In the offseason, most NFL teams will either build around a quarterback or acquire one to lead the franchise for the long term.

When a team shows interest in a signal-caller who's not on the roster, the incumbent starter can feel his seat get hot and hear the clock ticking on his tenure with the organization.

Typically, quarterbacks under the most pressure have a young upstart player behind them on the depth chart or an expiring contract.

With that in mind, let's discuss seven QBs who will enter the 2024 season under the most pressure to keep their jobs or solidify themselves as starters.

Derek Carr, New Orleans Saints

In 2023, the New Orleans Saints signed Derek Carr to a four-year, $150 million contract and gave him a no-trade clause. In his first season with the team, he threw for 3,878 yards, 25 touchdowns and eight interceptions.

While the 33-year-old seems like he's in a stable situation with job security, his 2024 performance can have a major impact on his short-term outlook with the team.

This offseason, New Orleans hired offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak to replace Pete Carmichael Jr., which indicated dissatisfaction with the offense despite Carr's passing numbers.

Secondly, the Saints have taken a quarterback in the middle rounds of the last two drafts. They took Jake Haener in the fourth round last year and selected Spencer Rattler in Round 5 this year.

With two young quarterbacks behind him on the depth chart, Carr may be looking over his shoulder after poor performances in the upcoming season.

Though the four-time Pro Bowler has a no-trade clause, the Saints can designate him as a post-June 1 cut and save $30 million in cap space next offseason, per Over the Cap.

Remember, in the 2023 offseason, the Raiders cut Carr to save cap space even though he had a no-trade clause with them.

Because quarterbacks' performances have a significant impact on team success, he can strengthen or weaken head coach Dennis Allen's job security.

New Orleans has missed the playoffs in Allen's two years as head coach. If the Saints don't clinch a 2024 postseason berth, he may lose his job, which may cloud Carr's future with the team.

Carr developed a "great relationship" with Allen during their time with the then-Oakland Raiders in 2014. If the Saints dump the coach, the new regime may also go in another direction at quarterback.

Daniel Jones, New York Giants

The New York Giants may be close to an admission—that they made a mistake signing Daniel Jones to a four-year, $160 million contract with $82 million in guarantees.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Giants had "an exploratory meeting" with Russell Wilson before he signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah said New York did "a lot of homework" on this year's quarterback class, and Dan Duggan of The Athletic believes it had an interest in trading up for Drake Maye.

Ultimately, the Giants passed on first-round quarterbacks J.J. McCarthy, Michael Penix Jr. and Bo Nix for wide receiver Malik Nabers.

Despite all the buzz about New York's wandering eyes for a quarterback, Jones will go into his sixth year as the team's starter, third under head coach Brian Daboll.

Big Blue has revamped its offensive line with the additions of Jermaine Eluemunor, Jon Runyan and Aaron Stinnie, and Nabers has the ability to become an explosive big-play receiver. This may be the team's last effort to prop up its quarterback.

Jones has thrown for 38 touchdowns and 28 interceptions in his last 47 games. If he doesn't boost his passing numbers in the upcoming campaign, backup Drew Lock could see some time on the field before the Giants replace the 2019 first-rounder in the 2025 offseason.

Next year, Big Blue can cut Jones and save $19.4 million in cap space.

Will Levis, Tennessee Titans

This offseason, the Tennessee Titans built the roster around quarterback Will Levis.

In free agency, they signed wideout Calvin Ridley, dual-threat running back Tony Pollard, who has 176 receptions for 1,319 yards and five touchdowns, and center Lloyd Cushenberry III.

Instead of taking a quarterback with the No. 7 pick in the draft, Tennessee drafted offensive tackle JC Latham.

The Titans have made a concerted effort to aid Levis' development as a starter, but they may have a completely different plan next offseason if the passing offense has an underwhelming 2024 campaign.

Along with the roster personnel changes, Tennessee also hired a new head coach in Brian Callahan.

Though general manager Ran Carthon moved up in the second round for Levis last year, Callahan may want to pivot away from him if the offense struggles to move the ball through the air and the team gets another top-10 draft pick in 2025.

Keep in mind that Levis mostly struggled after his pro debut performance against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 8 last year. After that outing, he threw for four touchdowns and four interceptions and finished the season with a 58.4 percent completion rate.

Perhaps Levis' nagging ankle injury impacted his play late in the 2023 campaign, but he may only have one season to impress the new coaching staff as the team takes an aggressive approach to a rebuild.

Aidan O'Connell, Las Vegas Raiders

Last season, Aidan O'Connell exceeded expectations. The Las Vegas Raiders selected him in the fourth round of the 2023 draft, and he took over for Jimmy Garoppolo as the starter in Week 9.

