The 2025 NFL offseason promises to be a real dandy, largely thanks to the upcoming quarterback carousel.
Several big-name QBs will be available via trade or free agency, and we simply wouldn’t be shocked if at least 10 teams have a new Week 1 starter in 2025.
With that, let’s dive into 10 notable NFL quarterbacks who will be on a new team in 2025 and where we think they’ll land.
Will these 10 quarterbacks play for a new NFL team next season?
Aaron Rodgers: Tennessee Titans
Rodgers and the Titans sound awfully bizarre at first. But there was a time when nobody ever considered the idea of Tom Brady one day going to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers…or Brett Favre going to the Minnesota Vikings.
Hard to imagine Rodgers and the New York Jets continuing their marriage after the embarrassment that was 2024. The four-time MVP should want to join a less-dysfunctional organization, and the Jets look poised to begin another rebuild with a new QB.
We see a scenario where the Jets trade Rodgers to the Titans in exchange for a mid-round pick. If they release him, well, the Titans will just be happy to scoop him up on a reasonable deal in free agency anyway.
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The Titans make sense here for Rodgers. Wide receiver Calvin Ridley and running back Tony Pollard each put up over 1,000 yards of offense with Will Levis as their quarterback.
The o-line has two promising youngsters in Peter Skoronski and JC Latham. Head coach Brian Callahan comes from an offensive background. The Titans had the No. 2 pass defense in 2024, too.
And you better believe that if Rodgers comes to Music City, he’d easily recruit more weapons. The Jets might be happy to give away Davante Adams for pennies. Chris Godwin, Tee Higgins, Stefon Diggs, Keenan Allen, and Amari Cooper are all pending free agents. Surely, Tennessee could land two of those guys.
Add Rodgers and a couple more weapons to this offense, and the Titans are suddenly the team to beat in the hapless AFC South.
Kirk Cousins: Pittsburgh Steelers
Justin Fields’ uneven play, followed by Russell Wilson’s hot start that concluded with an ice-cold finish, means one thing: The Steelers need to start over at quarterback. AGAIN!
The Steelers obviously aren’t willing to commit to a rebuild. The decision to bring back head coach Mike Tomlin shows they want to remain competitive. Love or hate that call by ownership; the Steelers obviously feel like they’re a couple of pieces away from being a force in the AFC again. That means adding another veteran signal-caller instead of potentially moving up to the NFL draft somebody in the weak 2025 quarterback class.
The Atlanta Falcons would love to find a taker for the last three years of Cousins’ contract. The four-time Pro Bowler was benched in favor of rookie Michael Penix Jr. for the final three games, leaving eggs on the faces of the Atlanta brass that handed him a four-year deal worth $180 million in free agency. That, by the way, included $100 mil in guarantees.
It’s not crazy to think Cousins can regain his Pro Bowl form on a new team. By the time 2025 rolls around, he’ll have been two years removed from season-ending surgery on his torn Achilles. So, Cousins will hopefully be near or at full strength by then.
If Cousins regains about 75 to 80 percent of his Minnesota Vikings form, he’d be a considerable upgrade over both Fields and Wilson. Pittsburgh has an elite defense, but they’d need offensive reinforcements, with Najee Harris, a pending free agent, and George Pickens potentially hitting the trade block.
But like we said on the Rodgers entry: There is a long list of stud free agent wide receivers. Pittsburgh can trade for Cousins then use free agency or the trade market even to bolster their offense.
Add it all up, and the Steelers are the best fit for Cousins.
Sam Darnold: Las Vegas Raiders
Everyone agrees that Darnold’s implosion in the Minnesota Vikings’ ugly Wild Card Round exit at the hands of the Los Angeles Rams cost him tens of millions of dollars.
Instead of potentially getting a big-money contract from Minnesota, or instead of landing a lucrative long-term pact elsewhere in free agency, Darnold will likely have to settle on a one-year “prove-it” deal.
If he’s willing to go there, Darnold should get interest from at least a half-dozen teams. But at this time, we can’t help but envision the idea of him trying to keep his career revival going in Sin City.
