The official start of the 2025 NFL season is quickly approaching. The league year and free agency will open at 4 p.m. on March 12. Teams will begin signing free agents, and any trades agreed to before the new league year will become official on that date.
Before the league year officially kicks off, there are a couple of other key dates to remember. Teams must designate franchise players by March 4. The NFL also has a legal negotiating window from March 10 to 12, during which teams can begin contacting and negotiating with the agents of unrestricted free agents. We’ll hear deals breaking during that window, even though they can’t become official until March 12.
With that said, it’s time to start breaking down the 2025 free agency class, which includes Sam Darnold, Justin Fields, and Russell Wilson at the quarterback position. This year’s free agents are loosely ordered based on talent, age, plus previous and expected future fantasy relevance. Be sure to follow Fantasy Points throughout free agency for in-depth breakdowns of every major (and minor) move. We’ll track every off-season transaction from a fantasy perspective through our “Free Agency Tracker” articles and Graham Barfield’s “Fantasy Fallout” pieces.
Be sure to check out the Free Agency Previews for Running Backs, Wide Receivers, and Tight Ends…This article is powered by Fantasy Points Data. Subscribe now to get our to take your research to the next level.
Potentially Available
Aaron Rodgers (NYJ, 41)
Joe Dolan and I broke down Rodgers’ top five potential landing spots on the Fantasy Points YouTube page.
Rodgers’ disastrous two-year run with the Jets will come to an end this off-season after the franchise announced in mid-February that it will part ways with the four-time MVP. He lasted just 4 snaps into his Jets debut in 2023 before tearing his Achilles and missing the rest of the season. He returned to the lineup in 2024 and played like a 40-year-old QB coming back from an Achilles injury. The Jets traded for his friend Davante Adams but even that move couldn’t stop the Jets from imploding after firing Robert Saleh in Week 5 — Rodgers finished with a career-worst 5-12 record. He completed 368/584 passes (63%) for 3897 yards (6.7 YPA), 28 TDs (4.8%), and 11 INTs (1.9%) in 17 starts. He added 34/94/1 rushing to finish as the QB19 with 15.9 FPG.
Rodgers finished with career worsts in YPA (6.7), YPC (10.6), and passer rating (90.5), and his second-worst finishes in success rate (43.9%) and QBR (48.0). Rodgers will likely find a cold market this off-season after forcing his way out of Green Bay and taking the Jets on a ruinous ride the last two seasons. He told the Jets that his tentative plan was to play in 2025, but he’s not going to be the top option for QB-needy teams. He may have to wait until some of the other QB dominos begin to fall at the start of the new league year before he finds a job — if he finds a job at all.
Derek Carr (NO, 34)
Brolley’s Prediction: New York Jets
The Saints are in the NFL’s worst cap situation heading into the new league year, which has Carr as a potential cap casualty since they could free up $30 million by designating him as a post-June 1 release. New Orleans would signal that the franchise is finally ready to bottom out after years of being in cap hell if they were to release Carr, but they’d also put Kellen Moore in a brutal spot as a first-time head coach. The Saints owned a 5-5 record with Carr at quarterback last season and it went winless in seven games started by Spencer Rattler (6 starts) and Jake Haener (1).
Carr completed 189/279 passes (67.7%) for 2145 yards (7.7 YPA), 15 TDs (5.4%), and 5 INTs (1.8%). He added 17/71/1 rushing to finish as the QB25 with 15.6 FPG in 10 contests — he missed seven games for oblique and hand injuries. Carr ranked second in sack rate (2.7%), fourth in deep throw rate (14.7%), and fourth in checkdown rate (12.5%) among 43 QBs who attempted 150+ passes. He also ranked top 10 in completion percentage (67.7%), passer rating (101.0), and CPOE (3.7%). Carr played better in 2024 than most will remember because of New Orleans’ overall struggles, but he’ll still be a low-end QB2 option no matter where he plays next season since he brings nothing to the table as a runner — he’s never topped 140 rushing yards in a season.
Kirk Cousins (Atl, 37)
Brolley’s Prediction: Cleveland Browns
Cousins landed a four-year, $180 million contract with $100 million guaranteed from the Falcons last off-season despite his recovery from an Achilles injury entering his age-36 season. The Falcons then selected Michael Penix with the eighth overall pick without notifying Cousins or his agent until they were on the clock. Before his injury in 2023, Cousins led the NFL in completions (216), attempts (311), and passing TDs (18) through eight weeks. He wasn’t the same player returning from his injury in 2024, lacking the same arm strength and looking like a statue in the pocket. Cousins completed 303/453 passes (66.9%) for 3508 yards (7.7 YPA), 18 TDs (4.0%), and 16 INTs (3.5%) in 14 starts. He added just 14/23 rushing to finish as the QB29 with 13.9 FPG.