O'Connell threw for 2,218 yards, 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions with a 62 percent completion rate in 11 games (10 starts). He finished the campaign on a high note, throwing for eight touchdowns without an interception in his last four starts.

Yet the Raiders signed Gardner Minshew II to a two-year, $25 million deal ($15 million guaranteed).

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Las Vegas would have considered drafting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. if the Atlanta Falcons had not taken him with the eighth pick in April.

After the Raiders missed out on the top QB prospects, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport hinted that Minshew has the pole position for the starting job:

"Another QB!! The #Broncos, who just traded for Zach Wilson, now take Bo Nix at No. 12. Their QB of the future.

"Which means the #Raiders are out of first-round QBs. It's Gardner Minshew time in Las Vegas."

Minshew and O'Connell will likely compete in an open competition for the lead position, but the former has an advantage in experience with 37 career starts.

In 2023, Minshew nearly led the Indianapolis Colts to the postseason, but the club came up short in a Week 18 matchup with the Houston Texans for the AFC South title.

Unlike the other quarterbacks on this list, O'Connell, 25, will face immediate pressure in a training camp competition.

If O'Connell wins the job, he could prove himself as a starter. But if he loses the battle, he may never get this close to an opportunity for a starting role in the NFL again.

Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys

Dak Prescott will feel pressure that's different from the other quarterbacks on this list.

Coming off a Pro Bowl year in his prime, he doesn't have to worry about proving himself as a starter. He's not going to fall into a backup or bridge-gap role after a subpar season.

However, the 30-year-old may not be the Dallas Cowboys' franchise guy beyond the 2024 campaign.

In February, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported that the Cowboys were prepared to make Prescott one of the league's highest-paid quarterbacks, but they may have had a change of plans over the previous couple of months.

In April, the three-time Pro Bowler said he talked to Dallas owner Jerry Jones about his contract situation, but the team hasn't started negotiations on an extension. It has only restructured his deal this offseason.

The Cowboys could allow Prescott to play out his contract year and then decide on his future. If so, he will have a lot at stake in the upcoming season, with his time in Dallas uncertain and his market value to be determined.

Geno Smith, Seattle Seahawks

Since Geno Smith took over as the Seattle Seahawks starting quarterback, he's played at a Pro Bowl level.

However, the 33-year-old's best years as a pro may not safeguard his job security as the team goes through a transition under a new coaching staff led by Mike Macdonald.

This offseason, the Seahawks acquired quarterback Sam Howell, who threw for 3,946 yards, 21 touchdowns and a league-leading 21 interceptions with a 63.4 percent completion rate in 17 starts with the Washington Commanders last year.

Seattle swapped middle-round picks with Washington and tossed in a third-rounder to facilitate the transaction.

Because of the trade compensation in the deal, we shouldn't dismiss Howell as a permanent backup. He could move up the depth chart if Smith struggles under center.

In Washington, Howell showed flashes as a gunslinging quarterback before turnovers and poor decisions nearly cost him his job (if not for Jacoby Brissett's hamstring injury).

Though Smith earned his second Pro Bowl nod last season, his passing numbers dropped from his 2022 showing.

New play-caller Ryan Grubb has a fresh pair of eyes on the offense.

If Smith's numbers continue to trend in the wrong direction and the Seahawks offense sputters as it did in stretches last season, Howell could take over at some point during the upcoming campaign, and Seattle may look for a new starting quarterback in next year's draft.

Russell Wilson, Pittsburgh Steelers

After a contract fallout with the Denver Broncos, Russell Wilson is in a good spot financially.

He signed a one-year deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the Broncos will continue to pay him for the next couple of years with $85 million of dead cap charges on their books.

On the other hand, Wilson will play for his third team in four seasons. After a 10-year career with the Seattle Seahawks, he hasn't found career stability in his mid-30s.

Going into his age-36 term, he needs a decent year to extend his time with the Steelers. Otherwise, he may have to settle for a backup role going forward.

Last season, Wilson had a solid showing with the Broncos, throwing for 26 touchdowns and eight interceptions with a 66.4 percent completion rate.

Based on his salary, though, Denver didn't see enough return on its investment in him.

Wilson's $1.2 million base salary with the Steelers makes him a low-risk, high-reward signing.

If he has a down year at this stage in his career, teams may not be willing to offer much more than his current pay rate.

Pittsburgh also acquired 2021 first-rounder Justin Fields from the Chicago Bears this offseason. So, Wilson could get a quick hook if the passing offense needs a spark.

Player contract details provided by Over the Cap.

Maurice Moton covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @MoeMoton.