NFL Big Five: Teams with biggest quarterback need this offseason

Because the 2025 NFL common season winds down, groups are starting to evaluate their wants for the upcoming offseason.

For the next 5, quarterback must be on the high of the record.

The Cardinals are proof that amount would not equal high quality. Arizona’s seventh-ranked passing assault is inflated with the staff main the league in cross makes an attempt. 

Per NFL Pro data, Jacoby Brissett, who changed Week 1 starter Kyler Murray halfway via the season, is No. 20 in anticipated factors added per dropback (-0.03). Murray is on injured reserve with a foot damage, a transfer ESPN NFL insider Jeremy Fowler recently noted was possible finished to protect his commerce market.

Arizona at the moment holds the No. 6 choose within the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft, and with few can’t-miss quarterback prospects on this yr’s class, it would must commerce as much as land one of many high gamers on the place.

Rookie Shedeur Sanders might give the Browns one thing to consider with a powerful end, however chances are high that Cleveland will as soon as once more be within the quarterback market this offseason.

The Browns are No. 30 in cross offense (2,407 yards) regardless of rating No. 7 in makes an attempt (483). Sanders is finishing simply 52.2 p.c of his passes, and according to Professional Soccer Reference, his 16.9 QBR is the worst amongst 45 quarterbacks with at the least two begins. Per ESPN, the Browns have an 18.9 p.c probability to earn the No. 1 choose.

Geno Smith’s run as a viable starter got here to a crashing halt in his first season with the Raiders. Smith has thrown practically as many interceptions (14) as touchdowns (16) whereas taking a league-high 49 sacks. His 203.7 passing yards per recreation are his fewest in a season with at the least 10 begins since 2014, his second yr within the league.

A Week 17 dwelling recreation versus the New York Giants (2-12) will possible settle the race for the No. 1 choose, which ESPN initiatives to go to Las Vegas. Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza and Oregon quarterback Dante Moore are trending towards being the primary quarterback off the board, and both may very well be the reply to the Raiders’ seasons-long seek for a franchise quarterback.

It is unclear how Monday’s ugly 28-15 loss on the Pittsburgh Steelers will affect head coach Mike McDaniel’s future, however quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s grew to become clearer when the staff benched him Wednesday for rookie seventh-rounder Quinn Ewers.

Tagovailoa already has $54 million assured subsequent season and would see an astronomical $99.2M useless cap cost if launched. Will probably be troublesome to half methods with Tagovailoa, however that does not imply he ought to enter 2026 because the staff’s starter.

The Dolphins might attain for a quarterback in a shallow class, however with different holes on the roster, it would make extra sense to kick the tires on a less expensive various on the free-agent market or by way of commerce.

Rookie Brady Prepare dinner will get his second start of the season in Week 16 on the New Orleans Saints (4-10). He is been terrible in his first two video games, finishing 57.1 p.c of his cross makes an attempt for 339 yards (5.4 yards per try), one landing and 5 interceptions. He is additionally been sacked 9 occasions.

The Jets signed Justin Fields to a two-year, $40M contract this previous offseason, however that have failed, with the previous first-round choose averaging 139.9 passing yards per recreation. He hasn’t performed since Nov. 13 and is at the moment coping with a knee damage, whereas his substitute, veteran Tyrod Taylor (groin), was injured in Week 14. Dropping their closing three video games may very well be the most effective factor for the Jets, who needs to be prioritizing draft place above all else.