Free Agency: QB Musical Chairs

[MHS831]

I thought it would be fun to see if we can predict the free Agent QB with the QB needy team who will sign them.  This will help clear up the first round of the draft so we can mock unencumbered by the crazy QB carousel.  So before Monday, it might be fun to see how well we can match the QB with the team they will play for in 2025.

Understand that "retires" is an option and signing a QB like Rodgers does not mean the team will not draft a young QB, but we are not focused on the draft here.  I admit, I have heard very little about these QBs and their expected destinations.  

I did not include players rumored to be dealt, like Geno Smith, but I did include Kirk Cousins due to his unique circumstances.*

Teams Needing a QB

• Cleveland
• NY Giants
• NY Jets
• Tennessee
• New Orleans
• Indianapolis
• Pittsburgh
• Las Vegas

 

Veteran Starting QBs who are available in Free Agency (trade for Cousins)

 

• Aaron Rodgers___________________
• Kirk Cousins*____________________
• Sam Darnold ____________________
• Justin Fields ____________________
• Russell Wilson __________________
• Other: ______________   ______________** (optional)

 

**Realizing that some of us are slow, we are NOT predicting draft picks. Free agents only.  Feel free to add another free agent and where they might land IF you think they will be brought in to start--such as Daniel Jones, Matt Jones, Gardner Minshew, Jameis Winston.

Interesting observation:  As it stands, there are 8 teams identified as needing a QB.  There are 5 free agents who are starting QBs and there are 3 QBs mentioned in the first round (Ward, Sanders, Dart).  Everyone gets a QB!!! However, if Minnesota re-signs Darnold, someone does not get a chair when the music stops.

 

[Khyber53]

Sam Darnold is going to make bank and I think we will see him in Cleveland. 

Justin Fields will end up in Indianapolis on a modest deal to compete for QB1 there. I think he has a shot and he'll take it. 

Las Vegas will take a shot at Aaron Rodgers with even worse results than the Jets had.

New Orleans will sit this one out. 

Tennessee, Giants, Jets will all draft.

Pittsburgh will sit steady early on until the draft and take someone if they fall, perhaps Dart, but definitely not Sanders. They may well end up offering Russell another season.

I think we see Kirk Cousins stay in Atlanta as insurance and because his contract is just too, too big to be tradeable without Atlanta having to eat 75% of it.

[djp14]

Was listening to Rich Eisen, and he said he was hearing Darnold staying in Minnesota on a large, short-term deal (2 years?) and Daniel Jones to the Colts.

[MHS831]

I will start.  Please do not copy my ideas.  Reminder:  I SUCK at picking QBs, a tradition upheld since 2010.

• Aaron Rodgers___New York Giants__
• Kirk Cousins*____will not be traded until after draft
• Sam Darnold __Minnesota Vikings (do not rule out a sign and trade)
• Justin Fields __Pittsburgh Steelers_
• Russell Wilson Las Vegas Raiders

So after these guys are signed in free agency, the following teams will need a QB entering the draft:

 

• Cleveland
• NY Giants  (Signed Rodgers but might draft a QB too on day 2)
• NY Jets
• New Orleans
• Indianapolis
• Tennessee

If my predictions are correct(?) two to three QBs could be available for trade.    Cousins could go to Indy, following the exit path for discarded Falcons QBs.  Tennessee will have to pick Ward and they should, which puts Cleveland in a unique situation.  I think the Jets, Raiders (if they don't sign Russell), and Saints will go hard after Sanders, and they will offer Cleveland a lot. Cleveland could move back, grab a bunch of draft capital, draft the T they need, and then they could draft a QB later--it all depends on how much they like Sanders.  The Saints have no cap room (-$44m), so a trade with Minnesota or Atlanta is out.  Moving up to #2 from #10 is expensive in terms of draft capital.  Suck it, Saints. They will have to stay with Carr.  I think that the Jets will trade up with Cleveland to get Sanders and Cleveland will take a T and draft a QB later.  Do not be surprised to see a player like Daniel Jones in Cleveland on a one-year deal if they trade back.

