Latest 2025 NFL QB Carousel Predictions After Super Bowl LIX

Now that Super Bowl LIX is over, it's time to look ahead to the upcoming 2025 NFL offseason and the wild quarterback carousel set to start spinning in the coming months.

Although there aren't any superstar signal-callers hitting free agency this year, there will be plenty of grizzled veterans up for grabs.

These proven players can provide some much-needed stability to an organization, even if it's only on a temporary basis. Holding down the position while a rookie is brought up to speed can help a squad compete in the short term while giving prospects valuable time to develop.

Approximately one-quarter of the NFL is poised to participate in this year’s edition of the quarterback carousel. With that in mind, here are some predictions on how the league will look when it finally settles down.

Cleveland Browns: Kirk Cousins

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The Cleveland Browns are in complete disarray. With the Deshaun Watson trade now certain to be remembered as one of the worst moves in NFL history and star edge-rusher Myles Garrett recently asking out, the franchise is desperate for some stability.

It may not be a popular move amongst fans, but trading for a steady veteran in Kirk Cousins could at least temporarily calm the waters on the heels of the organization's poorest season since its winless 2017 campaign.

Cousins is widely expected to be available this offseason after losing the Atlanta Falcons' starting gig to rookie Michael Penix Jr. After signing a four-year, $180 million megadeal with the club last offseason, Cousins went on to have his most disappointing showing since he first became a full-time starter in 2015.

Although he went 7-7 across 14 starts, Cousins tallied only 3,508 passing yards and 18 touchdowns against a league-leading 16 interceptions. That was a notable decline after he earned three Pro Bowl nods in four seasons with the Minnesota Vikings and was trending toward another before an Achilles tear cut his 2024 campaign short.

For his part, Cousins is adamant that he's still capable of being a top-end NFL starter. During a recent appearance on Good Morning Football, the veteran said that he feels "like I have a lot of good football left in me." He added that he's focused on getting completely healthy and ready to compete again at a high level in 2025.

The Browns' decision to sign Joe Flacco off the couch in 2023 led to their best quarterback play since Baker Mayfield's departure after the 2021 season. They clearly need stability from the position.

Despite the potential loss of Garrett, the Browns could still be a viable playoff squad with the right signal-caller.

Cleveland is only a year removed from a 11-6 campaign that resulted in a postseason berth, and the roster still has many of the pieces needed to get back to that level. The Browns also hold the No. 2 overall pick in this year's draft, which they could use either to land an elite prospect or trade back for a slew of additional assets.

If the Browns manage to get a good deal on Cousins, he's well worth kicking the tires on. If he returns to his pre-injury form, this squad could shock the world in 2025.

Indianapolis Colts: Russell Wilson

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The Indianapolis Colts soon may have to admit the Anthony Richardson experiment was a failure. The quarterback regressed significantly as a sophomore after showing so much promise prior to getting injured early in his rookie campaign.

While it's not time to give up on Richardson entirely, he hasn't been a capable starter. The Colts would be better served bringing in a veteran who the young signal-caller can model his game after and learn from during the 2025 season.

Russell Wilson could fit the bill, even after sputtering down the stretch during his first year with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The nine-time Pro Bowler showed he can still be an asset by winning six of his first seven starts and finishing 2024 having completed 63.7 percent of his passes for 2,482 yards and 16 touchdowns against five interceptions. Wilson also ran for 155 yards and two scores on 43 carries.

Although Pittsburgh did stumble with Wilson under center—losing five straight to end the season, including an ugly Wild Card Round defeat to the rival Baltimore Ravens—he still appears to have something left in the tank ahead of his age-37 season.

A change of scenery and getting a chance to play under renowned quarterback whisperer Shane Steichen—who had both Jalen Hurts and Justin Herbert thrive under his tutelage—could rejuvenate Wilson's career. The Colts managed to go 8-9 and remain in the playoff hunt for much of the 2024 campaign despite their quarterback troubles, which Wilson could solve on relatively affordable deal in the $35 million per year range.

With Wilson under center, the Colts would not only have a chance to contend in a wide-open AFC South race, but they'd also get a chance to rehabilitate Richardson's career during a season he can spend studying from the sidelines. It'd be a sensible move for Colts squad that doesn't have other viable paths to improve the position from its No. 14 overall draft slot.

Las Vegas Raiders: Sam Darnold

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The Raiders can't afford to go through another season without making a significant upgrade under center.

In the wake of an abysmal 4-13 campaign, Vegas has the No. 6 overall pick. Given the weakness of the 2025 quarterback class, that's a tough spot to be in. Top prospects Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders are projected to be gone before the Raiders get on the clock, leaving the team to mull a costly trade up the board or issue a pricey free-agent deal to one of the several veterans on the open market.

The latter seems to be the most likely outcome for the Silver and Black. With an estimated $92.6 million in cap space at their disposal—the second-most in the league—the Raiders can splurge on Sam Darnold, this year's top free-agent prize.

