Kyler Murray, Tua Tagovailoa, Other NFL QBs Who Should Be on Hot Seat Entering 2025
In the NFL, younger quarterbacks usually have two to three years to prove they're viable starters. Also, teams will replace veteran signal-callers if a cheaper replacement with more upside is available.
Because of these circumstances, starting quarterbacks face immense pressure yearly, and some are even at risk of losing their jobs.
Based on recent production, injury history, contract situations and comments made by head coaches and front-office executives, several starting quarterbacks should be on the hot seat going into the 2025 season.
Let's examine six signal-callers who are projected to start with their current teams but may lose their lead roles or have to explore opportunities elsewhere if they struggle next season.
Derek Carr, New Orleans Saints
1 of 6
As the New Orleans Saints look toward the offseason, they are $52.3 million over the salary-cap threshold. As a result, the front office could approach veterans for pay cuts or initiate negotiations for restructured deals.
With that in mind, Derek Carr turned up the temperature on his seat after his recent comments. He has no interest in accepting a reduced salary (h/t ESPN's Katherine Terrell).
"I wouldn't take a pay cut. Yeah, I wouldn't do that. Especially with what I put on tape. Would I restructure? Absolutely. I'll always help the team that way. But there's some things that you put out there that you earned. Even in some cases, it could be even worse, but I felt confident when I signed it that this would give the team the best flexibility at the time."
In two seasons with the Saints, Carr has thrown for 6,023 yards, 40 touchdowns and 13 interceptions with a 68.2 percent completion rate in 27 games. Remember, he didn't have wide receivers Chris Olave or Rashid Shaheed for four of his 10 starts in the 2024 campaign.
Carr is currently tied for 16th in average annual salary among quarterbacks. When you match his passing numbers with his pay rate, he may have a point in refusing a pay cut.
Nonetheless, Carr missed seven games this past season due to injuries, and the Saints went 5-5 with him under center.
Darrion Gray of Saints Wire called Carr's comments "arrogant and delusion." He analyzed the quarterback's performances beyond the box score numbers, arguing that the 11th-year veteran has underperformed in New Orleans.
"The offense stagnated with Carr conducting them," Gray wrote. "You saw times where he would begin to panic after the pressure got there early in the game. You saw struggles with ball placement. And these issues go back to last year."
Going into his age-34 term, Carr may not be a fit for a team that could go through a significant roster rebuild under a new coaching staff. If the incoming coaches don't think he's doing enough to uplift his supporting cast, the Saints may have a quick hook for him in 2025.
Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals
2 of 6
Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon said "100 percent" when asked if Kyler Murray will be the team's quarterback in 2025.
Murray may not have to worry about losing his job in the offseason or a surprise trade that turns his career path upside down.
However, Murray is entering the fourth year of a deal he signed in 2022 with the Cardinals' previous regime led by former general manager Steve Keim. He has no guaranteed money on his deal after the 2025 term.
In 2024, Murray led the Cardinals' underwhelming 18th-ranked passing attack, throwing for 3,851 yards, 21 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He admitted that his rapport with wideout Marvin Harrison Jr., whom the team selected with the No. 4 overall pick in last year's draft, is "not where this team needs it to be."
Gannon hasn't turned up the heat on Murray's seat. Yet, because of the veteran quarterback's contract situation following a year of inconsistent performances, he needs a strong 2025 campaign to get a new deal and prove capable of elevating Arizona's offense.
Gannon is 12-22 as the Cardinals head coach. He could change his tune on Murray if the offense struggles and his job security is questioned within the organization.
Additionally, based on what happens in the 2025 season, Arizona may prefer to explore its quarterback options rather than sign Murray to a lucrative extension with a significant amount of guaranteed money.
Anthony Richardson, Indianapolis Colts
3 of 6
This past season, the Indianapolis Colts showed the first sign of impatience with Anthony Richardson's development. They benched him for Joe Flacco between Weeks 9 and 10.
In a press conference after the regular season, general manager Chris Ballard explained why the team benched Richardson for two weeks.
"He was drowning," Ballard said, via Nate Atkins of the Indianapolis Star.
"He plays with really good poise most of the time, but as we went along and into the Houston game, I didn't feel the same poise that I was feeling. That meant, one, mentally, it was really going fast for him and he needed to take a bit of a step back."
Richardson came out of Florida with only one year of starting experience. Because of injuries and a midseason benching, he's started in only 15 NFL games.
