Predicting which NFL groups could have a brand new beginning QB in 2025

The 2024 NFL season is simply across the nook, and there shall be loads of new faces beginning at quarterback across the league.

9 groups enter Week 1 with a special beginning signal-caller than they needed to open final season. Whereas some groups could have discovered their long-term reply on the place, a number of franchises shall be on the hunt to land a brand new quarterback after this season.

With that in thoughts, this is a way-too-early have a look at 5 groups that would have a brand new beginning quarterback in 2025, together with some potential choices. 

Moreover, we have included a confidence meter for whether or not the workforce really finally ends up with a brand new starter subsequent season, with “5” being extraordinarily assured and “1” signifying “I am guessing.” 

Observe: We selected to not embrace the Minnesota Vikings and New England Patriots on this record, as each groups are anticipated to switch their starters, who’re every on one-year offers, with their 2024 first-round choose. 

Dallas Cowboys

Present starter: Dak Prescott 

Potential replacements: Shedeur Sanders (Colorado), Quinn Ewers (Texas), Conner Weigman (Texas A&M) and Jalen Milroe (Alabama) 

Prescott’s impending free company shall be one of many prime storylines all through the 2024 season, as he is set to turn out to be the NFL’s first $60M per yr participant subsequent offseason. Dallas is amidst heated contract negotiations with CeeDee Lamb, who’s seeking to turn out to be the highest-paid wideout within the league. 

Because of this, it is unlikely the Cowboys will attain an settlement on a take care of Prescott earlier than the beginning of the common season, simply as proprietor Jerry Jones lately hinted at.

In all chance, Prescott will check free company, however would he actually depart the Cowboys? Though Prescott is 2-5 as a starter within the playoffs, Dallas provides him arguably his finest probability to win a Tremendous Bowl. Ultimately, cash talks, and if the Cowboys aren’t prepared to outbid a workforce determined for a franchise quarterback, Prescott might simply signal elsewhere.

Such a situation unfolding nonetheless feels unlikely, but if it had been to happen, Dallas can be in a tough spot to switch Prescott. The Cowboys would incur $40M in lifeless cash if Prescott indicators with one other workforce, so if they should discover one other quarterback, it will doubtless be via the draft. 

This would not be an excellent scenario by any means, notably for the reason that 2025 quarterback class does not look as promising because the 2024 group and since Dallas will doubtless choose within the 20s.

Even so, it would not be shocking to see the Cowboys commerce up for Sanders (3230 passing yards, 27 touchdowns and three interceptions final season)  or Ewers (3,479 passing yards, 22 TDs and 6 interceptions in 2023). Though if Dallas stands pat within the draft, it might choose Weigman or Milroe, each of whom might play their means into the first-round dialogue this season. In 2023, Milroe amassed 3,365 complete yards and 35 complete touchdowns, whereas Weigman threw for 979 yards and accounted for 10 complete touchdowns in 4 video games.  

Confidence meter: 2

Seattle Seahawks 

Present starter: Geno Smith 

Potential replacements: Sam Howell (Seahawks), Ewers, Weigman and Milroe 

Smith’s profession renaissance with Seattle has been some of the compelling storylines within the NFL over the previous two seasons. Since taking on because the Seahawks starter, Smith has thrown for 7,906 yards, 50 touchdowns and 20 interceptions, main the workforce to at least one playoff berth and incomes two Professional Bowl nods within the course of. Regardless of being a reliable quarterback, the writing seems to be on the wall concerning Smith’s future in Seattle.

After firing long-time HC Pete Carroll earlier this offseason, the Seahawks are embarking on a brand new period in franchise historical past underneath HC Mike Macdonald. Whereas Smith is Macdonald’s man for this season, Seattle has already taken steps to counsel it is seeking to transfer on from Smith. 

In March, the Seahawks traded for former Commanders beginning QB Howell, who has turnover points however could possibly be value creating since he is solely 23.

Whereas Howell most likely is not the reply for Seattle, it is onerous to think about the workforce not taking a youthful route at quarterback in 2025, no matter how Smith, underneath contract via 2025, performs. If the 33-year-old Smith struggles this season, the Seahawks have each purpose to maneuver on from him. 

