QB Carousel: 2025’s Biggest Hits and Misses

The 2025 NFL Season: A Quarterback Rollercoaster

The 2025 NFL offseason and regular season were once again defined by seismic shifts at the quarterback position. From blockbuster trades to surprising free-agent signings, franchises gambled on signal-callers, hoping to find their franchise savior or at least a steady hand to guide them through the turbulent waters of professional football. This year, however, the outcomes ranged from stunning resurgence to catastrophic collapse, proving once again that the quarterback carousel is as unpredictable as it is impactful.

Contract Chaos: Understanding the QB Market

Before diving into the specific moves, it’s crucial to understand the vast landscape of quarterback contracts in the NFL. With over 100 quarterbacks on NFL contracts in 2025, the pay scales varied dramatically. At the bottom, practice squad and third-stringers earned less than $250,000 up to $1.5 million per year, often on one-year deals. Rookie contracts for players drafted after the first round ranged from $1 million to $2.7 million annually, while mid-to-late first-round picks on rookie deals commanded $4 million to $6 million. Veteran backups typically landed one-year deals in the $2 million to $8 million range. Top-five picks on rookie contracts made $8 million to $12 million. Bridge quarterbacks, expected to be starters, generally received one-to-two-year deals worth $10 million to $21 million. The elusive “underrated solid starter” tier, for proven but not superstar QBs, fetched $33 million to $40 million. At the pinnacle, superstar franchise quarterbacks signed record-breaking deals, with 15 players earning over $45 million annually, often consuming over a sixth of a team’s salary cap. Yet, as the season demonstrated, a superstar contract doesn’t always guarantee superstar play, and the decision to pay or replace a quarterback remains one of the league’s most daunting challenges.

Daniel Jones: A Phoenix Rising, Then Falling

For the Indianapolis Colts, 2025 was a season of extreme highs and devastating lows, largely dictated by the mercurial play of newly acquired quarterback Daniel Jones. Plagued by injuries and inconsistent play from Anthony Richardson, the Colts had languished in mediocrity. Despite a brief spark with Gardner Minshew and Joe Flacco, wins remained elusive. Entering 2025, with doubts about Richardson’s development, the Colts inked Jones to a one-year, $14 million deal, positioning him as a bridge starter. The offseason was filled with talk of a quarterback competition, but by August 19th, Jones was named the starter. Expectations were low, especially after his mid-season release by the Giants and a brief stint as a backup with the Vikings. However, Jones defied all predictions. He exploded out of the gate, leading the Colts to a 7-1 start, showcasing MVP-caliber play. He led the league in passing yards, boasted an absurd 109.5 quarterback rating, and threw 17 touchdowns against just three turnovers. The Colts became the first team in NFL history to score on their first 10 possessions and set a franchise record with 103 points in their first three games. This resurgence ignited a league-wide discussion about the importance of situation and system for quarterbacks. Jones looked like a different player, efficient, clutch, and reliable. But the fairy tale ended abruptly. A rough stretch saw the team lose four of five, exacerbated by Jones suffering a fractured fibula against the Chiefs. Though he played through the injury, his play suffered. The final blow came against the Jaguars when Jones sustained a season-ending Achilles injury, leaving the Colts with an injured Anthony Richardson and forcing them to sign the retired Philip Rivers. Despite a spirited effort from Rivers, the Colts lost seven straight to finish 8-9. For Jones, the initial success was career-defining, but the devastating injuries cast a long shadow over his future and the Colts’ immediate prospects. The path back from such injuries is notoriously difficult, both physically and mentally.

