NFL offseason QB market: Where could Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson and others land?

There aren’t many teams that will definitely look for a new starting quarterback this offseason, and those that do will likely look to the draft first. But the quarterback class in the 2025 NFL draft isn’t very deep or well-regarded overall.

And there could be some very intriguing veteran options available in free agency or via trades for teams willing to take a potentially costly risk.

“I don’t think there’s any Peyton Manning there, no veteran you know has a chance to take your team to the Super Bowl,” said one NFL general manager. “But some of these guys can really play and could take you to the playoffs.

“If I needed a quarterback, and if I couldn’t get one of the top two guys in the draft (Miami’s Cam Ward or Colorado’s Shadeur Sanders), I’d pay a little bit to let some of these guys lead my team for a couple of years. It’s not a great group, but it’s not bad.

How good is it? Here’s a look at all the veteran quarterbacks who could be available this offseason, with an idea of ​​where they could land:

Russell Wilson: He’s revived his career in Pittsburgh after a miserable stint in Denver, and the way he’s been playing it’s hard to imagine the Steelers not trying to re-sign him. They are 5-1 so far since he took over and are averaging 271 passing yards in those games with 10 touchdowns and three interceptions. And the Steelers don’t have a younger quarterback ready to take over in 2025 (unless they decide to try to re-sign Justin Fields, who was benched for Wilson).

But Wilson is 36 years old and might want to at least consider other options. Notably, he flirted with the New York Giants last offseason before signing with the Steelers, and they don’t have a quarterback for 2025. If they don’t find a ready starter in the draft, they could be an attractive option.

Aaron Rodgers: His stay in New York has been a complete disaster and he looks older and more beaten up every time he takes the field. He’s said he might want to continue playing next year at age 41, but as one AFC scout said, “I don’t know who would want it. It comes with a lot of headaches and demands because of the way he’s played his last few years.” “. “It’s not worth it.”

He’s signed with the Jets through 2025, but it’s hard to imagine a new general manager recommending paying him his $35 million offseason bonus. They’ll probably take the $49 million dead cap hit and move on. But can he move forward? Several NFL sources agree that they couldn’t sign Rodgers to be a bridge to a young quarterback and no one believes he wanted to be a backup.

That really limits their options for a team like the Las Vegas Raiders, who don’t have a viable option for 2025 and may not finish high enough in the draft to land Sanders or Ward.

Sam Darnold: He revived his lost career in Minnesota when he was forced to replace injured rookie JJ McCarthy. It hasn’t always been pretty and he still throws too many interceptions (10 in 12 games), but the Vikings are 10-2 under his direction. He’s a game manager at times, but he’s still thrown multiple touchdown passes in nine of his 12 starts.

“I think everyone always knew he could play in the right situation,” one scout said. “He’s had a lot of bad training and this was the perfect place for him.”

However, the Vikings are committed to McCarthy, so Darnold, 27, will likely look elsewhere. One executive said he “probably” deserved a “Geno Smith-type deal” (Smith got a three-year, $75 million deal with $40 million guaranteed from Seattle in 2023). But that could only come from a team willing to let him start for at least a year or two.

Two intriguing options raised by multiple sources: Pittsburgh, if the Steelers don’t re-sign Wilson or Fields, or the Los Angeles Rams, who could also move on from soon-to-be 37-year-old Matt Stafford. this offseason or next.

James Winston: He might be the most polarizing name on this list because he has a great arm and elite skill, but still throws too many interceptions. He would also make a lot of sense as the Cleveland Browns’ starter in 2025 if they weren’t still stuck with that ridiculous Deshaun Watson contract.

One NFL executive said “his untamed arm makes him too risky” to sign, especially since he turns 31 next month. One scout said having the right coach was worth the risk, “but the risk is not small.” He’ll probably work best as a bridge quarterback for a year for a team not ready to start a rookie.

Daniel Jones: He had some promising moments in New York, primarily as a rookie and again in 2022, leading some in the NFL to believe he could find success in the right place. However, it’s hard to imagine any team committing to him long-term, and probably not as a starter.

Maybe he could get a one-year opportunity as a starter with a team like, perhaps, the Raiders. But a better place for him might be right where he is: in Minnesota, where coach Kevin O’Connell just helped revive Darnold’s career. The Vikings drafted McCarthy in the first round last season, but there’s no guarantee he’ll be healthy or ready enough to be their starter next season. Assuming Darnold signs with another team, Jones, who turns 28 in May, could be in position to spend an entire year with O’Connell and perhaps make some starts in 2025 as well.

Justin Fields: It’s easy to forget, but he wasn’t exactly playing terrible when he was benched. Yes, Wilson has been better. But Fields was still 4-2 and had thrown only one interception. He also ran for 281 yards and five touchdowns in those six games. Plus, he’s still only 25 years old, has a lot of talent, and could be a great find for the right quarterback guru.

He might have to spend a year or so backing up a mobile quarterback in a place like Baltimore, Philadelphia or maybe Washington. But it’s not hard to imagine him getting a chance with a team like the Giants that also plans to draft a quarterback. Could be a mentor and backup starter, if needed, for the first few weeks.

Derek Carr: After firing head coach Dennis Allen, the Saints are heading into a rebuilding year and, if so, it’s hard to imagine they’ll build around the 33-year-old Carr. His two years in New Orleans have been fine, but they are certainly not worth the $30 million salary that would be guaranteed if he is still on the roster in March.

The consensus opinion is that if Carr reaches the market he will only find work as a substitute or as a starter on the bridge. The only exception the general manager pointed out is the New York Jets. “If they move away from (Rodgers) but still believe they have a team that can win, they’re going to need a veteran quarterback,” he said. “And they took a hard look at it two years ago.”

They did, but this time there will be a new general manager. Although the owner remains the same.

Cousins ​​Kirk: This is complicated because Cousins, 36, is in the first year of a four-year, $180 million contract and the buyout built into the contract doesn’t come until after the 2025 season. Still, the Falcons drafted Michael Penix Jr. . with the eighth overall pick last April and may want to give him a chance, especially if Cousins ​​continues to be mediocre.

Cutting or trading him would be expensive, and his new team would have to be fine with a guaranteed salary of $27.5 million plus whatever the trade costs. It’s more likely he’ll stay another year in Atlanta in some capacity, but if a team comes calling, the Falcons would have to listen.

Geno Smith: He’s 34 years old and hasn’t done much to impress new Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald. If he can somehow drag the Seahawks into the playoffs, he could get another season, but they also acquired former Commanders starter Sam Howell in an offseason trade and could move on to him eventually.

However, with no guaranteed money in his contract, Smith’s days as a starter will almost certainly end in Seattle. If his career continues, he will have to return to being a substitute.

Ralph Vacchiano is an NFL reporter for FOX Sports. He spent the previous six years covering the Giants and Jets for SNY TV in New York, and before that, 16 years covering the Giants and the NFL for the New York Daily News. Follow him on Twitter at @RalphVacchiano.