Sportz Rating the QB Situations Around the NFL

As the 2025 season enters its final weeks, let's look at the QB situations around the NFL.

NFC EAST

I think all four of these teams have their QBs figured out for now. 

I know the Eagles offense has been weird all season, but Jalen Hurts is the guy. The Cowboys are absolutely good with Dak Prescott. And even though the Commanders have dealt with injury issues, Jayden Daniels is the future of the franchise.

That leaves the Giants, who seem to be confident in Jaxson Dart going forward. There will be a new coach in New York, but Dart is the guy for the foreseeable future, which makes the NFC East one locked in division.

NFC SOUTH

After the Buccaneers and Baker Mayfield, there are a lot of questions in this division.

The Panthers seem to be okay with Bryce Young, but it doesn't look like he's a slam dunk for the long term. Remember this going forward: it isn't like there are too many options out there this offseason to replace what you currently have, so Young likely has at least another year as a starter with Carolina.

The Falcons are an interesting case. They signed Kirk Cousins to a huge deal in 2024 while also drafting Michael Penix early in that year's draft. Cousins has looked old and he certainly isn't the future in Atlanta. Penix looks like he is, but he's had a roller coaster of a season and is currently out for the season ... something that is upsettingly normal for him over his college and NFL career. There are some rumors that he could miss time in 2026, which puts the Falcons in a bind in the short term and in the long term.

Then there are the Saints. Spencer Rattler and Tyler Shough are the young guys right now, but they probably aren't the answer. But who is? What was thought of as a fertile QB draft class doesn't the look the same anymore, so New Orleans may have to go another season trying to figure out what they have before going out and finding a new signal caller. They are in bad shape at that spot. 

NFC NORTH

The NFC North is ... strange. Jordan Love is the guy with the Packers, but he needs to get more consistent. With the kind of defense they are building in Green Bay, Love should be piling up stats and wins.

The Lions are still Jared Goff's team, though this team did take a step back this season without former OC Brian Johnson. Johnson is now the head coach of the Bears and seems to have Caleb Williams on the right track. Those three seem to be locked in.

But Minnesota may be a mess. The Vikings let Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones walk and gave the job to rookie JJ McCarthy, who is coming off an injury. Aside from some very few moments, McCarthy has looked awful. It could be fixable and the Vikings have sort of painted themselves into this corner. They will have to bring in a veteran backup next year not named Carson Wentz.

NFC WEST

This division may be the most in flux. Matthew Stafford may be the MVP of the league this year, but it is clear that he's in the final years of his NFL career. The Rams know that, so they are straddling the line between milking every drop from his time in LA while maybe attempting to find his replacement down the road. 

The Cardinals may be done with the Kyler Murray era. Not only has he been injured this season, but he was shaky once again and Arizona seemed to play better when Jacoby Brissett ran the offense. The financial implications of moving on from Murray are dicey, but it may happen if another team is desperate enough to take on a lot of his contract.

The Niners, you would have thought, were locked in. Brock Purdy has been the guy there for a couple of years and the team rewarded him with a huge contract. But he was hurt and Mac Jones has looked sparkling in his place. Jones was a guy that head coach Kyle Shanahan had his eye on during the draft process so this has kind of turned into a quarterback controversy. Jones will be starter somewhere next season (New Orleans? New York?) and that place could be San Francisco if the 49ers have buyers remorse.

Then there is Sam Darnold. Darnold is the guy right now with the Seahawks and he should have a postseason chance to show the world he can be the guy in the biggest moments. 

AFC EAST

The Bills' Josh Allen is the reigning NFL MVP. He's shown some outstanding moments this year along with some head scratchers. But -- news alert -- he's the guy for the long term in Buffalo.

Drake Maye has emerged as the next great young QB with the Patriots. 

The other two teams have a lot to work out. Clearly the Jets are moving on from their QB mess. Justin Fields may have spent up his last bit of hope of being a starter this season. It didn't look good. Tyrod Taylor is no one's future. They have to make a move this offseason, but who do they go out and get?  Remember they are sitting on a lot of 1st and 2nd round picks over the next two years that they could try to lure someone into dealing away a franchise QB.

The Dolphins look like they are going to be in a transition this offseason. There may be head coaching and front office movement this winter and that could mean Tua Tagovailoa's time in Miami may be up soon. But, like I've said, in this climate they may need to hang on to Tua one more year. 

AFC SOUTH

Youth is the word in the AFC South. The Texans are CJ Stroud's team. That's the best lock of the division. Next would be Cam Ward with the Titans, though their head coaching search will be key to their future. 

Trevor Lawrence still looks like he's the guy with the Jaguars for another season, though it still doesn't look like it should. He needs to get this figured out. 

Daniel Jones seems to have a home with the Colts for the time being. He has them among the best records in the NFL and seems to fit well in their culture. That doesn't mean the slipper won't fall off at any moment. 

AFC NORTH

This division got weird this season. Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson are clearly the man with the Bengals and Ravens, respectively, but both spent a lot of time hurt this season. 

The Browns have no idea what their QB room will look like. After bailing on Joe Flacco (and dealing him within the division), they cycled through Dillon Gabriel (it wasn't good) and now Shadeur Sanders (it looked good last week). They trail the Saints for the worst QB situation in the NFL, but if Sanders can show he's worth trying to develop, they may hold off making any big moves this offseason. 

The Steelers? Well, unless Aaron Rodgers returns for yet another season they will likely be in the market for another signal caller.  But who could that be? Talking Rodgers into postponing his retirement for one more year could be doable. 

AFC WEST

Patrick Mahomes is the guy with the Chiefs. Likewise is Justin Herbert with the Chargers. Bo Nix seems to be doing alright for the Broncos.

Then there are the Raiders. The Geno Smith Experiment has been a bomb this season and Pete Caroll knows he may have to cut the cord on him.