The NFL is now past the halfway point of the season and these final two months will impact far more than just playoff spots. Jobs, career development, rosters, future contracts, the 2026 NFL Draft and even retirements will all be shaped by what happens between now and Wild Card Weekend. Here is a list, subject to a lot of revision, of the developments we'll be tracking as we head for the playoffs.
THE QUARTERBACKS
1) Can Cleveland's Dillon Gabriel and New Orleans' Tyler Shough do enough in the second half to convince their teams not to use what will likely be high first-round draft picks to select a quarterback next year? The Browns have two first-round picks, and Gabriel also must try to hold off his backup, fellow rookie Shedeur Sanders.
2) Tua Tagovailoa's first-half struggles were startling and the general manager who drafted him in Miami, Chris Grier, is already out. The second half should help determine whether the Dolphins stick with Tagovailoa or take a massive salary cap hit and move on in the offseason.
3) Kyler Murray is on injured reserve with a foot injury and Jacoby Brissett was named the starter for Week 10 even before he went to IR. Murray could very well have already played his last game for the Cardinals. The real question is if Brissett can play well enough the rest of the way to give himself a chance to keep the job next season.
4) The Raiders are 2-7 and Geno Smith has thrown 12 interceptions in nine games. Short-term question: Will he be benched? Longer-term question: Can he play well enough in the second half to give the Raiders a reason not to release him this offseason?
5) Joe Flacco has played well enough since he was traded to the Bengals to give them chances to win games in Joe Burrow's absence. Can his play stay at a high enough level that Flacco will have a job somewhere next season?
THE RETIREMENTS?
1) Aaron Rodgers was playing much better in 2025 than he did in 2024 until Sunday night, when he had his worst outing of the season in a loss to the Chargers. Until now, it seemed likely the Steelers would hope Rodgers changed his mind about this probably being his last season. These last two months will determine plenty: whether the Steelers make it to the playoffs, whether Rodgers still has it, and whether the Steelers want him back.
2) Tyreek Hill's future is even more muddled, after he tore multiple ligaments (including the ACL) and dislocated his knee earlier this season. He could be off the field for at least some of the 2026 season, and his contract gives the Dolphins a digestible way to release him if they opt for a total reset.
THE COACHES
1) Mike McDaniel's future with the Dolphins is likely to be determined, in large part, by whether players continue to respond to him for the rest of the season. Sunday's stunner over Buffalo was a good start for him.
2) The Cowboys acquired defensive tackle Quinnen Williams and linebacker Logan Wilson at the trade deadline. The heat is on defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus to turn around one of the league's worst defenses and help the Cowboys get into the playoff mix.
3) Texans offensive coordinator Nick Caley has been under fire for the struggles of Houston and C.J. Stroud. The comeback from a 19-point deficit against the Jaguars, with backup Davis Mills, should quiet calls for Caley's job for now, and so will the Texans remaining in the wild-card mix.
4) Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo has a chance to work his way back into head-coaching consideration if the Colts keep winning and Indianapolis remains in the top 10 in scoring defense.
THE CONTRACTS
1) The Colts' trade of two first-round draft picks for Sauce Gardner signaled they want Daniel Jones for the long term. What that contract looks like will almost certainly be shaped by how he performs down the stretch -- he has thrown four interceptions, fumbled six times and taken 12 sacks in the last two games after playing remarkably clean football at the start of the season -- and how far the Colts go.
2) Trey Hendrickson's contract saga consumed last offseason, and it could consume the next one. Hendrickson has been out with an injury since Oct. 26 -- likely affecting his trade value at the deadline -- and how he fares upon his return will shape what the Bengals do. Offer a long-term contract? Franchise tag? Let him hit free agency? Stay tuned.
3) Jets head coach Aaron Glenn has said he wants running back Breece Hall on the team, but he's on an expiring contract. His value to the offense was obvious in Sunday's win over the Browns. Hall is playing for his next contract, whether it's from the Jets or someone else.
4) Receiver George Pickens is also on an expiring contract, and he already has 764 receiving yards and six touchdown receptions in nine games for the Cowboys. Retaining him should be a top Cowboys priority so he, too, is playing for his next contract.
5) With a contract that theoretically would allow the Seahawks to exit the deal at the start of next offseason without a prohibitive salary cap hit if they were dissatisfied with his performance, quarterback Sam Darnold is still playing to prove Seattle's investment in him was the correct one. Given how well he and the 7-2 Seahawks have played so far, only a complete second-half meltdown could change the trajectory of his Seattle tenure.
6) Kyle Pitts is playing out his rookie deal with the Falcons, and while he's having one of his more productive season (45 receptions in nine games), with big contracts on the horizon for Atlanta's other offensive stars, Pitts could be the odd man out. His future -- franchise tag, new contract or free agency -- could be decided in these remaining weeks.