Cousins’ play deteriorated so much that the Falcons benched him for the rookie Penix with three games to play despite being in the middle of the playoff hunt. The benching was certainly deserved as he accounted for just 1 TD pass and 9 INTs in his final five games — the Falcons went 1-4 in those contests. The Falcons are expected to release him before his $10 million roster bonus is due March 17 but they’ll still be on the hook for $65 million in dead money, which can be spread over two seasons if they designate it as a post-June 1 release. Cousins will look to take a step forward with another year removed from his Achilles injury, but he won’t come close to sniffing the $100 million in guaranteed money he received from the Falcons last off-season. Cousins is due to make $27.5 million from the Falcons next season so he could play at close to the veteran minimum like Russell Wilson did with the Steelers last season after he was released by the Broncos. Cousins could be forced to compete for a starting job wherever he lands for the 2025 season, but he’ll at least be a much cheaper option than the other top QBs available this off-season.
Unrestricted Free Agents
An unrestricted free agent is a player with four or more accrued seasons and an expired contract who is free to negotiate and sign with any team. The age for each player is the age he’ll turn in the 2024 calendar year.
Fantasy Starter
Justin Fields (Pit, 26)
Brolley’s Prediction: Pittsburgh Steelers
Fields is looking to become the next first-round QB to have a career resurgence following in the footsteps of Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield the last two years. He’s as physically gifted as those QBs and he took some baby steps in his first season away from Chicago. The Steelers acquired him for a conditional sixth-round pick and he opened the season with a 4-2 record before giving way to Russell Wilson for the rest of the season — Wilson missed the first six games because of a calf injury. Fields completed 106/161 passes (65.8%) for 1106 yards (6.9 YPA), 5 TDs (3.1%), and 1 INT (.6%) in 10 appearances. He added 62/289/5 rushing to rank as the QB8 with 19.2 FPG through the first six weeks of the season as the starter.
Fields ranked 40th in average time to throw (2.79 seconds) but second in checkdown rate (17.4%) among 43 QBs who attempted 150+ passes. Fields finished fourth in FP/DB at .62 behind only the overall QB1 Lamar Jackson (.81), the QB5 Jalen Hurts (.74), and the QB2 Josh Allen (.72). Fields has ranked among the top seven QBs in FP/DB in each of the last three seasons, which shows his elite fantasy upside if he can lock up a starting job next training camp. Fields should see a more robust market for his services after finding a cold trade market last off-season, and he’ll be on the radar as a high-end QB2 because of his rushing ability.
Sam Darnold (Min, 28)
Brolley’s Prediction: Las Vegas Raiders
The Vikings brought in Darnold to help replace Kirk Cousins as a one-year reclamation project after he spent a year in Kyle Shanahan’s incubator. He was expected to have a limited window as the team’s starting QB to open the season after the Vikings drafted J.J. McCarthy 10th overall. However, the Michigan QB needed meniscus surgery during training camp, which knocked him out for the season and paved the way for Darnold to start the entire year. We featured Darnold as one of the best final-round QBs before the season, and he even exceeded our expectations on his way to finishing third in Comeback Player of the Year voting.
Darnold completed 361/545 passes (66.2%) for 4319 yards (7.9 YPA), 35 TDs (6.4 %), and 12 INTs (2.2%). He added 67/212/1 rushing to finish as the QB9 with 19.1 FPG in 17 starts. Darnold ranked sixth in passer rating (102.5), third in CPOE (5.7%), and 42nd in average time to throw (2.86 seconds) among 43 QBs who attempted 150+ passes. He looked headed toward landing a massive contract in free agency but his stock took a hit with a miserable final two games on national TV. He completed 53% of his passes and averaged 5.0 YPA while absorbing 11 sacks and mustering a combined 18 points in losses to the Lions and Rams. Darnold hurt his market and lost a little money with his final two performances, but he’ll still be the most coveted free-agent QB. The question is will he be treated as more than a bridge QB by landing a three-year deal or longer in free agency?