Aaron Rodgers: A Polarizing Return to Pittsburgh

After a tumultuous two-year tenure with the New York Jets, Aaron Rodgers, at 41, found himself a free agent in March 2025. The offseason was dominated by speculation about his next move, with Pittsburgh emerging as a surprising destination. Rodgers himself recounted the surprising brevity of his decision-making process: “So, we sit down in the office. I think we’re going to have this long conversation. I’ve flown across the country and 20 seconds in, he goes, ‘So, do you want to play football?’ I was like, ‘Yeah, I’m interested.’ And he said, ‘We’re going a different direction at quarterback.’ And I was kind of shocked.” Despite the unusual circumstances, Rodgers officially signed with the Steelers, a move that polarized the fanbase, with some questioning his fit with the team’s blue-collar identity. His debut against his former team, the Jets, was spectacular: 244 yards and four touchdowns in a 34-32 victory. The Steelers started 4-1, but the offense, in typical Pittsburgh fashion, sputtered mid-season, with Rodgers having three consecutive games under 170 passing yards. The season culminated in a win-and-you’re-in AFC North showdown against the Ravens, where Rodgers led a dramatic last-minute touchdown drive to secure a playoff berth. However, their postseason dreams were quickly dashed with a 30-6 blowout loss to Houston. Overall, Rodgers provided a veteran presence that aided the team in crucial moments, particularly with a struggling defense. The Steelers once again secured a playoff spot, only to be eliminated in the first round. The lingering question remains: will the 42-year-old quarterback retire or return for another season?

Geno Smith: A Raiders Rebound That Fizzled

The Las Vegas Raiders’ quarterback woes continued unabated in 2025. Following the departures of Derek Carr, Jimmy Garoppolo, and Gardner Minshew, the team turned to Geno Smith, trading a third-round pick for the veteran signal-caller. A month later, they signed him to a two-year, $75 million extension, making it the largest per-year quarterback deal of the offseason. Smith, who had resurrected his career in Seattle with back-to-back Pro Bowls and a Comeback Player of the Year award in 2022, was expected to bring stability. The Raiders, under new head coach Pete Carroll and with promising young talent like Brock Bowers and Ashton Jeanty, looked poised for a resurgence. Smith started strong, throwing for over 360 yards and a touchdown in a Week 1 victory over the Patriots. However, the success was fleeting. The Raiders lost their next four games, with Smith tossing five touchdowns against eight interceptions. A blowout loss to the Colts was particularly embarrassing, and the struggles continued, including a dismal 67-yard passing performance in a 31-0 shutout. The season devolved into a “football abomination,” with the Raiders finishing 2-13 with Smith starting and him leading the league in interceptions. This disastrous campaign secured the Raiders the number one overall pick, likely destined for quarterback Fernando Mendoza. With Pete Carroll gone, Smith’s future in Las Vegas is uncertain. An ESPN article highlighted the Raiders’ collapse, attributing it to “continued dysfunction symptomatic of an impatient owner, a misaligned front office and coaching staff, and players who lost respect for their coaches,” a theme that plagued several teams throughout the year.

Giants’ Gamble: Wilson and Winston’s Expensive Stint

The New York Giants, having moved on from Daniel Jones mid-2024, drafted their potential long-term solution in Jackson Dart in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. However, before that move, they brought in veteran free agents Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston. Winston signed a two-year, $8 million deal, making him an expensive third-stringer. He spent more time on television than on the field, starting two losses and famously scoring a receiving touchdown against the Lions. Wilson, coming off a decent but ultimately uninspiring season with Pittsburgh, signed a one-year, $21 million deal, placing him at the high end of bridge quarterback contracts. At 37, he was named the Giants’ initial starter. Despite a strong Week 2 performance with over 450 passing yards and three touchdowns, the team lost all three of his starts. The emergence of rookie Jackson Dart, who played exceptionally well, quickly relegated Wilson to the sidelines, with fans clamoring for the rookie. Even when Wilson was forced back in due to Dart’s injury, the crowd’s disinterest was palpable. Wilson effectively served as an expensive backup, playing only three games before the team moved on. In total, the Giants paid their two veteran free-agent quarterbacks a combined $25 million, a significant investment that yielded minimal returns before the emergence of their first-round draft pick.