With the No. 6 pick, the Raiders likely played themselves out of getting Miami’s Cam Ward or Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders. So why not take a chance on Darnold with a one-year deal and see what he can do?
Darnold might be appealed by the chance to play for Tom Brady, the new Raiders minority owner. There’s a good set of weapons here led by rising superstar tight end Brock Bowers and 1,000-yard receiver Jakobi Meyers.
You better believe Brady and Mark Davis will be ready to spend heavily in free agency after a disastrous 2024 season, too. So Darnold would have a much better o-line and even more weapons compared to what Aidan O’Connell and Gardner Minshew II had last year…
Go get Sammy, Tommy.
Cooper Rush: Miami Dolphins
Rush cemented himself as one of the NFL’s best backup quarterbacks over the 2021 and 2022 seasons, winning five of six starts in favor of an injured Dak Prescott.
Well, folks got an extended look at the Dallas Cowboys’ QB2 this season after Prescott required season-ending surgery on his hamstring. Rush went 4-and-4 on a flawed Dallas team, throwing for 12 touchdowns and five interceptions.
But Rush is too good a backup to commit more years to Prescott’s understudy in Dallas. He won’t be a starter off the bat next year, but Rush should go to a team where there’s AN OPPORTUNITY to be a temporary QB1
Unfortunately, Miami Dolphins’ quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has a worrisome concussion and injury history. And as we saw in 2022 and 2024, this offense is completely unwatchable when Tua isn’t on the field.
Miami cost themselves dearly in 2024 by not having a decent backup QB option behind Tagovailoa. An experienced and battle-tested veteran like Rush would provide stability and insurance behind Tua, making him the perfect target for GM Chris Grier when free agency opens.
Mac Jones: Indianapolis Colts
Lost in the Jacksonville Jaguars’ horrid 2024 season was some steady backup QB work by Mac Jones, who had to make seven starts because of injuries to Trevor Lawrence.
Playing behind a terrible offensive line, a banged-up offense with almost no help from his defense, the former New England Patriots QB completed 65.3 percent of pass attempts, which was by the way better than the likes of Josh Allen, Aaron Rodgers, Jordan Love, and CJ Stroud.
Jones threw eight touchdowns and as many interceptions. Again, not so bad, considering how lousy the team was. Folks won’t forget how good Jones was for the Patriots in his 2021 rookie year, where he earned a Pro Bowl nod after leading them to the playoffs.
The Indianapolis Colts make the most sense for Jones here. The Alabama product isn’t going to get a starting job off the bat, but he is a veteran presence who could provide real competition to starter Anthony Richardson — who’s entering a make-or-break 2025 year.
Jones could actually do some damage behind an elite offensive line with star running back Jonathan Taylor and wideouts Josh Downs and Michael Pittman Jr. as his main weapons. If Richardson can’t maximize the talent around him, head coach Shane Steichen can use Jones as a fallback option.
A one or two-year deal here would be fair for Jones.
Jameis Winston: Minnesota Vikings
Unless Sam Darnold agrees to a massive hometown discount, and he won’t, the Vikings will need to add a new veteran QB to back up rookie JJ McCarthy.
Not only do they need to see how McCarthy recovers from season-ending knee surgery, but Kevin O’Connell and company need to see if he’s ready for the pros. So yes, a veteran NFL quarterback is coming to Minny once free agency opens.
2015 first-overall pick Jameis Winston showed some brief flashes as the Cleveland Browns’ backup quarterback following Deshaun Watson’s season-ending surgery. Turnovers will always be a problem, but the whole “no risk it, no biscuit” philosophy works in an offense with Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and TJ Hockenson.
Minnesota can comfortably move forward with McCarthy as the long-term starter. But adding Winston on a cheap one-year deal to provide veteran insurance would be a win-win for all parties here.
Geno Smith: Cleveland Browns
Geno Smith has hit his ceiling with the Seattle Seahawks, so it’s time for GM John Schneider to start over at QB. If Seattle cuts Smith this offseason, they’d save a whopping $31 million against the cap.
Seattle has a fascinating backup quarterback, Sam Howell, who is worthy of a look after showing some flashes with the Washington Commanders in the 2023 NFL season. They should release Smith and either see what Howell can do OR add another quarterback to compete with the latter for the starting job.
