The 2024 NFL season is just around the corner, and there will be plenty of new faces starting at quarterback around the league.
Nine teams enter Week 1 with a different starting signal-caller than they had to open last season. While some teams may have found their long-term answer at the position, several franchises will be on the hunt to land a new quarterback after this season.
With that in mind, here’s a way-too-early look at five teams that could have a new starting quarterback in 2025, along with some potential options.
Additionally, we’ve included a confidence meter for whether the team actually ends up with a new starter next season, with “5” being extremely confident and “1” signifying “I’m guessing.”
Note: We chose not to include the Minnesota Vikings and New England Patriots on this list, as both teams are expected to replace their starters, who are each on one-year deals, with their 2024 first-round pick.
Dallas Cowboys
Current starter: Dak Prescott
Potential replacements: Shedeur Sanders (Colorado), Quinn Ewers (Texas), Conner Weigman (Texas A&M) and Jalen Milroe (Alabama)
Prescott’s impending free agency will be one of the top storylines throughout the 2024 season, as he’s set to become the NFL’s first $60M per year player next offseason. Dallas is amidst heated contract negotiations with CeeDee Lamb, who is looking to become the highest-paid wideout in the league.
As a result, it’s unlikely the Cowboys will reach an agreement on a deal with Prescott before the start of the regular season, just as owner Jerry Jones recently hinted at.
In all likelihood, Prescott will test free agency, but would he really leave the Cowboys? Even though Prescott is 2-5 as a starter in the playoffs, Dallas gives him arguably his best chance to win a Super Bowl. In the end, money talks, and if the Cowboys aren’t willing to outbid a team desperate for a franchise quarterback, Prescott could easily sign elsewhere.
Such a scenario unfolding still feels unlikely, yet if it were to occur, Dallas would be in a difficult spot to replace Prescott. The Cowboys would incur $40M in dead money if Prescott signs with another team, so if they need to find another quarterback, it’ll likely be through the draft.
This wouldn’t be an ideal situation by any means, particularly since the 2025 quarterback class doesn’t look as promising as the 2024 group and because Dallas will likely pick in the 20s.
Even so, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Cowboys trade up for Sanders (3230 passing yards, 27 touchdowns and three interceptions last season) or Ewers (3,479 passing yards, 22 TDs and six interceptions in 2023). Although if Dallas stands pat in the draft, it could select Weigman or Milroe, both of whom could play their way into the first-round discussion this season. In 2023, Milroe amassed 3,365 total yards and 35 total touchdowns, whereas Weigman threw for 979 yards and accounted for 10 total touchdowns in four games.
Confidence meter: 2
Seattle Seahawks
Current starter: Geno Smith
Potential replacements: Sam Howell (Seahawks), Ewers, Weigman and Milroe
Smith’s career renaissance with Seattle has been one of the most compelling storylines in the NFL over the past two seasons. Since taking over as the Seahawks starter, Smith has thrown for 7,906 yards, 50 touchdowns and 20 interceptions, leading the team to one playoff berth and earning two Pro Bowl nods in the process. Despite being a competent quarterback, the writing appears to be on the wall regarding Smith’s future in Seattle.
After firing long-time HC Pete Carroll earlier this offseason, the Seahawks are embarking on a new era in franchise history under HC Mike Macdonald. While Smith is Macdonald’s guy for this season, Seattle has already taken steps to suggest it’s looking to move on from Smith.
In March, the Seahawks traded for former Commanders starting QB Howell, who has turnover issues but could be worth developing since he’s only 23.
While Howell probably isn’t the answer for Seattle, it’s hard to imagine the team not taking a younger route at quarterback in 2025, regardless of how Smith, under contract through 2025, performs. If the 33-year-old Smith struggles this season, the Seahawks have every reason to move on from him.
However, even if he’s still serviceable, Seattle could be inclined to trade Smith to a team needing a one-year bridge starter in an effort to save cap space and set itself up for the future.
Confidence meter: 4
Pittsburgh Steelers
Current starter: Russell Wilson (probably)
Potential replacements: Justin Fields (Steelers), Weigman, Milroe and Smith
The Steelers have yet to decide between Wilson and Fields, both of whom were acquired this offseason, as the team’s starting quarterback, though the nine-time Pro Bowler will likely secure the job. Still, neither Wilson nor Fields have been particularly impressive in the preseason, raising doubts about their potential this season and beyond.
Nonetheless, if Wilson performs similarly to how he did in Denver, Pittsburgh will likely look for another starter next offseason. Fields could make a case to at least be the 2025 Week 1 starter if he re-signs, but the Steelers would be wise to target external options.
However, seeing as though HC Mike Tomlin has never had a losing season, the Steelers will likely find themselves out of range for a top quarterback prospect. Would Pittsburgh be willing to gamble on a mid-to-late first-round quarterback again after the Kenny Pickett experiment quickly ended in disaster? It’s possible, but Smith could prove to be a reasonable stop-gap option if the Steelers don’t want to take that risk.
Confidence meter: 3
Las Vegas Raiders
Current starter: Gardner Minshew
Potential replacements: Prescott, Sanders and Ewers
Minshew, a free-agent signing, enters the 2024 season atop Las Vegas’ depth chart after winning an underwhelming position battle against second-year quarterback Aidan O’Connell. Last season, Minshew was solid for Indianapolis, throwing for 3,305 yards, 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions while posting a 7-6 record as a starter.
While Minshew could be more productive thanks to his upgraded supporting cast in Las Vegas, he’s merely a placeholder until the team finds a suitable replacement. Ultimately, the Raiders’ record this season will determine how they move forward at quarterback.
If Minshew takes care of the ball and the defense looks like a dominant unit as it was at the end of last season, Las Vegas will likely miss out on landing a top-10 draft pick. In turn, this could motivate GM Tom Telesco to pursue Prescott in free agency, though Las Vegas would have to free up significant cap space.
Drafting a quarterback in the first round, whether it be with their pick or through a trade-up, might make the most sense for the Raiders from both a financial and team-building perspective.
Confidence meter: 5
New York Giants
Current starter: Daniel Jones
Potential replacements: Carson Beck (Georgia), Prescott and Wilson
Jones, who signed a widely scrutinized four-year, $160M deal last offseason, is entering a career-defining season, but even if he returns to 2022 form, it seems unlikely he’ll be New York’s starter next season. After all, the Giants’ interest in moving on from Jones this offseason was well-documented, as the team tried to trade up in the draft for now-Patriots QB Drake Maye.
It’s difficult to predict which version of the Giants we’re going to get in 2024. They could easily take another step back or be scrappy enough to play their way out of position for a top quarterback prospect once again. Either way, by parting ways with Jones next offseason, which would save the team $19.4M in cap space, GM Joe Schoen can get creative in his search for a replacement.
Considering Schoen was willing to pay a hefty price to land Maye, Beck will likely be a top target, regardless of whether the Giants have to trade up to get him. Beck is the early favorite to be the first quarterback selected in next year’s draft after throwing for 3,941 yards, 24 touchdowns and six interceptions last season.
The Giants could also opt for a veteran quarterback, and they’ll likely have some options in free agency. New York would surely extend an offer to Prescott if he hits the open market and could be a solid fit, given its promising young wide receiver corps and solid defense.
Or perhaps the Giants give Wilson, a quarterback they had interest in signing this offseason, a one-year deal and hope another Manning (Texas QB Arch) forces his way to New York in 2026.
Confidence meter: 5