 

[MHS831]

21 minutes ago, djp14 said:

Was listening to Rich Eisen, and he said he was hearing Darnold staying in Minnesota on a large, short-term deal (2 years?) and Daniel Jones to the Colts.

As a Panther fan, we want him to stay.  It means more lust for the QBs picking before us.  We need Sanders going top 5.

[MHS831]

40 minutes ago, Khyber53 said:

Sam Darnold is going to make bank and I think we will see him in Cleveland. 

Justin Fields will end up in Indianapolis on a modest deal to compete for QB1 there. I think he has a shot and he'll take it. 

Las Vegas will take a shot at Aaron Rodgers with even worse results than the Jets had.

New Orleans will sit this one out. 

Tennessee, Giants, Jets will all draft.

Pittsburgh will sit steady early on until the draft and take someone if they fall, perhaps Dart, but definitely not Sanders. They may well end up offering Russell another season.

I think we see Kirk Cousins stay in Atlanta as insurance and because his contract is just too, too big to be tradeable without Atlanta having to eat 75% of it.

If djp14 is correct about Rich Eisen,  I think Darnold would be better served to move on and get a longer deal since he has some good tape and is rather young.  Not tagging him might suggest that Minnesota is not going to pay him elite money and/or they do not want to commit at all right now--Wilson staying in Pittsburgh?  After his end of season slump, I think he is gone.

Edited March 7 by MHS831

[TLGPanthersFan]

1 hour ago, Khyber53 said:

Sam Darnold is going to make bank

I think his regression at the end of the year will prevent for getting a big contract. 
He is a backup, not a starter. 

[blackcat]

• Aaron Rodgers  He's done with being on a bad team, he retires, moves to South America.
• Kirk Cousins  Rides the pine in ATL  until Penix gets hurt.  Catches fire and everyone loves him again.
• Sam Darnold Stays in Minnesota on 3 year deal, gets cut next offseason.  Retires and moves in with Jimmy Clausen
• Justin Fields   Signs with Vegas, flames out before week 8.  Gets a job at the Vegas Sphere selling t shirts.
• Russell Wilson  Stays in Pittsburg, Ciarra forces him to have an open marriage.  He's fine with it.

[Khyber53]

17 minutes ago, TLGPanthersFan said:

I think his regression at the end of the year will prevent for getting a big contract. 
He is a backup, not a starter. 

Oh, I see where you are coming from. I've just seen too many iffy QBs get massive paychecks after a sudden re-emergence. Someone will roll the dice with three years, $90 million.

 

[Waldo]

Some of those teams are already planning on the 2026 draft vs going hard with most of those guys.

[shaqattaq]

3 hours ago, TLGPanthersFan said:

I think his regression at the end of the year will prevent for getting a big contract. 
He is a backup, not a starter. 

Yeah, but in a bad draft year for QB's... he's definitely a starter in 2025. Hence the rumor of a big money, short term deal. THEN he spends his early 30's as a backup / mentor. Hell, Dalton was  full on choke artist every year Cinci made it to the playoffs... I mean terrible, but I'm glad he's here now.

[w280sax]

Geno to vegas now.  Bad news for us as a team in front of us in the draft now unlikely to go qb unless they repeat atlantas approach and draft one too.

[MHS831]

9 minutes ago, w280sax said:

Geno to vegas now.  Bad news for us as a team in front of us in the draft now unlikely to go qb unless they repeat atlantas approach and draft one too.

Hmmm.  Not sure this makes Raider fans happy.  I do not know details.  One year remaining on his contract.  Good OL in Vegas.  I still think they draft a qb--maybe in 2026.  I think Seattle saves a lot of cap.   UPDATE: I am warming up to this trade.  Nice fit.  Not sure what it will cost them.

Edited March 8 by MHS831

[MHS831]

Seattle:  Darnold?