other words, teams out of contention will be tempted to look toward their April possibilities while trying to finish out a rough year on the field," Fowler wrote in a prediction of the 2027 offseason.

The 2024 quarterback class, which featured six first-rounders, has drawn comparisons to the 2027 group. Each of Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye and former Duck Bo Nix have established themselves as Pro Bowl-caliber players within their first two seasons in the league, persuading teams to believe that the same could come out of the draft next year.

And rightfully so.

Moore was one of the best pure passers in the nation in just his first full season as the starter for the Ducks, leading them to 13 wins. Manning, though he battled inconsistencies with his throwing motion early, flourished down the stretch of the year. The combination of Sellers' frame (6-foot-3, 240 pounds), elite speed and eye-popping arm strength have some scouts tabbing him as the quarterback with the most potential. And don't forget about Notre Dame's C.J. Carr and Ohio State's Julian Sayin, both of whom excelled in their first season as the starter and will be draft-eligible in 2027 if they choose to declare.

The abundance of talent has put an increased focus on the 2026 college football season, and if the top passers are considered worthy, we could see NFL teams drop like flies towards the bottom of the standings like never before.

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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: 2026 NFL season could be greatly affected by 2027 QB class