Russell Wilson (Pit, 37)
Brolley’s Prediction: New York Giants
The Broncos released Wilson last March despite having to absorb an $85 million cap hit over two years, which was the largest dead money charge for a single player in NFL history. The Steelers signed him to a one-year deal for the veteran minimum of $1.21 million since the Broncos owed him $38 million last year. The Steelers named him the starter over Justin Fields in late August but a lingering calf injury from training camp kept him out of the lineup for the first six weeks of the season. Mike Tomlin controversially inserted him into the starting lineup once he was healthy in Week 7 despite Justin Fields opening the season with a 4-2 record.
Wilson initially gave the offense a spark and he wouldn’t relinquish the starting job the rest of the season. He led them to a playoff berth but the Steelers also lost the final five games to be eliminated by the Ravens in the Wild Card Round. Wilson completed 214/336 passes (63.7%) for 2482 yards (7.4 YPA), 16 TDs (4.8%), and 5 INTs (1.5%). He added 43/155/2 rushing to finish as the QB16 with 16.5 FPG in 11 starts. Wilson ranked 38th in sack rate (8.5%) but fifth in turnover-worthy throw rate (1.8%) and sixth in checkdown rate (11.6%) among 43 QBs who attempted 150+ passes. Wilson is set to turn 37 years old but still showed he could be a low-end starting quarterback. He’ll at least be a stopgap option for a QB-needy team but he’s unlikely to get anything more than a two-year deal.
Fringe NFL Starter/Top Backups
Daniel Jones (Min, 28)
Brolley’s Prediction: Minnesota Vikings
The Giants gave Jones one last chance to be the team’s starting quarterback in 2024, but he would close the season as the emergency quarterback for the Vikings. His 2023 campaign came to an early end after tearing his ACL in Week 9 but he was healthy enough to open last season as the starter. He lasted just 10 starts into his sixth and final season with the Giants before the team pulled the plug after a 2-8 start. Jones completed 216/341 passes (63.3%) for 2070 yards, 8 TDs (2.3%), and 7 INTs (2.1%). He added 67/265/2 rushing to finish as the QB26 with 14.4 FPG in 10 starts for the Giants. Jones ranked 38th in YPA (6.07) and 41st in highly accurate throw rate (44.3%) among 43 QBs who attempted 150+ passes.
New York benched Jones for Tommy DeVito in mid-November, which prompted him to ask for his release and the Giants granted his request. He finished his Giants career with a 24-44-1 record (.353) while averaging 6.5 YPA with a 3.1% TD rate. He signed with the Vikings in late November where he spent the final months behind Sam Darnold and Nick Mullens. There’s an outside chance Jones finds a landing spot where he could compete for a starting job, but he could return to Minnesota to be the insurance plan behind J.J. McCarthy, who missed his entire rookie season.
Jameis Winston (Cle, 31)
Brolley’s Prediction: Tennessee Titans
Winston won just two of his seven starts in his first season with the Browns, but he gave the franchise a much-needed infusion of energy in the second half of the season. The Browns slogged through the first seven games before Deshaun Watson went down with his season-ending Achilles injury, which opened the door for Winston to take over the offense. He propelled Jerry Jeudy to finally break out for his first 1000-yard season after the franchise traded away Amari Cooper. Winston completed 181/296 passes (61.1%) for 2121 yards (7.2 YPA), 13 TDs (4.4%), and 12 INTs (4.1%) in 12 appearances. He added 25/83/1 rushing to average 19.4 FPG in his seven starts, which would’ve been good for the QB8 for the entire season.
Winston ranked third in aDOT (9.4 yards), 42nd in highly accurate throw rate (43.9%), and last in turnover-worthy throw rate (6.1%) among 43 QBs who attempted 150+ passes. His gunslinger ways were on full display on Monday Night Football against the Broncos in Week 13. He set a Browns single-game record with 497 passing yards and 4 TDs, but his 3 INTs, including 2 pick-sixes, cost the Browns a chance at victory. Winston ended up throwing 8 INTs and 2 fumbles in Weeks 13-15, which resulted in his benching for the final three weeks. Winston will look to be a backup in a pass-happy attack, and he’ll be a volatile QB2 option when he starts in 2025.
Mac Jones (Jax, 27)
Brolley’s Prediction: San Francisco 49ers
Jones moved into a backup role behind Trevor Lawrence last season after the Patriots traded him last March before selecting their next quarterback Drake Maye a month later. Jones saw way more action than the Jaguars wanted when they made the trade because of brain and shoulder injuries suffered by Lawrence. Jones completed 171/262 passes (65.3%) for 1672 yards (6.4 YPA), 8 TDs (3.1%), and 8 INTs (3.1%) in 10 appearances. He added 28/91/1 rushing to average 12.3 FPG in seven starts. Jones powered Brian Thomas to finish as the rookie receiving yards leader with BTJ posting 50/675/5 receiving in the final seven games of the season with Jones primarily at QB. Jones didn’t do enough to warrant a shot at a starting job in free agency, but he could have multiple suitors for his services as a backup.
