The 2024 NFL season is simply across the nook, and there will probably be loads of new faces beginning at quarterback across the league.
Nine teams enter Week 1 with a special beginning signal-caller than they needed to open final season. Whereas some groups might have discovered their long-term reply on the place, a number of franchises will probably 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 might 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 group really finally ends up with a brand new starter subsequent season, with “5” being extraordinarily assured and “1” signifying “I am guessing.”
Notice: We selected to not embody the Minnesota Vikings and New England Patriots on this checklist, as each groups are anticipated to switch their starters, who’re every on one-year offers, with their 2024 first-round decide.
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 will probably be one of many prime storylines all through the 2024 season, as he is set to grow to be the NFL’s first $60M per 12 months participant subsequent offseason. Dallas is amidst heated contract negotiations with CeeDee Lamb, who’s seeking to grow to be the highest-paid wideout within the league.
In consequence, it is unlikely the Cowboys will attain an settlement on a cope with Prescott earlier than the beginning of the common season, simply as proprietor Jerry Jones lately hinted at.
In all probability, Prescott will take a look at free company, however would he actually depart the Cowboys? Though Prescott is 2-5 as a starter within the playoffs, Dallas offers him arguably his finest likelihood to win a Tremendous Bowl. In the long run, cash talks, and if the Cowboys aren’t prepared to outbid a group 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 could be in a tough spot to switch Prescott. The Cowboys would incur $40M in useless cash if Prescott indicators with one other group, so if they should discover one other quarterback, it’s going to doubtless be by way of the draft.
This would not be an excellent state of affairs by any means, notably because the 2025 quarterback class does not look as promising because the 2024 group and since Dallas will doubtless decide within the 20s.
Even so, it would not be stunning to see the Cowboys commerce up for Sanders (3230 passing yards, 27 touchdowns and three interceptions last season) or Ewers (3,479 passing yards, 22 TDs and six interceptions in 2023). Though if Dallas stands pat within the draft, it might choose Weigman or Milroe, each of whom might play their manner into the first-round dialogue this season. In 2023, Milroe amassed 3,365 total yards and 35 whole touchdowns, whereas Weigman threw for 979 yards and accounted for 10 whole 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 one 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 group 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 relating to 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 below HC Mike Macdonald. Whereas Smith is Macdonald’s man for this season, Seattle has already taken steps to recommend 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 growing since he is solely 23.
Whereas Howell most likely is not the reply for Seattle, it is arduous to think about the group not taking a youthful route at quarterback in 2025, regardless of how Smith, below contract by way of 2025, performs. If the 33-year-old Smith struggles this season, the Seahawks have each motive to maneuver on from him.
Nevertheless, even when he is nonetheless serviceable, Seattle could possibly be inclined to commerce Smith to a group needing a one-year bridge starter in an effort to avoid wasting cap area 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 group’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 at the least be the 2025 Week 1 starter if he re-signs, however the Steelers could be clever 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 rapidly resulted in catastrophe? It is attainable, however Smith might show to be an affordable stop-gap choice if the Steelers do not need to take that threat.
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 solid 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 group finds an appropriate substitute. Finally, the Raiders’ document this season will decide how they transfer ahead at quarterback.
If Minshew takes care of the ball and the protection appears to be like 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 decide. In flip, this might inspire GM Tom Telesco to pursue Prescott in free company, although Las Vegas must unencumber important cap space.
Drafting a quarterback within the first spherical, whether or not it’s with their decide or by way of 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 extensively scrutinized four-year, $160M deal final offseason, is getting 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 spite of everything, the Giants’ curiosity in transferring on from Jones this offseason was well-documented, because the group 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 might simply take one other step again or be scrappy sufficient to play their manner out of place for a prime quarterback prospect as soon as once more. Both manner, by parting methods with Jones subsequent offseason, which might save the group $19.4M in cap area, GM Joe Schoen can get artistic in his seek for a substitute.
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 must commerce as much as get him. Beck is the early favorite to be the primary quarterback chosen in subsequent 12 months’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 certainly prolong a proposal to Prescott if he hits the open market and could possibly be a stable match, given its promising younger broad 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 solution to New York in 2026.
Confidence meter: 5