Justin Fields: A Jets Reset Gone Wrong

The New York Jets embarked on a hard reset in 2025 after the failed Aaron Rodgers experiment and the early firing of head coach Robert Saleh. Under new head coach Aaron Glenn, the team signed Justin Fields in free agency. Fields had shown flashes of improvement with the Steelers, going 4-2 in six starts with a career-high passer rating. This performance convinced the Jets to sign him to a two-year, $40 million contract, placing him in the high-end bridge quarterback range. The reality in New York, however, was disastrous. The Jets lost their opening seven games, six with Fields under center, who managed less than 50 passing yards in three of those contests. Rumors of a quarterback change swirled, with owner Woody Johnson lamenting, “The defense was pretty good and if we can just complete a pass, it would look good. You know, it’s hard when you have a quarterback with, you know, with a rating that uh that we’ve got.” These comments clearly impacted Fields, who, after leading the team to their first victory the following week, emotionally shared, “I found myself in my closet crying um on the ground… laying down um not because of not because of the hardships, not because of the troubles. I just had gotten a text from my sister and my stepmom and it was just an encouraging text on, you know, just keep going and keep spreading the faith.” Fields’ time as the starter was short-lived; he was benched for Tyrod Taylor in Week 12 and ended the season on injured reserve. The Jets finished 3-14, with all three quarterbacks struggling, though Fields had the highest passer rating. The “life of a Jets quarterback” continued to be a challenging narrative.

M. Jones: A 49ers Revival

Mac Jones, after being largely dismissed in New England following a solid rookie year in 2021, found himself in a different situation with the San Francisco 49ers in 2025. Shipped to Jacksonville in 2024 as a backup, he started seven games but ultimately proved he wasn’t an NFL starting quarterback. Quietly, he signed a two-year, $7 million deal with the 49ers to be the backup to Brock Purdy. Jones sat for the first four games, but when Purdy went down in Week 5, Jones stepped in. Despite a loss, he impressed with over 300 yards and three touchdowns. The following week, he continued his strong play, leading the 49ers to a 34-point victory over the Giants with only five incompletions, throwing for over 230 yards and two touchdowns with a remarkable 135.2 quarterback rating. Over the course of eight starts due to Purdy’s injuries, Jones kept the 49ers competitive, leading them to a 5-3 record and posting the highest passer rating and QBR of his career. A highlight was an overtime victory against the Rams, where he threw for 342 yards and two touchdowns. This eight-game stretch showcased a significant improvement in Jones’s confidence and play, underscoring the impact of a stable organization. His performance raises intriguing questions about his future heading into the 2026 season.

Sam Darnold: A Seahawks Bargain and Super Bowl Berth

With Geno Smith not reaching an agreement with the Seattle Seahawks, the team turned to Sam Darnold, who was coming off a career year with the Minnesota Vikings. He had led the Vikings to a 14-3 record, throwing for over 4,300 yards and 35 touchdowns. Despite a strong season, the Vikings had plans for rookie J.J. McCarthy. Darnold, offered a lucrative three-year, $100.5 million deal by Seattle, accepted, landing him in the mid-tier starting quarterback range. Preseason expectations placed the Seahawks around an 8-9 win record, fighting for a wildcard spot. However, the defense exceeded expectations, and Darnold proved his previous season was no fluke. The connection between Darnold and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who stepped up as the primary receiver after DK Metcalf’s departure, was a major storyline. In the first nine games, the Seahawks went 7-2, with Darnold posting a Pro Bowl-caliber season, boasting an incredible quarterback rating with 17 touchdowns and only seven interceptions. While his statistical output slowed, he finished the year with over 4,000 passing yards and a second consecutive Pro Bowl nod. He began to shed the narrative of struggling in big games, orchestrating a dramatic comeback against the Rams in Week 16 and playing mistake-free football against the 49ers in back-to-back weeks. The Seahawks finished the regular season 14-3, making Darnold the first quarterback to achieve back-to-back 14-win seasons with different teams. Seattle’s balanced approach, complementing a dominant defense and run game with explosive passing plays, made them the number one seed. With Darnold leading the charge, the Seahawks secured a Super Bowl berth, and his contract proved to be an incredible bargain, especially after his performance in the NFC Championship game.

Source: Best & Worst QB Trades and FA Signings of 2025 (YouTube)