Nevertheless, even when he is nonetheless serviceable, Seattle could possibly be inclined to commerce Smith to a workforce needing a one-year bridge starter in an effort to save lots of cap house and set itself up for the longer term. 

Confidence meter: 4 

Pittsburgh Steelers 

Present starter: Russell Wilson (most likely) 

Potential replacements: Justin Fields (Steelers), Weigman, Milroe and Smith

The Steelers have but to determine between Wilson and Fields, each of whom had been acquired this offseason, because the workforce’s beginning quarterback, although the nine-time Professional Bowler will doubtless safe the job. Nonetheless, neither Wilson nor Fields have been notably spectacular within the preseason, elevating doubts about their potential this season and past.

Nonetheless, if Wilson performs equally to how he did in Denver, Pittsburgh will doubtless search for one other starter subsequent offseason. Fields might make a case to no less than be the 2025 Week 1 starter if he re-signs, however the Steelers can be smart to focus on exterior choices.

Nevertheless, seeing as if HC Mike Tomlin has by no means had a dropping season, the Steelers will doubtless discover themselves out of vary for a prime quarterback prospect. Would Pittsburgh be prepared to gamble on a mid-to-late first-round quarterback once more after the Kenny Pickett experiment shortly led to catastrophe? It is attainable, however Smith might show to be an inexpensive stop-gap choice if the Steelers do not need to take that danger. 

Confidence meter: 3

Las Vegas Raiders 

Present starter: Gardner Minshew

Potential replacements: Prescott, Sanders and Ewers 

Minshew, a free-agent signing, enters the 2024 season atop Las Vegas’ depth chart after profitable an underwhelming place battle towards second-year quarterback Aidan O’Connell. Final season, Minshew was stable for Indianapolis, throwing for 3,305 yards, 15 touchdowns and 9 interceptions whereas posting a 7-6 document as a starter. 

Whereas Minshew could possibly be extra productive due to his upgraded supporting solid in Las Vegas, he is merely a placeholder till the workforce finds an acceptable alternative. Finally, the Raiders’ document this season will decide how they transfer ahead at quarterback.

If Minshew takes care of the ball and the protection seems like a dominant unit because it was on the finish of final season, Las Vegas will doubtless miss out on touchdown a top-10 draft choose. In flip, this might encourage GM Tom Telesco to pursue Prescott in free company, although Las Vegas must release important cap house. 

Drafting a quarterback within the first spherical, whether or not or not it’s with their choose or via a trade-up, would possibly take advantage of sense for the Raiders from each a monetary and team-building perspective. 

Confidence meter: 5

New York Giants 

Present starter: Daniel Jones

Potential replacements: Carson Beck (Georgia), Prescott and Wilson 

Jones, who signed a broadly scrutinized four-year, $160M deal final offseason, is coming into a career-defining season, however even when he returns to 2022 kind, it appears unlikely he’ll be New York’s starter subsequent season. In any case, the Giants’ curiosity in transferring on from Jones this offseason was well-documented, because the workforce tried to commerce up within the draft for now-Patriots QB Drake Maye.

It is tough to foretell which model of the Giants we’ll get in 2024. They may simply take one other step again or be scrappy sufficient to play their means out of place for a prime quarterback prospect as soon as once more. Both means, by parting methods with Jones subsequent offseason, which might save the workforce $19.4M in cap house, GM Joe Schoen can get inventive in his seek for a alternative.

Contemplating Schoen was prepared to pay a hefty value to land Maye, Beck will doubtless be a prime goal, no matter whether or not the Giants need to commerce as much as get him. Beck is the early favourite to be the primary quarterback chosen in subsequent yr’s draft after throwing for 3,941 yards, 24 touchdowns and 6 interceptions final season.

The Giants might additionally go for a veteran quarterback, and so they’ll doubtless have some choices in free company. New York would absolutely lengthen a suggestion to Prescott if he hits the open market and could possibly be a stable match, given its promising younger huge receiver corps and stable protection. 

Or maybe the Giants give Wilson, a quarterback that they had curiosity in signing this offseason, a one-year deal and hope one other Manning (Texas QB Arch) forces his technique to New York in 2026. 

Confidence meter: 5