Off-Season Movement: 2025 Quarterback Landscape
Each off-season, I track team needs and the players most likely to fill those needs in a chart like this. In the coming weeks and months, NFL teams will have multiple opportunities to fill those holes, namely the March free agency period and April’s NFL Draft.
In this series, I’ll go position-by-position looking at teams in need, along with the veterans and rookies who could eventually fill the blanks on the chart below. Let’s start with the quarterbacks.
Team Needs
New York Giants
After another string of disappointing play, the Giants announced they were benching long-time starter Daniel Jones, eventually leading to his release. With Jones gone and veteran Drew Lock also entering free agency, the Giants have no current quarterback option on the roster. Thanks to a late-season, Lock-led victory, New York now owns the third-overall pick, though they should still have a quarterback option in the NFL Draft.
Tennessee Titans
2023 rookie Will Levis proved he wasn’t the answer as a long-term starter as the Titans benched him late in the season. Ending the year with six straight losses, the Titans landed the top overall pick and are a sure bet to spend that pick on a quarterback. Most projections suggest University of Miami quarterback Cam Ward will be the selection and the new Titans’ starter.
Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders took their shots at quarterback last off-season, signing veteran Gardner Minshew to be paired with Aidan O’Connell. After both players dealt with injuries, Las Vegas signed former Falcons’ starter Desmond Ridder away from the Cardinals’ practice squad. None of the trio enjoyed consistent success, which led to yet another losing record for the Raiders. The team now owns the sixth overall pick and has been loosely linked with Shedeur Sanders. Both Minshew and O’Connell are under contract for next season, though the team does have an easy out on Minshew, which would offer them some cap savings.
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers were aggressive a year ago, trading for Justin Fields and signing veteran Russell Wilson. Fields drew multiple starts before Wilson took over, leading the team to the playoffs. Now, both Fields and Wilson, and even third-string Kyle Allen, enter free agency. The team could surely re-sign Wilson and run things back, but have to aim higher at some point. A victim of their own success, the Steelers almost always find a way to make the playoffs, leaving them with little chance at an impact rookie signal caller. That’s the case again this year, as they are scheduled to pick 21st in Round One.
