With the 2025 NFL Draft class this year relatively weak at the quarterback position, NFL free agency should be particularly intriguing. The NFL quarterback carousel nearly took a massive turn before the Los Angeles Rams signed Matthew Stafford to a new deal instead of trading him. With him off the board, the top NFL free agent QBs in 2025 should cash in with several teams in the market for a veteran who can start this season. Here, we’ll predict the landing spots for the top quarterbacks in NFL free agency.
Sam Darnold: Re-signs with the Minnesota Vikings
The Los Angeles Rams would’ve been the perfect landing spot for Sam Darnold, but they re-signed Matthew Stafford. As for the New York Giants and New York Jets, both clubs seem unlikely to make the long-term commitment with the guaranteed money Darnold would want in addition to taking a quarterback early. That still leaves the Las Vegas Raiders, but their extremely aggressive pursuit of Stafford suggests they aren’t too keen on their options in free agency.
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That opens the door for the Minnesota Vikings to bring Darnold back. With J.J. McCarthy needing to put on weight after recovering from knee surgery, a proven option is needed. Minnesota knows Darnold fits in Kevin O’Connell’s system and continuity is everything. The Vikings could reasonably afford to offer a four-year deal, worth around $140 million with the first two years guaranteed. It ensures they have a viable starter if McCarthy isn’t ready or if he struggles.
Justin Fields: Re-signs with the Pittsburgh Steelers
Our early projected landing spots for the top NFL free agent QBs start a little boring. Realistically, the Pittsburgh Steelers won’t get involved in the bidding war for Sam Darnold and Aaron Rodgers might come with too many unwanted distractions. So, Pittsburgh goes back to what it knows. As the Steelers starting quarterback in 2024, Fields had a 93.9 QB rating with a 5-1 TD-INT ratio and a 4-2 record. He offers more upside than Russell Wilson does and is reportedly the preferred option between the two. Even with this signing, we’d still expect Pittsburgh to take a quarterback on Day 2 of the NFL Draft.
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Russell Wilson: Signs with New York Giants, team drafts QB on Day 2
With a return to the Steelers off the board in our projected scenario, Russell Wilson will still have a few options. The Las Vegas Raiders are a viable option, allowing him to reunite with head coach Pete Carroll. However, general manager John Spytek and co-owner Tom Brady are reportedly leading the QB decision and there’s far less clarity on how they feel about Wilson.
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The New York Giants are also a good landing spot for the veteran quarterback. He would have a standout left tackle (Andrew Thomas) protecting him and there will be more resources dedicated to improving the Giants’ offensive line. Wilson would also walk into Brian Daboll’s quarterback-friendly offense with a No. 1 receiver (Malik Nabers) and two complementary offensive weapons (Theo Johnson and Tyrone Tracy Jr.). It’s a great fit for Wilson and it allows New York to take a quarterback on Day 2 of the 2025 NFL Draft to sit behind the veteran for a year.
Daniel Jones: Signed by Indianapolis Colts, wins QB battle over Anthony Richardson
If Sam Darnold signs with another team, then Daniel Jones staying with the Vikings becomes a real possibility. However, there might be a better opportunity for him with the Indianapolis Colts in 2025. Colts general manager Chris Ballard and head coach Shane Steichen are on the hot seat, needing something positive to maintain any semblance of job security. It’s why the team is pursuing one of the NFL free agent QBs to challenge Anthony Richardson for the starting job.
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Jones is a superior quarterback to Richardson. If there’s a fair competition to be the Colts starting quarterback in Week 1, the passer with a career 84.3 QB rating and 64.1% completion rate should beat out the player with a 67.8 QB rating and 50.6% completion rate. Plus, Jones’ dual-threat ability will allow Steichen to keep the same offensive system in place no matter who starts next season.
Marcus Mariota: Gets chance to compete for New York Jets starting QB gig
The New York Jets seem pretty content with the idea of Tyrod Taylor being their starter in 2025. Because of that and the likely cost of signing someone like Justin Fields or Russell Wilson, we believe the new regime in New York will pursue a more cost-effective solution. Marcus Mariota only attempted 44 passes last season with the Washington Commanders, but he did complete 77.3 percent of those passes with 4 touchdowns and 0 interceptions. This would probably be his best chance to compete to be a starter in 2025.
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Signing Mariota would also still put the Jets in a position to draft a quarterback, potentially a developmental dual-threat like Jalen Milroe. In this scenario, Taylor and Mariota would likely both make starts through the first three months of the season before the rookie gets a chance in late December. It’s not a splashy approach, but it keeps the club’s long-term options open.
Aaron Rodgers: Receives a fresh start with the Tennessee Titans
Aaron Rodgers wanted to play for the Los Angeles Rams, but they took themselves off the board. The Las Vegas Raiders are a viable option here, especially because of his relationship with Tom Brady. With what Las Vegas is paying offensive coordinator Chip Kelly, though, it’s hard to see Rodgers going along with what Kelly wants to do.
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That leaves the Tennessee Titans. Rodgers already has a home in Nashville and his Pat McAfee appearances would likely cause fewer problems in a smaller market. On top of that, the Titans coaching staff is in a situation where significant improvements are needed for jobs to be saved. Signing Rodgers also allows Tennessee to use the first overall pick on Travis Hunter. It’s a win-win scenario for all parties and it would only be a one-year commitment for the Titans.