News Every Day | 06 January 2025, 18:04

NFL free agent rankings: Quarterbacks

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The 2025 NFL free agent class of quarterbacks has a bunch of intriguing starting-caliber options.

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, Mason Rudolph, Marcus Mariota, Cooper Rush, Case Keenum, Carson Wentz, Taylor Heinicke, Jarrett Stidham, Josh Dobbs

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 make between $40 million and $50 million per season on a new deal.

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?