Darnold may have a mutual interest in heading to Sin City. According to The Athletic's Alec Lewis, the 27-year-old "would almost certainly be drawn to the prospect of learning from and spending time around Raiders minority owner Tom Brady."

While Darnold likely won't come cheap following an impressive stint with the Minnesota Vikings, Las Vegas can swing a market-price contract estimated to be in the $40 million per year range. Doing so would still leave the Raiders with enough cap space and draft picks to address the remaining holes on their roster.

The Raiders can't rest on their laurels after signing Darnold. The 2018 first-round pick turned journeyman finally realized his immense potential in 2024 thanks to a strong supporting cast, stout offensive line and excellent coaching staff in the Twin Cities. The Raiders ranked below-average in the offensive trenches last season and lack an elite No. 1 wideout following the departure of Davante Adams.

If new Raiders head coach Pete Carroll and offensive coordinator Chip Kelly are going to lean on Darnold to get this club back into contention, they'll also need to beef up the O-line and draft or sign a top receiver this offseason.

Minnesota Vikings: Aaron Rodgers

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The Minnesota Vikings are at a crossroads this offseason. While they had a fantastic 14-3 regular season with Sam Darnold at the helm, back-to-back losses in the regular-season finale and Wild Card Round may have soured them on bringing the impending free agent back on a costly long-term deal or even a franchise tag for just one more season.

The presence of J.J. McCarthy, the No. 10 overall pick in the 2024 draft, further complicates matters. While McCarthy is still the apparent future of this franchise, the Michigan product may not be ready to assume starting duties at the start of the 2025 campaign as he recovers from a torn meniscus.

McCarthy has stated he wants to compete for the QB1 job during training camp, a role he may have to surprisingly battle with Aaron Rodgers for.

The future Hall of Famer could be on the verge of completing his Brett Favre career arc by following in the legendary Green Bay Packers gunslinger's footsteps and finishing his career in the Twin Cities after an underwhelming stint with the New York Jets.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Rodgers is "unlikely to remain" with the Jets in 2025.

The 41-year-old quarterback was informed by new Jets head coach Aaron Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey that the team plans to move on despite Rodgers still having a season remaining on his current contract.

It's understandable considering how much Rodgers struggled in his lone healthy campaign with Gang Green. While he started all 17 games in 2024, he completed only 63.0 percent of his throws for a middling 3,897 yards and 28 touchdowns. Rodgers also threw 11 interceptions and was sacked 40 times during a disheartening 5-12 season.

Despite his lackluster showing in the Big Apple, Rodgers could be rejuvenated with a move back to the NFC North. Minnesota has a stable offensive line, elite receiving weapons and a quarterback-friendly system that could see the four-time MVP thrive again.

If Rodgers does come to Minnesota, his experience and veteran savvy should give him an edge over McCarthy in an open QB competition this offseason.

New York Giants: Jameis Winston

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The New York Giants have some tough decisions to make this offseason. With owner John Mara opting to retain head coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen while also demanding to see a winning product in 2025, they need to ink a veteran quarterback to have any chance of competing.

Although Big Blue does have the No. 3 overall pick, prized prospects Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward could both be gone by then. The G-Men will have their choice of several projected game-changers—Travis Hunter, the B/R Scouting Department's No. 1 overall prospect, makes plenty of sense at No. 3—but none of them can solve the roster's most glaring issue.

Giving up assets to trade for a quarterback currently under contract—such as Kirk Cousins—isn't a viable option with so many other holes to fill during the draft. That leaves the Giants to sift through the free-agent pile and come away with a veteran. With only $47 million in projected cap room, they'll struggle to pay an upper-echelon target like Sam Darnold and still have enough money available to address pressing areas of need such as cornerback and offensive line.

That leaves someone like Jameis Winston as the best bang for New York's buck during the 2025 offseason.

While Winston has never lived up to his billing as the No. 1 overall pick in 2015, the veteran should still have something left to offer in his upcoming 11th NFL season. He showed promising flashes during the seven games he started with the Cleveland Browns following Deshaun Watson's latest season-ending injury.

Winston finished 2024 having completed 61.1 percent of passes for 2,121 yards and 13 touchdowns. Although his beleaguered squad went just 2-5 in his seven starts and he was intercepted 12 times, the 31-year-old could find more a bit more success on a Giants roster that features an emerging superstar in receiver Malik Nabers.

The Giants likely wouldn't sniff the playoffs with Winston under center, but they'd at least be far more exciting than they were this past season. It could also have New York set up well to pick at or near the top of the 2026 NFL draft, which is likely to feature Arch Manning and other elite quarterback talent.

New York Jets: Derek Carr

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The New York Jets will have a new starting quarterback in 2025.

After informing Aaron Rodgers that he's not in their future plans, Gang Green will need to work quickly to acquire a replacement. With the No. 7 overall pick unlikely to result in a franchise-caliber prospect at the position, New York will need to consider veteran options to fill the void soon to be created by Rodgers' departure.

