Just in a few days, the NFL free agency period will begin. This year in particular, a unique group of quarterbacks will hit the open market, if not signed by their previous teams. Many teams are desperate for a quarterback and some will look for a veteran presence to lead the charge, and others may roll the dice during the NFL Draft.
Sam Darnold – Las Vegas Raiders
Sam Darnold going to the Raiders would be very exciting to watch. Recently, the Raiders hired former Ohio State offensive coordinator, Chip Kelly. Chip’s offense is a perfect match for a quarterback like Sam Darnold. Kelly runs a fast-paced offense that uses spread formation quite frequently, as well as loading the field with receivers. Sam Darnold saw major success in the Vikings offense throwing for 4,319 yards, 35 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. With a star-studded tight end in Brock Bowers and the surge of play in Jakobi Meyers, the Raiders could see a bounce-back season with Darnold.
Justin Fields – Pittsburgh Steelers
Justin Fields was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers in March of last year. Fields was set to be the team’s backup behind Russell Wilson before Wilson dealt with a lingering calf injury that prevented him from participating majority of training camp and pre-season. Justin Fields was given the start for the first six games of the season, leading the Steelers to a 4-2 start to kick off the 2024-2025 campaign. Fields finished with 1,106 yards, 10 total touchdowns, and only one interception. Justin Fields looks to return to the Pittsburgh Steelers as a starting quarterback this season. With his young age, strong play last season, and familiarity with the offense as well as his overwhelming support in the locker room and front office, Justin Fields is sitting pretty in the driver’s seat.
Kirk Cousins – Cleveland Browns
Kirk Cousins signed a massive, 4 year, $180,000,000 contract with the Atlanta Falcons last off-season being one of the highlights of the frenzy. Cousins 2024-2025 season was one of the worst of his career, and was benched for rookie Michael Penix to close the year off. Kirk capped off his season with 3,508 yards, 18 touchdowns and 16 interceptions. The Browns saw massive success with quarterback Joe Flacco in the 2023-2024 NFL season. Head coach Kevin Stefanski was able to create an offense that allowed Flacco to roll out of the pocket and hit his receivers and tight ends in open spots of the field. Similarly, Kirk will excel in that offensive format with young and experienced talent in Jerry Jeudy, Cedric Tillman, and David Njoku.
Russell Wilson – New York Giants
The New York Giants have struggled immensely to find a quarterback post-Manning era. Daniel Jones inconsistent play and subpar NFL talent was enough to get him released this past season he signed with the Vikings shortly after he was cut. Wilson signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers at the very beginning of free agency after a few rocky seasons with the Denver Broncos. Russell Wilson had dealt with a calf injury that kept him out a majority of training camp and the majority of the pre-season, ultimately leading him to miss the first six games of the NFL season. in which Justin Fields had started taking the Steelers to a 4-2 start. In a shocking move, Russell Wilson was named the starter by Mike Tomlin after an impressive win by Justin Fields and the Steelers over the Raiders, by a score of 32-13. Wilson led the Steelers to a shocking 6-1 start, having the team at 10-3 before a late-season collapse, going winless in the final five games of the season that included a wild-card loss to the Ravens. Russell Wilson brings veteran leadership and high-level experience to a very young, and rebuilding team. Wilson’s deep ball and insane accuracy will complement receiver Malik Nabers perfectly.
Daniel Jones – New York Jets
In 2023, Daniel Jones was rewarded with a 4 year, $160,000,000 contract after an impressive season in the first year of the Brian Daboll era, earning them a playoff spot and winning a wild card game until losing to the Eagles in the divisional round. Since then, Jones struggled to keep that consistent play going for the Giants, which eventually led him to getting cut this past NFL season, where he was later signed by the Vikings. Jones is set for a fresh start, and the Jets are as well. With recent head coaching hire, Aaron Glenn, and a young, star-studded, and talented offense with players like Breece Hall, and Garrett Wilson, a fresh start would be great for both sides. Daniel Jones finished last season with 2,070 yards, 8 touchdowns and 7 interceptions.
Jameis Winston – New Orleans Saints
A reunion for Winston and the Saints makes a lot of sense here. The Saints started the season on a fire start outscoring their opponents 91-29. Quarterback Derek Carr played great those two games throwing for 443 yards, 6 total touchdowns, and only 1 interception. Carr, later that season, ended up getting hurt and truly didn’t look the same since. The Saints made it public that they were set on Carr as their guy for next season. Bringing in some familiarity to the facility might be a good thing for the Saints. Jameis came in for the injured Deshaun Watson last season and had his ups and downs. Jameis is a quarterback who can put up outstanding offensive performances that are ruined by mistake-riddled and turnover-plagued football. I am a firm believer that with the right coaching, that can all be fixed, and a guy like Kellen Moore could be just what Jameis needs to truly be a starting quarterback. Jameis finished last season with 2,121 yards, 13 touchdowns and 12 interceptions
Aaron Rodgers – Retirement
There comes a time in every great quarterback’s career when its just simply time to call it a career. I do not think the case is different here with Rodgers. Rodgers was traded to the Jets on April 24th, 2023 in one of the most anticipated trades in NFL history. Rodgers would end up getting hurt in the very first game of the season with the Jets and would remain out for the rest of the season. Rodgers then would return for the 2024 season and struggle to start, but then finish the season on a strong note. Rodgers would throw for 18 touchdowns and 4 interceptions in his final 10 games of the season. At the age of 41, it doesn’t seem like Rodgers will have much of a market this year, as his age showed this past season. Rodgers had an outstanding career winning 1 super bowl and multiple MVPs (just to name a few accolades).
