NFL Quarterback Carousel: Projecting the 2025 Free Agency Landscape
As Super Bowl 59 fades into memory, the National Football League’s 32 franchises have already pivoted their gaze towards the 2025 season. Foremost on many teams’ agendas will be a critical evaluation of their quarterback situation. The quarterback position, the undisputed fulcrum of any successful NFL team, will likely see significant upheaval in the coming year, with numerous organizations poised to explore new options under center.
Teams like the Las Vegas Raiders, New York Giants, New York Jets, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Tennessee Titans represent just a sampling of the clubs that could potentially feature new starting quarterbacks in 2025. A complex interplay of factors, including free agency acquisitions, draft selections, and potential trades, will determine the ultimate landscape of quarterback play across the league.
The upcoming free agency period promises to offer a crucial glimpse into teams’ strategies. Will some franchises prioritize securing proven veteran quarterbacks, or will they gamble on the potential of fresh talent by targeting top quarterback prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft? The decisions made in free agency will serve as vital indicators of teams’ overall trajectories and their approaches to addressing the quarterback dilemma.
A notable aspect of the 2025 offseason is the availability of several established quarterbacks in the free agent market. These experienced signal-callers could provide immediate stability and leadership to teams seeking to upgrade their quarterback position. Let’s delve into a closer look at the top free-agent quarterbacks expected to be available in 2025:
Aaron Rodgers
Despite not yet being officially released by the New York Jets, it’s widely anticipated that Aaron Rodgers will be available prior to the start of the 2025 league year. The four-time MVP is looking to rebound from an injury plagued tenure with the Jets. In 2024, Rodgers displayed glimpses of his former brilliance, completing 63% of his passes for 3,897 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions.
Rodgers, who will be 41 years old, projects as an ideal "bridge" quarterback, capable of providing a high level of play while a younger quarterback develops behind him. Given the perception that the 2025 NFL Draft class is relatively weak at the quarterback position, Rodgers’ experience and track record should attract considerable interest from quarterback-needy teams.
Sam Darnold
Sam Darnold is coming off what can arguably be labeled as a career-best season in Minnesota. He spearheaded the Vikings to an impressive 14-3 record, showcasing newfound accuracy and efficiency. Darnold completed 66.2% of his passes for 4,319 yards, 35 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. His stellar performance translated into a career-high 102.5 passer rating, ranking sixth-best among all NFL quarterbacks.
However, Darnold’s otherwise stellar season was marred by struggles in Minnesota’s final two games. In those contests, he completed just 53.1% of his passes for 411 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception, leading the Vikings to a mere 9 points in each game. While these late-season stumbles may slightly diminish his value, Darnold, at 27 years old, remains a strong candidate to secure a starting job in 2025.
Justin Fields
Justin Fields began the Steelers’ 2024 season as the starting quarterback while Russell Wilson recovered from an injury. Fields led the team to a 4-2 record, marking the first time in his career that he finished with a winning record as a starter. However, once Wilson regained his health, Fields relinquished the starting role.
Fields possesses exceptional rushing ability. The dual-threat talent is one of only three quarterbacks in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards in a single season, joining the ranks of Michael Vick and Lamar Jackson. In 2025, Fields also achieved a career-high completion percentage of 65.8%. As a former first-round pick (2021) who will turn 26 shortly before free agency, Fields has the potential to continue developing into a reliable starter.
Russell Wilson
Russell Wilson experienced a mixed bag of results in his first season with the Steelers. He initially led the team to a 6-1 record in his first seven starts, fueling optimism for a potential resurgence. However, Wilson faltered down the stretch, losing his final five starts as the Steelers’ offense struggled to score, averaging a mere 12.2 points per game.
Despite his late-season struggles, Wilson boasts an impressive resume. He has a Super Bowl ring, is a 10-time Pro Bowler, and ultimately finished the season with a winning record (6-5). At 36 years old, Wilson is likely to be viewed as a low-end, stopgap starter option for teams in need of a veteran presence at quarterback.
Daniel Jones
Daniel Jones’ tenure with the New York Giants was marked by inconsistency. However, his 2022 season offered glimpses of promise. He completed 67.2% of his passes for 3,205 yards, 15 touchdowns, and five interceptions, while also adding 708 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns.
Unfortunately, Jones struggled to replicate that level of performance in subsequent seasons. He was eventually released by the Giants late in the second half of the 2024 season after compiling a 2-8 record. His persistent turnover issues (47 interceptions and 50 fumbles across 70 games) remain a significant concern. However, a brief stint with the Vikings and head coach Kevin O’Connell might unlock untapped potential. With Darnold potentially leaving in free agency, the Vikings might consider giving O’Connell a chance to further develop Jones in 2025, providing a bridge to the team’s 2024 first-round pick, J.J. McCarthy.
Marcus Mariota
Mariota saw limited playing time in 2024, but he demonstrated why he was once considered a top prospect. In relief of Jayden Daniels, the 31-year-old completed 77.3% of his passes for 364 yards, four touchdowns, and zero interceptions, while also adding 92 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown.
Mariota’s success may have been partially attributable to the quarterback-friendly system implemented by offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury. Regardless, Mariota’s athleticism, accuracy, and leadership skills make him a valuable backup option, and he should garner interest from both contenders and quarterback-needy teams.
Jacoby Brissett
Jacoby Brissett is an experienced backup quarterback with a track record of solid performance. Across 53 career starts, he has thrown for 53 touchdowns and 24 interceptions. His 19-34 record as a starter may not be particularly impressive, but Brissett is known for his ability to protect the football. He is tied with Rodgers for the lowest interception percentage (1.4%) among qualified passers in NFL history.
Brissett, who will be 32, completed 59% of his passes for 826 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception in five starts for the Patriots in 2024. He thrives with a strong supporting cast and is best suited as a backup quarterback on a playoff-caliber team.
Jameis Winston
Jameis Winston is known for his gunslinger mentality. The 2015 No. 1 overall pick is an explosive passer but has struggled with turnovers throughout his career. In 2024, Winston completed 61.1% of his passes for 2,121 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions with the Browns.
His performance in a Monday Night Football loss to the Denver Broncos in 2024 encapsulated the Jameis Winston experience. He threw for 497 yards and four touchdowns in that high-scoring game but also threw three interceptions, including a pick-six in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter. Contending teams may be hesitant to rely on Winston as a backup due to his turnover-prone tendencies. He is a better fit for a team seeking excitement and veteran leadership in its quarterback room.
Cooper Rush
In 14 career starts, Rush has a 9-5 record and has completed 60.7% of his passes for 3,463 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. He is a reliable backup quarterback, and while he occasionally struggles against top-tier defenses, he has generally proven capable of keeping a solid roster competitive.
Carson Wentz
Carson Wentz, now 32, is unlikely to recapture the success he had in 2017. Still, he has made 94 career starts and has a 47-46-1 record with 153 touchdowns and 67 interceptions. He remains a capable fill-in starter. His recent experiences working alongside Andy Reid and Sean McVay add to his intrigue as a journeyman quarterback.
These quarterbacks represent a spectrum of talent, experience, and risk, and their availability in free agency will undoubtedly shape the quarterback landscape of the NFL in 2025. Teams searching for upgrades under center will carefully weigh their options, considering both the potential rewards and the potential pitfalls associated with each quarterback. The 2025 offseason promises to be a fascinating period of strategic maneuvering as teams vie for the signal-callers who can lead them to success.