Derek Carr could be available and makes plenty of sense as a short-term option for the Jets. They should at least be one of the several teams expected by NFL insider Mike Garafolo to be in the market for Carr if the New Orleans Saints make him available via trade.

Carr's tenure with the Saints hasn't resulted in much success. Since joining the organization in 2023, the 11-year veteran has led the Saints to a 14-13 record in his 27 starts with zero playoff appearances.

While the Saints have been average at best with Carr at the helm, his personal stats suggest he could still succeed as a starter in the NFL. Over the last two seasons combined, Carr has completed 68.2 percent of his passes for 6,023 yards and 40 touchdowns while only throwing 13 interceptions and taking 39 sacks.

A change of scenery could help Carr get back to the NFL playoffs for the first time since 2021.

The Jets have many of the pieces in place to win now, including a defense that ranked No. 4 or better in each of the last three seasons. While Rodgers couldn't elevate the offense in 2024, the 33-year-old Carr could bring some much-needed stability to the Big Apple and help the slumping squad finally snap the longest playoff drought in the four biggest U.S. sports leagues.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Justin Fields (plus Trade Up for Top Draft Pick)

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The Pittsburgh Steelers have been mired in the NFL version of purgatory for years. They've been too good to bottom out and get a top draft pick—one they could use to finally find a proper heir to Ben Roethlisberger—but nowhere near talented enough to be considered a realistic Super Bowl contender.

The team must start making some drastic decisions to finally break through and start competing for Lombardi Trophies again. Making a franchise-altering choice to trade up from the No. 21 spot in the 2025 NFL draft would be a perfect start.

Steelers legend Jerome Bettis echoed this sentiment on a recent Good Morning Football appearance, saying Pittsburgh has reached a "point of no return" and must package some of its assets to land a franchise signal-caller this offseason.

If the Steelers do manage to pull of a blockbuster deal and acquire a blue-chip passing prospect this offseason, they'd be wise to also retain Justin Fields on a short-term deal.

Fields fared well after coming over to Pittsburgh via trade last year, helping the team get off to a 4-2 start before ceding his starting role to Russell Wilson. He made major strides as a passer, completing a career-high 65.8 percent of his throws while racking up 1,106 yards and five touchdowns against only one interception. Fields remained an impact talent on the ground as well, picking up 289 yards and five scores on only 62 totes.

Considering those results and his reasonable market value of just $6.4 million per season, the Steelers could do far worse than keeping him around to hold down the fort while their new rookie gets ready for the spotlight.

Agreeing to another short-term deal with Fields would be beneficial for both sides. If Fields thrives, he'd be well-positioned to sign a far bigger contract when he next reaches the open market.

As for the Steelers, they'd have a chance to remain competitive in 2025. Even if they aren't a Super Bowl contender, they'd at least be able to stay in the hunt without further hamstringing their ability to draft a quarterback. Once its time to make a change, Pittsburgh could put its top-rated prospect into a better position to succeed by inserting him into a winning lineup.

Tennessee Titans: Jacoby Brissett (plus Use No. 1 Overall Pick on a QB)

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The Tennessee Titans are set to turn over a new leaf this offseason. After the Will Levis experiment failed to pan out, the team shouldn't hesitate to use the No. 1 overall pick to address the gaping hole under center.

It's still unclear whether the Titans will select Miami's Cam Ward—the top-rated passer on the Bleacher Report Scouting Department's big board—or go with Colorado signal-caller Shedeur Sanders. Either way, they should also sign an inexpensive veteran to bridge the gap between Levis and the eventual No. 1 overall pick.

Although it's become more common for clubs to thrust their first-round selections directly into the fire to open their rookie seasons, there's a track record of success in waiting to deploy these potential franchise passers.

Some of the top recent examples include Patrick Mahomes spending nearly his entire rookie campaign behind Alex Smith and Jordan Love waiting three full years to take over for Aaron Rodgers.

The New England Patriots brought Jacoby Brissett back last year for similar reasons, signing the journeyman who started his career in Foxborough to a one-year deal. Brissett ultimately started him for the first five weeks before handing the reins to No. 3 overall pick Drake Maye. The strategy worked, as Maye went on to have a promising NFL debut that culminated in a Pro Bowl nod.

The Titans should copy that tactic right down to using the same bridge quarterback. The timing is ideal, as Brissett will be looking for his fifth team in as many years and could find a new home in the Music City.

While Brissett isn't the long-term answer for any NFL team at this point, he's still a capable game manager who has completed 61.1 percent of his career pass attempts for 11,400 yards and 53 touchdowns. He won't lose games with turnovers, having thrown just 24 picks on 1,761 passing attempts—a 1.4 percent career interception rate that rates as the lowest in league history amongst qualifying passers.

Whether Brissett lasts a full season as the starter or just a handful of games before he's pushed to the side for a rookie, he'd be an ideal and affordable stopgap for the Titans this offseason.