Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold misplaced cash on Monday night time. With an unpleasant efficiency in opposition to the Rams, Darnold’s inventory getting into free company took a success.
Darnold ought to nonetheless be a high possibility for quarterback-needy groups, however is he No. 1 among this year’s free-agent crop? Let’s discover out.
10. Joshua Dobbs
The rocket scientist turned a folks hero with the Vikings in 2023. Dobbs’ ceiling is as a backup, however he is proven he can maintain a staff afloat if wanted in small doses.
9. Trey Lance
Lance, the No. 3 general choose of the 2021 NFL Draft, has solely began 5 video games in 4 seasons. We would not be shocked for some quarterback guru to take a look at Lance and suppose they will repair him. And if issues do not work out, Lance needs to be low cost sufficient that it in all probability will not matter.
8. Zach Wilson
Chosen one spot forward of Lance, Wilson spent 2024 on the Broncos roster, and his time studying below head coach Sean Payton may result in a shocking second act. Darnold, Baker Mayfield and Geno Smith are among the many supposed NFL draft busts who discovered success away from their preliminary NFL properties. Might Wilson be subsequent? Weirder issues have occurred.
7. Daniel Jones
Groups might do a lot worse than taking a flier on Jones. Regardless of going 3-13 in his final 16 begins, it is honest to query whether or not the Giants had been the most effective setting for Jones to succeed.
6. Jimmy Garoppolo
In the course of the last week of the 2024 common season, Garoppolo began for the primary time since Week 8 of the 2023 season and put up stable numbers for the Rams. He was 27-of-41 (65.9 %) for 334 yards, two touchdowns and one interception, displaying that he nonetheless has one thing to supply.
5. Jameis Winston
Winston hasn’t been capable of shake his fame because the league’s biggest chaos agent. In arguably the 12 months’s wildest efficiency, Winston had 497 yards, 4 touchdowns and three interceptions — together with two pick-sixes — in opposition to the Broncos on “Monday Evening Soccer” in Week 13.
He threw eight interceptions in his final three begins, proving to be the identical high-risk, high-reward participant who threw 33 touchdowns and 30 interceptions in 2019.
4. Cooper Rush
Rush may be the most effective backup accessible in the marketplace, making him an intriguing possibility someplace like Miami or Indianapolis. In eight begins, Rush was 187-of-308 (60.7 %) for 1,844 yards, 12 touchdowns and 5 interceptions.
3. Russell Wilson
Throughout Pittsburgh’s 0-5 stretch (together with the playoffs) to finish the season, Wilson was 96-of-152 (63.2 %) for 968 yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions. He was additionally sacked 18 occasions, shedding 131 yards, whereas gaining 117 yards on 20 carries.
Wilson, 36, was nonetheless significantly better this season than in Denver, giving him worth as a possible stopgap possibility with the Giants or a bridge quarterback for a staff just like the Titans, who’re anticipated to pick a quarterback with the No. 1 choose in April’s NFL Draft.
2. Sam Darnold
Two weeks in the past, there have been questions on whether or not the Vikings would permit Darnold to go away in free company. The journeyman quarterback possible sealed his destiny with an terrible finish to the season.
Throughout Minnesota’s final two video games — on the street in opposition to the Lions (15-2) and Rams (10-7) — Darnold produced 334 yards on 99 dropbacks (3.37 yards per dropback).
He’ll possible be on his fifth staff in six seasons in 2025, however we will not ignore all the great issues he confirmed whereas main the Vikings to a 14-2 report of their first 16 video games.
Darnold may be Case Keenum 2.0, however even he parlayed his one good season within the professionals — with the Vikings in 2017 — into a multi-year contract with the Broncos in 2018. Darnold’s suitors saved cash along with his disappointing finish to the season, nonetheless making him one of the vital beneficial quarterbacks in the marketplace.
1. Justin Fields
Maybe Fields’ absence made our hearts develop fonder, however he has a stable case as essentially the most enticing 2025 free-agent quarterback. He began the Steelers’ first six video games, going 4-2 whereas finishing a career-high 65.8 % of his move makes an attempt and posting his highest passer score (93.3).
Fields grew as a passer, and he is nonetheless a mismatch for defenses as a runner. In 2024, he gained 289 dashing yards and had a success rate of 54.8 % on 62 carries; since 2021, his 2,509 dashing yards are the fourth-most by a quarterback, trailing Lamar Jackson (3,267), Jalen Hurts (2,779), and Josh Allen (2,580).
Spending the season’s second half backing up Wilson, Fields may also come at a reduction in comparison with different choices. With no secure wager on this 12 months’s free-agency quarterback class, Fields represents the very best reward.