Marcus Mariota (Was, 32)
Brolley’s Prediction: Miami Dolphins
The Commanders overhauled their QB room last off-season, which started by signing Mariota. They then traded Sam Howell to the Seahawks before completing their moves by selecting the eventual Offensive Rookie of the Year, Jayden Daniels. Mariota failed to make a single start for the second straight season after previously holding the clipboard for Jalen Hurts during 2023. Mariota completed 34/44 passes (77.3%) for 364 yards (8.3 YPA), 4 TDs (9.1%), and 0 INTs, adding 18/92/1 rushing in three appearances for the Commanders. He last started for the Falcons in 2022 when he finished as the QB17 with 16.0 FPG in 13 games. He easily finished with career-highs in rushing YPG (33.7), attempts per game (6.5), and rushing FPG (5.2). Mariota’s days of competing for a starting job in training camp are over, but he still could be a low-end streaming option if he earns starts in the future because of his rushing ability.
Joe Flacco (Ind, 40)
Brolley’s Prediction: New England Patriots
Flacco shockingly led the Browns to the postseason in 2023 after being unemployed until mid-November, which earned him Comeback Player of the Year honors. Cleveland passed on bringing him back for Jameis Winston but he landed on his feet as the backup to Anthony Richardson in Indianapolis. A-Rich struggled to stay healthy for the second straight year and the Colts controversially benched him and reinstalled Flacco as the starter for two games in Weeks 9-10. Flacco completed 162/248 passes (65.3%) for 1761 yards (7.1 YPA), 12 TDs (4.8%), and 7 INTs (2.8%) in eight appearances. He added 9/26 rushing to average 15.8 FPG in his six starts. Flacco still has plenty of arm talent as he enters his 40s and he ranked fifth in aDOT (9.0 yards) among 43 QBs who attempted 150+ passes. His next team will have to live with some turnovers from him as a backup QB, but he’s a viable mid-QB2 option when he’s in the lineup since he’s shown he’ll play aggressively.
Cooper Rush (Dal, 32)
Brolley’s Prediction: Dallas Cowboys
Rush has spent most of his career as Dak Prescott’s backup in Dallas, and he’s been forced into 13 starts over the last three seasons. Rush jumped into the starting lineup in the second half of the season after Prescott suffered a hamstring injury in Week 9, which required surgery to repair it. Rush completed 187/308 passes (60.7%) for 1844 yards (6.0 YPA), 12 TDs (3.9%), and 5 INTs (1.6%) in 12 appearances. He added 26/18 rushing to average 13.2 FPG in 8 starts. He ranked 38th in completion percentage (60.7%), 39th in YPA (5.99), and first in average time to throw (2.20 seconds) among 43 QBs who attempted 150+ passes. The Cowboys benched him in the season finale to take a look at Trey Lance, which prevented Rush from collecting a playing time contract incentive. Rush is still a good bet to return to Dallas as Dak’s backup for the eighth time in nine years unless he took offense to Jerry Jones’ stinginess at the end of last season.
Joshua Dobbs (SF, 30)
Brolley’s Prediction: Washington Commanders
Dobbs captured the imagination of NFL fans and fantasy players for a few weeks in 2023, but he settled for a one-year, $2.25 million deal with the 49ers last off-season. He spent the season behind Brock Purdy and Brandon Allen until he started a meaningless game in the season finale. Dobbs completed 32/47 passes (68.1%) for 361 yards (7.7 YPA), 2 TDs (4.3%), and 2 INTs (4.3%), adding 9/24/2 rushing in one start and two appearances. He’s scored 25.8 FP in his lone start against the Cardinals, which gives him 20+ FP in 6-of-13 starts (46.2%) over the last two seasons. He’s been a streaming option when he’s been in the starting lineup thanks to 86/445/8 rushing in 13 starts and 15 appearances in 2023-24. He’s failed to remain on the field because he’s thrown 12 INTs and fumbled 16 times in that same span. Dobbs is a volatile backup option because of his penchant for big plays and turnovers, but he has plenty of fantasy juice when he makes starts.
Andy Dalton (Car, 38)
The Carolina Panthers and Dalton agreed to terms on a two-year, $8 million deal that includes $6 million guaranteed.
