Grading 2025 NFL QB moves, from Aaron Rodgers to Joe Milton

After the New York Jets released Aaron Rodgers at the start of NFL free agency, many presumed other signal-callers would have to wait for the 41-year-old to choose his landing spot before the quarterback market developed in full.

Instead, Rodgers was the last major free agent quarterback to sign. He waited until long after the 2025 NFL Draft before agreeing to a deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday, June 5 to replace the outgoing Russell Wilson and Justin Fields as the team’s starting quarterback.

Rodgers’ signing will largely put a bow on the NFL’s quarterback carousel for the 2025 offseason, barring the Atlanta Falcons deciding to move backup quarterback Kirk Cousins.

How does each of the notable quarterback signings fit in with his new team? USA TODAY Sports grades the fit of each noteworthy signal-caller to change teams during the 2025 offseason to date.

Grading NFL offseason QB moves

Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers

Contract: One-year deal
Grade: A-

The Steelers have been searching for a franchise quarterback since Ben Roethlisberger’s retirement following the 2021 NFL season. Rodgers may not be a long-term solution, but the 41-year-old is the best signal-caller Pittsburgh has rostered since 2021. He should be able to get the most out of DK Metcalf and could get the Steelers their first playoff win since 2016.

It also helps that Mike Tomlin has experience managing mercurial stars like Le’Veon Bell and Antonio Brown. That should allow the NFL’s longest-tenured coach to get the most out of Rodgers while creating a strong working relationship with him.

Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks

Contract: Three years, $100.5 million ($50 million guaranteed)
Grade: C-

There are some elements to like in the Seahawks’ deal with Darnold. They got younger at quarterback by swapping Geno Smith for the former Vikings quarterback, and Darnold has familiarity with new Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak. That could aid in his transition to Seattle’s offense.

That said, the Seahawks have major concerns on their interior offensive line that could derail Darnold if he doesn’t quicken his release. The 27-year-old had the third-longest time to thrown in the NFL last season ahead of only the hyper-mobile combination of Lamar Jackson and Jalen Hurts.

The Seahawks spent a first-round pick on interior lineman Grey Zabel during the 2025 NFL Draft, but that may not be enough to quell concerns about the overall protection in front of Darnold. That makes his contract the riskiest among quarterbacks signed in free agency.

Justin Fields, New York Jets

Contract: Two years, $40 million ($30 million guaranteed)
Grade: B+

Fields started just six games for the Steelers last season, but he posted the best passing numbers of his career, completing 65.8% of his passes for 1,106 yards, five touchdowns and one interception. The Jets are banking on the 26-year-old continuing to improve as a passer while adding his excellent mobility and running skills to their offense.

Fields may not ultimately become New York’s franchise quarterback but the Jets aren’t risking much to find out if he is. Add in Aaron Glenn’s familiarity coaching against him for three seasons in the NFC North and the Jets should know how to best utilize the 2021 first-round pick.

Russell Wilson, New York Giants

Contract: One year, $10.5 million (fully guaranteed)
Grade: B

Wilson’s deal with the Giants can be worth up to $21 million but the base value is half that. It’s not a bad gamble for New York, who entered the 2025 NFL offseason with only Tommy DeVito under contract. Wilson came as a short-term bargain is certainly a better than what the team had at quarterback last year in Daniel Jones, DeVito, Drew Lock and Tim Boyle.

But will Wilson be good enough to cool off Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen’s seats? It may depend on the version of him that shows up in New York. If it’s the one who led the Steelers to a 6-1 record and a 103.9 passer rating in his first seven starts, it’s possible. But if it’s the one who went 0-5 with an 88.9 passer rating in his final five starts, he won’t do much to change the direction of the Giants’ franchise.

Daniel Jones, Indianapolis Colts

Contract: One year, $14 million
Grade: B-

Jones has been a one-hit wonder over his first six NFL seasons. He posted a 9-6-1 record in 2022 while completing 67.2% of his passes for 3,205 yards, 15 touchdowns and five interceptions. However, he has struggled with turnovers during his career (47 interceptions and 50 fumbles in 70 games) and his inconsistent performance led to his exit from the Giants just a year-and-a-half into his four-year, $160 million contract.

The Colts are taking just a one-year risk on Jones and are hoping he improved after spending half of last season under Kevin O’Connell’s tutelage with the Vikings. That’s a fine gamble, but it remains to be seen whether Jones will legitimately challenge Anthony Richardson for Indianapolis’ starting job or if the Colts will just end up with two frustratingly inconsistent quarterbacks.

Marcus Mariota, Washington Commanders

Contract: One year, $8 million ($7.39 million guaranteed)
Grade: A

Mariota is one of the NFL’s best backup quarterbacks and did well filling in for Jayden Daniels in 2024. He completed 77.3% of his passes for 364 yards and four touchdowns while playing exactly 100 snaps. Bringing him back to reprise his role on a one-year deal is good business for the Commanders.

Jacoby Brissett, Arizona Cardinals

Contract: Two years, $12.5 million ($8 million guaranteed)
Grade: B+

Brissett has never had a winning record in any season during which he has started a game, but he remains a rock-solid backup quarterback. Kyler Murray has been oft-injured during his career, so Arizona investing in a high-end backup behind the 2019 No. 1 pick makes sense. They didn’t break the bank to get Brissett and have an out in the contract after one season.

Jameis Winston, New York Giants

Contract: Two years, $8 million ($5.25 million)
Grade: A-

The Giants spent big to get Wilson, but Winston looks like the better value. The 2015 NFL Draft No. 1 overall pick has established himself as a gunslinging backup quarterback. He will be responsible for a number of infuriating turnovers, but his downfield playmaking ability is undeniable.