Richardson has a lot of room to grow, but Ballard and head coach Shane Steichen may not have the time to wait for him to blossom next season.
Under Ballard, the Colts are 62-69 and have missed the playoffs four consecutive years. Steichen is entering his third year in Indianapolis with a .500 record.
Ballard told reporters that the team will add quarterback competition in the offseason (h/t NFL.com's Nick Shook).
"Like we can't beat our head against the wall," Ballard said about Richardson and the Colts' quarterback situation. "We've got to have competition at the position just for the fact that, one, competition makes everybody better and, two, he's not proven he can play 17 games."
Based on Ballard's comments, Richardson isn't a lock to start Week 1. Even if he does retain the position, the 22-year-old has to stay healthy and show progress or possibly lose the job to his competitor.
Geno Smith, Seattle Seahawks
4 of 6
Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald gave a lukewarm endorsement for Geno Smith and left the door open for change at quarterback, via ESPN's Brady Henderson.
"I want Geno to be here. I think he's a heck of a player. … I feel like Geno's the best for the team right now. I'll be involved with it. Ultimately, it's not my decision. It's a Seahawks decision, but Geno knows how we feel about him, and we love him as our starting quarterback, for sure."
During the offseason, teams pivot from initial plans because of trades, moves in free agency, an unpredictable draft, contractual differences with players or a combination of these factors.
Smith has one year left on his deal without any guaranteed money. At his position, he's unlikely to play another snap before getting a new contract.
If the Seahawks restructure Smith's contract, he'll be under pressure to outperform his 2024 passing numbers (4,320 yards, 21 touchdowns and 15 interceptions) after the team fired offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb.
Though Macdonald had issues with Grubb's inability to get the run game going, Smith went through a midseason turnover streak, throwing six interceptions between Weeks 8 and 12.
Coming off his most inefficient season in Seattle and going into his age-35 campaign, Smith may be on shaky ground with the franchise. If the 12-year veteran holds on to the starting job, he must impress the coaching staff, or else the team could look to replace him a year after dismissing its offensive play-caller.
Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins
5 of 6
Tua Tagovailoa faces pressure from two fronts.
First and foremost, Tagovailoa must be more efficient and productive against playoff-caliber opponents. In 2024, he recorded seven touchdown passes and seven interceptions against teams that clinched postseason berths. In his last matchup against a playoff team, the Houston Texans, Tagovailoa threw for 196 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions in a 20-12 loss.
Secondly, Tagovailoa must stay healthy for most of the 2025 campaign. He has only played one full season in five years and has missed 20 career games.
Tagovailoa's well-documented history of concussions raises doubt about his longevity. After his last head injury, he missed four games, and many wondered if the 26-year-old would continue his career. In the final two weeks of the 2024 campaign, as the Dolphins battled to keep their playoff hopes alive, Tagovailoa sat out with a hip injury.
Though Tagovailoa's injury history is a sensitive subject, the Dolphins must factor it into their short- and long-term decisions regarding their quarterback situation. In case Tagovailoa isn't available or continues to play poorly in crucial matchups, Miami may draft a signal-caller or find an upgrade for the backup position to replace him.
Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers
6 of 6
In his first year as a head coach, Dave Canales didn't hesitate to make a bold move. He benched 2023 No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young in Week 3 this past season.
Andy Dalton led the Carolina Panthers offense for five consecutive weeks. He sprained his thumb in a car accident and missed Week 8, which allowed Young to reclaim the starting position.
Young immediately showed improvement and held on to the job for the remainder of the campaign. In his last three outings, he threw for seven touchdowns without an interception.
Dalton's contract will be void in March. Undrafted rookie quarterback Jack Plummer is the only other signal-caller under contract with the team in 2025.
Young should be the Panthers' Week 1 starter, but he's not playing under the same coaching staff and front office that drafted him two years ago.
Canales was quick to bench Young during his early-season struggles in 2024, but the 23-year-old bounced back when given a second chance. Now, Young must show why the previous regime selected him with the first pick of the 2023 draft.
NFL team cap space information is provided by Over the Cap.
Maurice Moton covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @MoeMoton.
.jpg?w=600 "Cards Had Wrong Love Number 😅")
.jpg?w=600 "Fans React to Simpson Pick 😱")
.jpg?w=600 "Vet Wideout Landing Spots After Draft 📍")