Aaron Rodgers to Giants? Justin Fields to Jets? QB predictions for every NFL team

Had the Rams and Matthew Stafford actually parted ways—a scenario that seemed entirely plausible for a few days, with the Raiders and Giants ready to offer substantial financial incentives and draft assets to acquire him—it would have triggered a ripple effect across the league. The Rams might have pivoted to Aaron Rodgers, Sam Darnold, or another quarterback, reshaping the options available to other teams in search of a signal-caller.

Instead, Stafford remains in Los Angeles, leaving quarterback-needy teams to sift through a largely uninspiring market, both in free agency and the NFL Draft.

Last year, I took a stab at predicting how various quarterback vacancies would be filled, and, in retrospect, I didn’t do as poorly as I initially thought. Among my correct calls: Caleb Williams to the Bears, Baker Mayfield to the Buccaneers, Kirk Cousins to the Falcons, Sam Darnold to the Vikings, Jacoby Brissett to the Patriots, Daniel Jones sticking with the Giants, and Geno Smith remaining in Seattle. Of course, I had my misses too: Sam Howell to the Broncos, Kenny Pickett and Ryan Tannehill to the Steelers, Jayden Daniels to the Raiders, and Drake Maye to the Commanders. I also projected J.J. McCarthy to the Giants, Bo Nix to the Patriots, and Michael Penix Jr. to the Seahawks.

Last season, I identified nine teams with clear quarterback vacancies, plus a few others in flux. This time around, the number of open positions is lower, and the available talent pool is less exciting.

With the legal tampering period for free agency set to begin next Monday at noon ET, now is a perfect moment to assess the quarterback landscape—determining which teams have definitive openings, which ones might be in the market, and which franchises are already set at the position.

At present, six teams stand out as having clear needs at quarterback: the Browns, Giants, Jets, Raiders, Steelers, and Titans.

Notable Candidates

Let’s break down the quarterbacks who could be available this offseason, whether through the draft, free agency, or trade:

NFL Draft Prospects: Cam Ward, Shedeur Sanders, Jaxson Dart, Tyler Shough, Jalen Milroe

Free Agents: Aaron Rodgers, Sam Darnold, Russell Wilson, Justin Fields, Jameis Winston, Jimmy Garoppolo, Carson Wentz, Daniel Jones, Marcus Mariota

Trade/Potential Cap Casualties: Kirk Cousins, Gardner Minshew, Kenny Pickett, Tanner McKee, Joe Milton

With six teams actively searching for a quarterback and several others potentially entering the mix, here are my predictions:

Browns: Kirk Cousins & Jalen Milroe

There has been buzz coming out of Indianapolis that the Browns favor Cam Ward and may not be entirely sold on Shedeur Sanders at No. 2 overall. While that could be a smokescreen, Sanders isn’t universally seen as a top-tier prospect at that draft position. Among veteran options, Cousins seems like the most logical fit—assuming the Falcons don’t shock everyone by paying him an exorbitant amount to be a backup.

The key factor here is Kevin Stefanski’s connection with Cousins; he previously served as his quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator in Minnesota before taking the Browns’ head coaching job. While Cousins is coming off a rough season (18 touchdowns, 16 interceptions) following Achilles surgery and other injuries, he remains a viable bridge quarterback—whether for Sanders or a later-round pick like Milroe. The former Alabama quarterback is still a work in progress as a passer but offers tremendous upside as a runner, and Stefanski could integrate him into the offense early on.

Giants: Aaron Rodgers & Jaxson Dart

The possibility of Rodgers landing with the Giants gained traction once Stafford officially recommitted to the Rams. Even before that, there were murmurs about the Giants’ interest in the 41-year-old throughout the Combine. While New York is exploring all veteran options, Rodgers likely presents the best combination of experience and affordability—especially considering Sam Darnold would command a much larger paycheck.

For the Giants, this would be a high-risk, win-now move, particularly for a general manager feeling the pressure. Despite his decline in 2024—marked by injuries, limited mobility, a reluctance to push the ball downfield, and his usual share of off-field drama—Rodgers was still significantly better than any quarterback the Giants fielded last season. Contrary to popular belief, he was well-regarded in the Jets’ locker room and, despite past skepticism, has shown a willingness to mentor young quarterbacks—though that plan famously failed with Zach Wilson.

Rodgers may not have a more appealing option than the Giants, especially considering he recently purchased a home in New Jersey. Unless an opening emerges in his home state of California, he might be inclined to stay put. If he joins the Giants, there’s a strong chance that Davante Adams and Allen Lazard could follow.

As for Dart, the Giants hold early picks in the second, third, and fourth rounds, along with an extra fourth-rounder. While some teams rank him behind Sanders, others see him as the third-best quarterback prospect overall. The Giants could potentially grab him at the top of the second round or trade back into the first to secure him, allowing him to develop behind Rodgers for a year.

Colts: Sam Darnold & Anthony Richardson

Richardson’s decision to remove himself from a game due to fatigue raised concerns about his long-term reliability. He has elite physical tools but has yet to prove he can be a consistent NFL starter. With general manager Chris Ballard under mounting pressure, there’s even speculation that the Colts might entertain trade offers for Richardson—though his value has dropped significantly since being drafted fifth overall two years ago.

Ballard, remarkably, is getting another opportunity to find a franchise quarterback. Darnold is the top free agent available after an impressive 2024 campaign in which he threw for 4,319 yards, 35 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. Pro Football Focus projects his next contract to exceed $40 million per year, meaning the Colts would be making a hefty bet on his ability to replicate that production despite his struggles in the final two games of the season.

Jets: Justin Fields & Tyrod Taylor

Taylor remains on the Jets’ roster with a reasonable $6.8 million cap hit and could very well be Aaron Glenn’s Week 1 starter. However, there’s growing speculation that the Jets are interested in acquiring Fields. The appeal is clear: Fields is young (25), athletic, and could still have untapped potential despite his inconsistency as a passer. He showed promise in Pittsburgh last season before being benched in favor of Russell Wilson.

The most probable scenario is that a team, possibly the Jets, signs Fields to a short-term “prove-it” deal with incentives, allowing him to compete for a bigger contract down the line—similar to what Darnold did. Fields also has a connection with Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson from their Ohio State days, and New York has the cap flexibility to outbid other suitors.

This move wouldn’t prevent the Jets from drafting a quarterback on Day 2 or 3. My early prediction: Will Howard (Ohio State) or Kyle McCord (Syracuse).

Raiders: Russell Wilson & Quinn Ewers

The Raiders were considered serious contenders for Stafford, largely due to Tom Brady’s influence. Most indications suggest that Las Vegas prefers proven veterans over developmental prospects like Fields or Darnold. Wilson is likely the next-best veteran available after Rodgers, and his potential reunion with Pete Carroll, coupled with Brady’s presence in the organization, makes for an intriguing storyline.

Additionally, the Raiders hold the 37th overall pick and two early third-rounders (Nos. 68 and 73), positioning them well to take a developmental quarterback like Ewers outside of the first round.

Saints: Derek Carr & Shedeur Sanders

New Orleans has limited flexibility at quarterback, as they’re currently $47 million over the cap and cutting Carr before June 1 would offer little financial relief. Unless a surprise trade opportunity arises, the Saints are likely stuck with him for another season.

That said, if Sanders falls to No. 9, New Orleans could see him as a way out of their ongoing quarterback struggles. While he may not be a top-five pick, he could provide long-term stability in a post-Drew Brees era that has been anything but stable.