Winston averaged 291.1 passing yards per game in his seven starts last season. If he ends up starting for the Giants, he could provide fans with a certain amount of excitement, which has been lacking at quarterback in New York’s recent seasons. That would also be a boon for Daboll, who developed an aggressive, deep-threat offense during his Buffalo years.

Cooper Rush, Baltimore Ravens

Contract: Two years, $6.2 million ($4 million guaranteed)
Grade: C+

The Ravens paid Rush appropriately, but his fit behind Lamar Jackson is strange. No backup quarterback has the high-end mobility the 2023 NFL MVP possesses, but Rush is particularly immobile, logging only 18 yards on 26 carries last season.

With that in mind, the Ravens may have to tweak their offensive scheme to better suit Rush if Jackson has to miss any time. Todd Monken will be able to do that, but it may take time for the offense to adjust if Jackson gets banged up. As such, it’s at least interesting Baltimore didn’t consider a more mobile alternative than Rush.

Jimmy Garoppolo, Los Angeles Rams

Contract: One year, $3.13 million ($3 million guaranteed)
Grade: A-

Garoppolo lost his only start for the Rams last season but posted solid numbers in his limited action. He completed 65.9% of his passes for 334 yards, two touchdowns and one interception while earning Sean McVay’s confidence. The Rams are in win-now mode, so having an experienced quarterback who started a Super Bowl behind Matthew Stafford is ideal.

Mac Jones, San Francisco 49ers

Contract: Two years, $8.41 million ($4.75 million)
Grade: A-

Rumors indicated the 49ers were choosing between Trey Lance and Mac Jones with the third overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. San Francisco ultimately went with Lance but will now turn to Jones as a backup after the North Dakota State product flamed out and lost his job to Brock Purdy.

Jones had a strong rookie season for the New England Patriots when he was coached by Josh McDaniels. Getting to work with Kyle Shanahan could reinvigorate Jones, so inking the 26-year-old to a backup salary was a sensible move.

Zach Wilson, Miami Dolphins

Contract: One year, $6 million (fully guaranteed)
Grade: C+

Wilson got slightly more than other backup quarterbacks in AAV because of his upside, but his fit in Miami is questionable. Tua Tagovailoa has often been injured during his career, and Wilson hasn’t yet shown that he can be a quality spot starter during his career.

Wilson, 25, has a career passer rating of 73.2 and more career interceptions (25) than touchdown passes (23). Perhaps his stint with Sean Payton and the Denver Broncos helped him tap into some of the potential that made him the No. 2 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, but he’s far from a strong backup quarterback.

Trey Lance, Los Angeles Chargers

Contract: One year, $2 million ($1.5 million guaranteed)
Grade: B+

Lance hasn’t been able to carve out a role or playing time with either the 49ers or Cowboys, but the Chargers are risking little to see if the No. 3 pick from the 2021 NFL Draft can find success under Jim Harbaugh’s tutelage. He will have to beat Taylor Heinicke for the backup job, but this seems like a strong fit for Lance as he looks to kickstart his career.

Joe Flacco, Cleveland Browns

Contract: One year, $4 million ($3 million guaranteed)
Grade: A-

Sure, Flacco is entering his age-40 season and has a 3.3% interception rate over the last two seasons, but he was prolific in five starts with the Browns in 2023. Cleveland’s quarterback play was largely abysmal in 2024, so paying Flacco $4 million to see if he can rekindle his magic is a good gamble for Kevin Stefanski’s cap-strapped squad. Having a veteran of Flacco’s caliber in the room will only be a help for Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel, too.

Gardner Minshew, Kansas City Chiefs

Contract: One year, $1.17 million
Grade: A

The Chiefs have long rostered high-quality veteran quarterbacks behind Patrick Mahomes in case the star misses time due to injury. Minshew is the latest to join the team, and he will do so on a deal barely above the veteran minimum.

Minshew threw more interceptions (10) than touchdowns (9) with the Raiders last season but should be better poised to succeed within Andy Reid’s offense. The 28-year-old has completed 63.3% of his career passes and posted a 7-6 record in 13 starts for the Colts in 2023. He should be a solid spot starter if needed.

Geno Smith, Las Vegas Raiders

Contract: Two years, $75 million ($65.5 million guaranteed)
Grade: B

The Raiders traded a 2025 third-round pick to acquire Smith and promptly signed him to a two-year, $75 million extension. That makes him the 16th-highest-paid quarterback in terms of new money AAV and brings his overall cost for the Raiders over $100 million.

Las Vegas surrendered significant resources to get Smith, but his familiarity with Pete Carroll makes him a strong fit. The Raiders’ three starting quarterbacks from 2024 – Gardner Minshew, Aidan O’Connell and Desmond Ridder – produced a combined passer rating of just 80.05.

Comparatively, Smith posted a 93.2 passer rating. That makes the 34-year-old a big-time upgrade, even if questions exist about whether he can shape the Raiders into a true playoff contender over the course of his deal.

Joe Milton, Dallas Cowboys

Acquired for: 2025 pick swap
Grade: A

The Cowboys traded a 2025 fifth-round pick to the Patriots to get Milton and a 2025 seventh-round pick. This comes after Milton completed 22 of 29 passes for 241 yards and a touchdown in minimal action during his rookie season.

Milton has great arm strength and good mobility, so the Cowboys are getting a potential-packed passer to develop behind Dak Prescott. Consider this a cheaper version of the Trey Lance deal the team made before the 2023 season. The team will have three years of control over Milton too, so getting him in a down quarterback draft year is a sensible move.