A.J. Brown trade, Aaron Rodgers' future among biggest post-draft questions facing every NFL team

Even with the draft in the rearview mirror, there are still several questions lingering across the NFL

Tyler Sullivan

May 5, 2026

9:27 am ET

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25 min read

Michael Meredith, CBS Sports design

We've entered a new phase of the NFL offseason. In the weeks and months that we just endured, the primary objective for all 32 clubs across the country was to replenish and revamp their rosters through free agency and, most recently, the NFL Draft. Well, that period is over. Now, the focus is to take all of those new pieces, smash them together with the old ones, and mold what each organization hopes will be a winning product for next season.

Despite the redecorating, there may still be teams with lingering questions regarding key areas of the depth chart. Then, there are more existential questions surrounding various clubs, who may be faced with the identity crisis of seeing their championship window come and go.

With teams beginning to ramp up their offseason programs with OTAs and mandatory minicamp over the next few months before the summer break, we're going to take stock of where they stand and identify one major question looming over the organization.

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Arizona Cardinals

Question: Will Carson Beck start Week 1?

Arizona selected Beck with the 65th overall pick at the draft, and it stands to wonder how quickly the Miami product will hit the field. After all, the competition in the Cardinals quarterback room isn't exactly robust. Jacoby Brissett is the incumbent starter, but he was 1-11 in 2025 and is currently holding out for a new contract. Then, there's Gardner Minshew and former undrafted free agent Kedon Slovis. Whatever you think about the selection of Beck, the organization invested a third-rounder in him, and they'll want to get an all-encompassing view of him as their starter this season before possibly deploying even more draft capital at the position next offseason. Beck isn't a green prospect either, as he had 43 collegiate starts under his belt and will turn 25 in the middle of his rookie campaign. More than other rookies, he has the experience to start out of the gate. Whether or not first-year head coach Mike LaFleur throws him to the wolves, however, is the question.

Atlanta Falcons

Question: Will Michael Penix Jr. be healthy enough to compete with Tua Tagovailoa?

There's a quarterback competition rumbling in Atlanta after the Falcons signed veteran Tua Tagovailoa following his release from the Miami Dolphins. While most of us have our popcorn ready to be tossed into the microwave in anticipation of this summer battle, it stands to wonder if it'll even be a fair fight. Penix is working his way back from a torn ACL he suffered in November. The 2024 first-round pick has a growing history of injuries, so it's no guarantee he'll be 100% by the time things really heat up at training camp. At the NFL Annual Meeting earlier this offseason, head coach Kevin Stefanski praised the tenacity Penix is bringing to his rehab, but didn't provide much when asked if he'd physically be ready to play Week 1. If Penix isn't in top form, that only creates even more of an inside track for Tagovailoa, and this battle could be a swift knockout.

Baltimore Ravens

Question: Who will be Baltimore's starting center

There are a couple of different avenues we could've gone with the Ravens, including the looming extensions for Lamar Jackson and Zay Flowers. However, the most pressing issue on the roster is at center. Namely, who actually is their starting center? Baltimore saw Pro Bowler Tyler Linderbaum leave in free agency, and with no replacement coming by way of a veteran, most anticipated the team filling that hole at the draft. While GM Eric DeCosta noted that he did try to land a center at the draft, it never came to fruition.

"Obviously, center is a position right now in a state of flux," he told WBAL Radio last week. "We're trying to figure that out. We weren't able to address that in the draft. There were a couple guys that we really liked in the draft at the center position, but the board didn't fall the right way."

Now, the Ravens will need to scour the remnants of the free agent market or look for a trade to fill that need.

Buffalo Bills

Question: Can Keon Coleman save his career?

It's been a tumultuous tenure in Buffalo for Coleman, especially these last few months. In the aftermath of firing Sean McDermott, Coleman caught a stray from owner Terry Pegula, who noted that it was the coaching staff that pushed for the team to draft him instead of GM Brandon Beane. At the time, it felt like that was the nail in Coleman's coffin regarding his tenure with the Bills. However, the receiver remains with the team at this stage, and it appears like he'll be on board for 2026 as they move forward with head coach Joe Brady. Beane