The Browns got good QB play out of Joe Flacco in 2023, and Winston had some moments of brilliance in Kevin Stefanski’s offense this past season. Clearly, the right veteran QB can manage this offense and prevent it from sinking the way Deshaun Watson has.
Cleveland should take a flier on Smith — whether he’s cut or traded by the ‘Hawks — and see how he fares with a top offensive-minded coach like Stefanski. Worst-case scenario, he’s a “bridge” quarterback for 2025 until the Browns find a successor.
Another wild scenario: Cut Watson, sign Smith, and use the No. 2 pick on Shedeur Sanders or Cam Ward. Smith can mentor either kid for a year or two before they’re ready to run the offense.
Derek Carr: New York Jets
The Carr experiment has been a disappointment in New Orleans, and there’s no reason to force a third year together in 2025.
Fortunately for the Saints, they have an easy way out of his contract. By designating the former Raider as a post-June 1st roster cut, the cash-strapped Saints can save $30 million against the salary cap.
Carr isn’t the Saints’ answer, given his inconsistent production and injury history. But if the Jets move on from Aaron Rodgers, as many expect, they can sign Carr as a bridge option while searching for their long-term guy.
Remember, the Jets pursued Carr in 2023 before he signed with New Orleans. If New York doesn’t want to begin a full-scale rebuild, they could give Carr a “show me” deal and see how he fares.
Don’t forget that Davante Adams was traded to the Raiders in 2022 simply so he could play with Carr. If the Jets keep the NFL All-Pro wideout, it makes sense to sign Carr and draft a quarterback in round two — Jalen Milroe or Quinn Ewers, anyone? — to sit and learn for a year.
And who knows? Carr might actually get a handle on this offense featuring Adams, fellow superstar wideout Garrett Wilson, and running back Breece Hall. If not, well, they can hand the keys to his backup. No biggie…
Justin Fields: New Orleans Saints
If the Saints DO move on from Carr, you better believe they’ll be in the free-agent market for another QB. They can’t afford a pricey veteran like Kirk Cousins or Aaron Rodgers, but pending Steelers free agent Justin Fields would be worthy of a look.
Spencer Rattler didn’t do much to show that he could start in this league. With the No. 9 pick, New Orleans is also out of range to get Shedeur Sanders or Cam Ward in this draft.
Fields got six starts in Pittsburgh before he was benched in favor of Russell Wilson. If you’re New Orleans, why not see if this dual-threat QB could do some damage in an offense led by Alvin Kamara, Chris Olave, and Rashid Shaheed?
Drew Brees, Jameis Winston, and Derek Carr never overwhelmed defenses with their legs. It’s time for New Orleans to bank on a super-athletic dual-threat quarterback, and Fields might enjoy an NFL career revival the way Baker Mayfield has for the NFC rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
New Orleans can roll the dice on Fields in free agency. If he doesn’t cut it, they can embrace the tank and get a top QB prospect in 2026.
Russell Wilson: New York Giants
The market for Wilson isn’t going to be massive by any means, but he should find a starting gig, considering just how many NFL teams are seeking a quarterback upgrade.
Wilson will be 37 next season, so it’d be a stunner if somebody gave him a multi-year deal in free agency. But the nine-time Pro Bowler makes sense for the New York Giants, who can’t realistically enter 2025 with Drew Lock and Tommy DeVito as their QBs.
The Giants have plenty of options with the No. 3 pick. Maybe they can take Shedeur Sanders or Cam Ward if either is available. Or maybe they go with two-way superstar Travis Hunter?
In either scenario, it makes sense to sign Wilson as a short-term guy. He could always mentor Sanders OR Ward. OR if they do take Hunter, imagine what Wilson might do with the Buffaloes star and Malik Nabers as his top two receivers?
The Giants tried building their offense around Daniel Jones, whose only real strength was his legs. Wilson isn’t as fast as Jones, but he’s still very mobile and would provide far less mind-numbing turnovers.
Given the circumstances and the makeup of the Giants’ offense, it’s worth taking a chance on Wilson. Worst case? He implodes and helps you tank for a higher draft pick in 2026, anyway!
