The 2025 NFL Draft class is pretty thin at quarterback, with the potential for only one QB to go in the first round after a huge class in 2024. That’s going to put increased focus on the position in free agency, and unlike many years, there are several good options available entering the offseason.
Former starters litter the top-10 list, so we wanted to sort them out for you. We polled a group of writers from around SB Nation to gather consensus rankings about the players. We had a unanimous number one and number two, but after that things got messy.
We will remove players from the list as they re-sign with their current teams all the way up to the opening of free agency in March.
Other receiving votes
- Drew Lock
- Case Keenum
- Carson Wentz
- Josh Dobbs
Mason RudolphMarcus MariotaCooper RushTaylor HeinickeJarrett Stidham
10. Daniel Jones, New York Giants/Minnesota Vikings
Who knows what is going to happen with Daniel Jones? He needs a career reset after his failures with the New York Giants, and a few weeks on the Vikings practice squad won’t be enough. Will a team give him a chance to compete for a starting spot as a veteran bridge quarterback or is he on the heap of failed first-rounders stuck as backups? UPDATE: The Colts are bringing in Jones to compete for their starting spot.
9. Jimmy Garoppolo, Los Angeles Rams
With Matthew Stafford healthy, Jimmy G didn’t play in 2024 until the final week of the season. The last we saw of him before that, he was starting for the Las Vegas Raiders and looking very shaky. He’s trying the Sam Darnold approach of spending a year with a good offensive mind in the hopes that someone will pick him up to be a veteran mentor or bridge starter in 2025. He was in one voter’s top 5 but completely out of the top 10 for several others. UPDATE: Jimmy G heads back to the Rams.
8. Mac Jones, Jacksonville Jaguars
A big drop off among our voters from seven to Jones at eight, the former first-round pick of the Patriots got a chance to start some games for the Jaguars in 2024. The same failings he had in New England carried over, and at this point it would be fair to question if he has any juice left as a starting option in the league. UPDATE: Jones is the new backup in San Francisco, signing for two years.
7. Joe Flacco, Indianapolis Colts
As high as third in our voting, Flacco was also outside the top 10 on another voting sheet. Simply put, we know what Flacco is at this point in his career. He’s a veteran backup who can spot start or even begin the season as a rookie waits in the wings, but he also turns 40 in January 2025 and can chuck the ball where it has no business being from time to time.
6. Andy Dalton, Carolina Panthers
His voting numbers were wild; a bunch of voters had him fourth while some had him ninth and tenth. He’s a guy with a high floor and a low ceiling, especially turning 38 during the 2025 season. He’s okay for a start here and there. UPDATE: Dalton signed a two-year deal with the Panthers in February.
5. Jacoby Brissett, New England Patriots
A veteran bridge quarterback the last few seasons, Brissett has proven he’s competent but a low-end starter in the league. He wasn’t very good in 2024 when he began the year behind the Patriots’ suspect offensive line, and he may be transitioning into backup QB territory. UPDATE: Brissett is set to be Kyler Murray’s backup in Arizona.
4. Jameis Winston, Cleveland Browns
After making just $4 million in 2024 and $4 million in 2023, Winston could be in line for a bump this offseason with a relatively weak NFL Draft class at QB. Winston is a big play waiting to happen, but you’re never sure if it’s going to be for you or the other team. It’ll take the right mindset out of a coach to work with the enigmatic Winston. UPDATE: Winston signed a two-year deal with the Giants at that $4 million/year mark.
3. Justin Fields, Pittsburgh Steelers
A former number one overall pick, Fields started the season for the Steelers and looked pretty promising. He had the highest completion percentage of his career, the lowest interception number, and a solid yards per attempt through the air while adding value with his legs. Our voters seem to think he’ll be able to bounce back in the right situation, but Pittsburgh may go another direction because the second player on our list was his teammate. UPDATE: Justin Fields heads to the Jets on a two-year deal.
2. Russell Wilson, Pittsburgh Steelers
Wilson led the Pittsburgh Steelers to the playoffs in his first year with the team. He has a long history of success in the NFL that was at least little tarnished by his time in Denver. No doubt his age is a factor here, as he turned 36 in November 2024. He very well could have made between $40 million and $50 million per season on a new deal, but his poor play down the stretch probably drops him off. UPDATE: After Wilson’s late-season falter, he signed a one-year deal with the Giants.
1. Sam Darnold, Minnesota Vikings
After a really impressive season with the Minnesota Vikings, the former top-3 pick is going to have his choice of openings and he was our unanimous top pick. The Vikings drafted J.J. McCarthy tenth overall in 2024 but he missed the season with a torn meniscus in his knee. Because of high demand, he could command a salary north of $40 million per season. Will the Vikings try to re-sign him? UPDATE: Darnold has agreed to a three-year deal with the Seahawks.
Recently released quarterbacks
These quarterbacks were released after our rankings were put together in the lead up to the 2025 league year.
Aaron Rodgers
Rodgers hasn’t been officially release, but reports say the Jets are moving on instead of paying him $37.5 million for 2025. He played in all 17 games after injuring his Achilles to open the 2023 season and finished with 3897 yards, 28 touchdowns, 11 interceptions, and a lot of questions about his ability to still do it at 41.
Gardner Minshew
Minshew would have had a good chance to make our top-10 list if he was a pending free agent in January. He’s been a spot starter for multiple seasons and has a lot of experience. He would have started more than his nine games in Las Vegas in 2024, but he broke his collarbone. A career 63% passer, he’s averaged 3443 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions over the course of a typical 17-game season. He’s also got moxie, and you can definitely see a Ryan Fitzpatrick-type career for him an a QB placeholder at multiple spots. He made $12.3 million in 2024 and was scheduled to cash $12.5 million in 2025. UPDATE: Minshew jumped in the division to the Chiefs on a one-year deal to backup Patrick Mahomes.
Other free agent quarterbacks
- Trey Lance
- Easton Stick
- Josh Johnson
- Jeff Driskell
- Brett Rypien
- Sam Ehlinger
Kyle AllenBailey ZappeBrandon AllenNick MullensKyle TraskShane BuecheleTim BoyleZach Wilson
Free agent quarterbacks who were signed to new deals
- Shane Buechele re-signed with the Buffalo Bills
- Andy Dalton re-signed with the Carolina Panthers
- Jarrett Stidham is staying in Denver for two more years
- Jimmy Garappolo is back with the Rams
- Sam Darnold agreed to a massive deal with the Seahawks
- Nick Mullens goes to the Jaguars on a two-year deal
- Justin Fields agreed to a two-year deal with the Jets
- Zach Wilson agreed to a deal with the Miami Dolphins
- Daniel Jones heads to the Colts… ahem Indiana Jones.
- Jacoby Brissett signed a contract with the Arizona Cardinals
- Marcus Mariota re-upped with the Commanders
- Kyle Trask is with the Bucs on a one-year deal
- Mac Jones is with the 49ers on a two-year deal
- Mason Rudolph re-upped with the Steelers for two years
- Brandon Allen signed with the Titans
- The Chargers signed Taylor Heinicke to a one-year deal
- Kyle Allen signed a one-year deal in Detroit
- Gardner Minshew joins the Chiefs on a one-year deal
- Bailey Zappe signed a Chiefs deal, too.
- Cooper Rush signed with the Baltimore Ravens
- Jameis Winston signed a two-year deal with the Giants
- Russell Wilson signed with the Giants and intends to be their starter
- Tim Boyle signed with the Titans