Dalton has entered the mentoring stage of his career, backing up Bryce Young and Justin Fields in three of the last four seasons. He’ll serve as Young’s backup for potentially another two seasons after coming to terms on a new deal in mid-February before hitting free agency. Dalton took over for a struggling Young two games into last season only to lose the job when he sprained his thumb in a car accident after five starts. Dalton completed 106/160 passes (66.3%) for 989 yards, 7 TDs (4.4%), and 6 INTs (3.8%) in six appearances. He added 11/34 rushing to average 13.0 FPG in five starts. He ranked 37th in YPA (6.18), 39th in turnover-worthy throw rate (5.0%), and third in average time to throw (2.34) among 43 QBs who attempted 150+ passes. Dalton will stick as the mentor for Young for potentially another two seasons after coming to terms on a new deal in mid-February before hitting free agency.
Jacoby Brissett (NE, 33)
Brissett returned to the Patriots to be a bridge quarterback until #3 overall pick Drake Maye was ready to play. New England stunned the Bengals in the season opener despite Brissett’s 121 scoreless yards, but the Patriots averaged just 12.4 PPG before they pulled the plug on him after Week 5. Brissett completed 95/161 passes (59%) for 826 yards (5.1 YPA), 2 TDs (1.2%), and 1 INT (.6%) in five starts and eight appearances. He added 15/62 rushing rushing and finished as the QB35 with 7.8 FPG in his starts in Weeks 1-5. He finished last in YPA (5.13), 41st in passer rating (74.2), and 41st in catchable throw rate (69.6%) among 43 QBs who attempted 150+ passes. Brissett also faced the second-highest pressure rate (43.6%) playing behind one of the NFL’s worst O-lines and throwing to one of the league’s worst receiving corps. Brissett will look for work as a top backup and he’ll be a low-end QB2, at best, if he makes starts in 2025.
Mason Rudolph (Ten, 30)
Rudolph has played the best football of his seven-year career in nine starts over the last two seasons, which will give him a chance to latch on as a backup. He landed a one-year, $2.9 million deal to be the insurance plan behind Will Levis, and Rudolph ended up besting the 2023 second-round pick in QBR (55.5>27.8) and success rate (49%>36.5%). Rudolph completed 146/228 passes (64%) for 1530 yards (6.7 YPA), 9 TDs (3.9%), and 9 INTs (3.9%) in eight appearances. He added a career-best 25/106/1 rushing to average 16.5 FPG in his five starts. He ranked 40th in deep throw rate (7.9%) among 43 QBs who attempted 150+ passes. Rudolph doesn’t fit into Tennessee’s plans with the franchise likely to either draft a QB first overall or to sign a veteran to start over Levis. He’s at least proven himself to be a capable backup option over the last two seasons.
Drew Lock (NYG, 29)
Lock signed with the Giants last off-season for the chance to compete against Daniel Jones for the starting job, who was recovering from ACL surgery. Lock never got that chance to compete for the QB1 spot in training camp and the organization passed him over for Tommy DeVito after releasing Jones in late November. He eventually started five games, winning once, but he’s unlikely to be back in New York after they bypassed him for DeVito. Lock completed 107/181 passes (59.1%) for 1071 yards, 6 TDs (3.3%), and 5 INTs (2.8%) in eight appearances. He added 18/133/2 rushing to average 17.1 FPG in five starts. He ranked 40th in completion percentage (59.1%), YPA (5.92), and turnover-worthy throw rate (5.0%) among 43 QBs who attempted 150+ passes. Lock was in a terrible spot in one of the league’s worst offenses, but he still hasn’t lived up to the hype of being the 42nd overall pick in 2019. He’ll battle for a backup spot wherever he lands.
Tyler Huntley (Mia, 27)
Huntley failed to find any market in his first trip to free agency, settling for a depth job behind Deshaun Watson and Jameis Winston in Cleveland. He then couldn’t beat out Dorian Thompson-Robinson in training camp so he signed back with the Ravens on their practice squad. The Dolphins eventually came calling after Tua Tagovailoa suffered another concussion, and he vaulted ahead of Skylar Thompson and Tim Boyle to earn five starts. Huntley completed 86/133 passes (64.7%) for 829 yards (6.2 YPA), 3 TDs (2.3%), and 3 INTs (2.5%) in five appearances. He added 26/135/2 rushing to average 13.1 FPG in his starts. Huntley has been a serviceable backup over the last four seasons but his dual-threat style of play could once again limit his market. Huntley is on the radar as a streaming option when he’s slated to start since he’s averaged 36.4 rushing YPG in his 14 career starts.
