The Quarterback Pressure Index 2026: Which NFL Fanbases Are Most Worried Ahead of Free Agency?

With the NFL legal tampering period opening March 9 and the 2026 league year beginning March 11, quarterback decisions are about to dominate the offseason.

A new survey from Casino Guru News of 3,246 NFL fans across all 32 fanbases reveals which teams supporters believe are under the most pressure to fix their quarterback situation — and 17% of fans expect the Las Vegas Raiders to make the biggest QB move of the entire offseason.

To measure that anxiety, we created the 2026 NFL Quarterback Pressure Index, ranking every team based on fan concern and league-wide perceptions of quarterback stability.

Key Findings

• Raiders rank #1 in QB pressure in the 2026 NFL Quarterback Pressure Index
• 17% expect Las Vegas to make the biggest QB move this offseason
• 19% of fans say the Cleveland Browns make them most nervous at QB
• 25% say the Buffalo Bills have the NFL’s most secure quarterback situation

Based on a survey of 3,246 NFL fans conducted February 2026.

NFL QB Pressure Index Rankings

The 2026 NFL Quarterback Pressure Index ranks all 32 fanbases based on combined fan anxiety and quarterback perception scores.

Raiders Lead the League in QB Pressure

The Las Vegas Raiders sit at the top of the 2026 Quarterback Pressure Index with a Pressure Score of 88.3, the highest in the NFL.

Across the survey, 17% of fans named the Raiders as the team most likely to make the biggest quarterback move this offseason, comfortably the highest of any franchise.

Among Raiders supporters themselves, there is also strong appetite for action. 38% say the best solution is trading for a proven starting quarterback, rather than drafting a new passer or sticking with the current plan.

After years of instability at the position, Raiders fans are entering free agency with more concern than any other fanbase in the league.

The NFL’s QB Anxiety Cluster

Behind the Raiders sits a group of teams whose supporters are also entering the offseason with significant quarterback concerns.

Together these teams form the NFL’s "QB Anxiety Cluster" — franchises where uncertainty at quarterback is creating pressure heading into free agency.

• Minnesota Vikings - Pressure Score: 67.7
• New York Jets - Pressure Score: 69.6
• Arizona Cardinals - Pressure Score: 68.5
• Miami Dolphins - Pressure Score: 68.1
• Pittsburgh Steelers - Pressure Score: 66.8
• Cleveland Browns - Pressure Score: 64.5

Across the league, fans repeatedly pointed to these teams when asked which franchises make them most nervous at quarterback.

19% of fans named the Cleveland Browns as the team that makes them most nervous at the position, the highest share of any franchise in the survey.

The Texans Surprise: National Optimism vs Fan Anxiety

One of the most interesting results involves the Houston Texans.

Despite strong national optimism surrounding quarterback C.J. Stroud, Texans fans still recorded a relatively high Fan Pressure score of 61.7, placing them among the more concerned fanbases in the league.

The result highlights a potential gap between national perception and local confidence, suggesting Texans supporters remain cautious about whether the quarterback position is fully settled long term.

Bills and Chiefs Fans Are the Least Worried

While several fanbases enter free agency with uncertainty, others are enjoying rare stability.

The Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs sit comfortably at the bottom of the Pressure Index thanks to their franchise quarterbacks.

When fans were asked which team has the most secure quarterback situation in the NFL, the results were decisive:

• 25% selected the Buffalo Bills (Josh Allen)
• 19% selected the Kansas City Chiefs (Patrick Mahomes)

The contrast between these teams and those at the top of the Pressure Index highlights how dramatically quarterback stability shapes fan confidence.

How Fans Want Teams to Fix Their QB Problem

Fans also made it clear how they believe teams should address quarterback uncertainty.

• 38% - Trade for a proven starting QB
• 25% - Sign a veteran bridge quarterback
• 24% - Draft a quarterback
• 7% - Develop a current roster option
• 6% - Stick with the current plan

The results show strong fan support for aggressive action at quarterback, rather than patience.

A League Divided by Quarterback Stability

The 2026 NFL Quarterback Pressure Index highlights a league entering the offseason from two very different positions.

For fanbases like the Bills and Chiefs, the quarterback position is already solved.

For teams near the top of the index, the coming weeks represent something far more urgent: finding stability at the most important position in football.

With free agency opening this week, those teams may soon determine how dramatic the NFL offseason becomes.

Methodology

The NFL Quarterback Pressure Index combines two weighted components:

Fan Pressure (70%)

Based on responses to survey questions including:

• Which teams make you most nervous at quarterback heading into the 2026 season?
• Which team do you expect to make the biggest quarterback move this offseason?
• What would be the worst outcome for your team’s QB situation this offseason?

Quarterback Perception (30%)

Based on league-wide responses to questions including:

• Which NFL team has the most secure quarterback situation right now?
• If you could give your team any quarterback for the next three years, who would you choose?

The survey was conducted February 2026 among 3,246 NFL fans representing all 32 fanbases.