NFL free agent QB rankings: Aaron Rodgers, Sam Darnold among top five best available
Unlike Nickelback, quarterbacks are always in high demand.
Although the rock band certainly has some hits that relate directly to the position's importance in the NFL. After all, some franchises are singing the tune to "Gotta Be Somebody," and others are hoping to find their "Rockstar."
With free agency on the horizon, some teams are more quarterback-needy than others. While football is a team sport, not all positions are created equal.
The quarterback has more control over the game than a punter because the ball is in their hands for most of the contest. That reality is clearly reflected in the massive paydays given to signal callers across the league, whether they are perceived as good or not.
That will certainly be the case in 2025, when demand far outweighs the supply. Here's a look at the top five quarterbacks available in free agency this year.
FREE AGENT PREDICTIONS: NFL free agent QB best fits: Top landing spots for the best available quarterbacks in 2025
NFL free agent QBs ranked
1. Sam Darnold
Imagine being told that Darnold would be the top free-agent quarterback in 2025 when the New York Jets drafted him in 2018. It would suggest something went horribly wrong for the green-and-white, allowing the quarterback to shake loose. Same old Jets, right? Not quite.
Darnold finds himself atop the list after a breakout 2024 season when he finally put it all together. However, that only came after he was forced into action following a season-ending injury to the Minnesota Vikings' rookie, J.J. McCarthy. Now Minnesota is facing the decision to either franchise tag Darnold, re-sign him or let him walk. It's a fascinating decision with plenty of salary cap implications.
At just 27 years old, Darnold could find himself on the Geno Smith trajectory, carving out a starting role as a late bloomer. Teams might be scared off by his finish to the 2024 season, but a weak free agent and draft class at the position means someone will take the chance.
It's far from a slam dunk, but his 2025 employer will hope that his play last season – aside from those last two games – becomes the rule rather than the exception.
2. Justin Fields
Upside, upside, upside. Teams looking for a quarterback in free agency this year aren't going to find steady, solid options as we've sometimes seen in previous years. This group is about swinging for the fences and hoping the ball goes over the wall. That's why Fields checks in at No. 2 on this list, given his youth and untapped potential. Fields will likely be referred to as this offseason's version of Darnold and Smith, who both found success after the world seemingly declared them as draft busts.
Whether the former Ohio State star can etch his name onto that list remains to be seen, but someone will find out. Mobility has never been an issue for Fields; instead, his passing ability leaves more questions than answers. Fields improved in that regard last season despite starting just six games before Russell Wilson returned.
The 25-year-old can make a team look really smart if they take the plunge and that arrow continues trending upward. He's a candidate to return to the Steelers, but Mike Tomlin's apparent preference for Wilson last year could be enough for Fields to hit the open market.
3. Aaron Rodgers
The 41-year-old Rodgers isn't officially a free agent yet, but the Jets announced their decision to move on, which qualifies him for our list. The quarterback hasn't said he's going to play in 2025, although that remains the expectation at this point.
Rodgers finds himself in an interesting spot going forward. He will likely have a limited market, especially if he wants to compete for the playoffs and more in 2025. There's the question of his on-field play, which wasn't as great in 2024 as the stats might indicate. There's the injury history and even the potential media circus. How many teams are signing up for that?
Regardless, he's still Aaron Rodgers and that will probably be worth something. The move is perhaps a one-year swing as some franchise bridges the gap to their quarterback of the future. From an off-the-field standpoint, Rodgers brings jersey sales and attention. That might just be enough for an organization to sign themselves up.
4. Russell Wilson
Wilson isn't a very inspiring option like Rodgers, but he's still serviceable. He's the more mobile option of the two and was fine for the Steelers in 2024. However, he also came unglued at the end as Pittsburgh lost five straight to close their season.
He protected the ball in 11 starts, finishing with 16 touchdowns to just five interceptions. The 36-year-old is clearly in the final years of his career, but a short-term deal in Pittsburgh seems to be the most logical conclusion to this story. If the Steelers go in a different direction, Wilson will still be in demand, even if his game is more limited now.
5. Jameis Winston
The wild-card option figures to be the most entertaining but also the one with the widest range of outcomes. Winston has never been shy about giving the ball away, but he's also no stranger to throwing plenty of touchdowns. He might project as more of a backup at this point, but considering the slim pickings, Winston will be in demand somewhere this offseason.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2025 NFL free agent QBs ranked: Aaron Rodgers, Sam Darnold, more