Top fits for each remaining notable available quarterback

1. Kyler Murray – Vikings

The Vikings are the one team in the NFL that is truly a QB away from being a Super Bowl contender. The last time Minnesota had a high-level player at the QB position in Sam Darnold, they went 14-3. Kyler Murray is still a potential star at the QB position with electric talent who was taken #1 overall for a reason. He could very well fulfill his potential with the Vikings who have a young bright offensive minded head coach and very strong personnel on offense. Murray might even be a more talented player than Sam Darnold was, and the Vikings could even improve off their 14-3 season because of essentially replacing Darnold with Murray.

2. Malik Willis – Dolphins

Given that Miami just hired their general manager from the Packers and their head coach from Green Bay as well, getting Green Bay’s backup QB to start for them now seems ideal. Willis has physical traits that are comparable to that of Lamar Jackson in terms of size, speed, and arm strength. With Jackson being of course the most talented QB in the sport today and perhaps the most talented QB that the game has ever seen. Willis, in very limited time throwing the football in the 2025 season was off the charts posting nearly a perfect passer rating albeit in just 35 pass attempts. The Dolphins who have had one of the most inept QB positions for decades now while also being one of the most inept NFL franchises in that period, may find their savior in Willis.

3. Tua Tagovailoa – Saints

With Tua’s departure from Miami almost being imminent at this point, the Saints in my estimation are the best fit. Given Tua’s lengthy injury history and his inability to play in the cold being his two biggest weaknesses, playing for New Orleans could circumvent them. Although the Saints offensive line was not great this past season, the New Orleans franchise dating back to the Drew Brees era has always emphasized the offensive line of the team. Being protected by a stronger offensive line could lead to Tua remaining healthier than he otherwise would. The Saints also play in a dome in the warmest weather division in the NFL and in a conference where there are more contenders who play in warm weather, thus overcoming Tua’s cold weather performance concerns to a large extent as well. Saints’ head coach Kellen Moore is perhaps the most overlooked and underrated young offensive mind in the sport and could work very well with Tua. Tua is the type of QB who is not an elite talent but can certainly produce at an elite level in the right circumstances. The Saints always have strong personnel on offense and have a very bright offensive minded head coach, ideal circumstances for Tagovailoa. Additionally, Saints head coach Kellen Moore was once an undersized left-handed QB, just like Tua is an undersized left-handed QB. The two could certainly relate and get the best out of each other as a result, as those two are likely the only two QBs in football history of that ilk to play in the NFL.

4. Mac Jones – Cardinals

Mac Jones is a potential franchise QB in the Sam Darnold, Baker Mayfield, Daniel Jones mold. A QB without standout physical traits who was still drafted very highly in the first round who ended being a backup in the NFL for some time who then eventually emerges as a very strong starting caliber player. Mac Jones, working with new Cardinals’ head coach Mike Lafleur, could be a very good fit. Lafleur is one of the hottest young offensive minds in the NFL who could become a very good NFL offensive minded head coach. Mac Jones thrived in the Kyle Shanahan system this past season playing arguably the best ball of his career under the 49ers’ coach. New Cardinals’ head coach Mike Lafleur was an offensive assistant in San Francisco under Shanahan for 4 seasons and shares a similar coaching style to Shanahan. Lafleur also was the offensive coordinator for the Rams this past season and QB Matthew Stafford played the best football of his career under Lafleur as the Rams’ offensive coordinator. Lafleur could get the best out of Mac Jones as well who is a 6 foot 3-inch pocket passer just like Stafford is. Jones will have a strong chance to compete for the starting job with the Cardinals as he is currently lacking that chance with the 49ers. Mac Jones, working with a smart young offensive minded head coach and 2-3 electric skill position players could see his career resurrect in Arizona, similar to how Darnold, Mayfield, and Daniel Jones saw a career resurrection as well.

5. Anthony Richardson – Steelers

The Steelers have experimented at the QB spot since the retirement of Ben Roethlisberger and could experiment again with Richardson. Pittsburgh has started two over the hill veterans in Russell Wilson and Aaron Rodgers over the past couple of seasons and now should experiment in the opposite direction, giving a young unproven guy a chance. Richardson has requested a trade from the Colts, and the Colts have stated they are willing to help him find a new team. Richardson is an electric unicorn type of talent in the Lamar Jackson/Josh Allen mold. However, Richardson has struggled with maturity and with throwing the football since entering the NFL. But Jackson and Allen also struggled in terms of consistently throwing the football well in the initial portions of their NFL careers just like Richardson did. Richardson can throw the football very well but struggles with consistency but given more time to start in the league in the right situation, I think he could prove to be a star just like Jackson and Allen. Mike McCarthy is a QB whisperer and one of the smartest offensive minds perhaps in NFL history. McCarthy got the most out of another elite QB talent in Aaron Rodgers and could certainly do the same with Richardson. More importantly, McCarthy is a proven established offensive mind for a young developing QB like Richardson to learn and grow under. As I think it would not be the best fit for the raw developing Richardson to go to a team with an unproven young coach and/or a coach who has a defensive background either.

6. Justin Fields – Falcons

Although Fields, the former first rounder, has had a relatively disappointing NFL career thus far, I am still a believer in his ability to be a franchise caliber QB. After a very disappointing season with the Jets, it is unlikely that any team will bring him on to be the surefire day one starter of their franchise. However, I still feel as if Fields is talented enough and has played well enough in the league at times to earn a shot to compete for a starting job. Justin Fields grew up less than an hour from the Falcons stadium and played college football at the University of Georgia for some time. Fields is a very gifted QB who perhaps has just run into some unfortunate situations on a consistent basis in his time in the NFL. There is an argument to be made that the three teams that Fields has suited up for in the NFL are indeed the three most offensive tone-deaf teams in the league. Fields had to work with a defensive minded head coach in each of his three NFL stops, two of which were very subpar defensive minded head coaches who may not even be capable NFL defensive coordinators either, and certainly not good NFL head coaches. With the third in Mike Tomlin being outdated and tone deaf to the offensive side of the ball in recent memory as well. If Fields were to go to the Falcons I think he would have a very fair shot to play competing with Michael Penix Jr who was also drafted in a similar spot. Both Penix Jr and Fields are first round picks who are talented but have not proven to be NFL starters. The two could certainly compete for the Falcons’ starting job and bring out the best in each other as a result. Fields, instead of being in an offensive tone-deaf culture, will now get to play under an experienced offensive minded head coach who has won multiple coach of the year awards in Kevin Stefanski. The Falcons’ offensive personnel is borderline elite as well so Fields will finally have a chance to prove himself in a QB friendly circumstance. Even if Fields were to not win the outright starting job over Penix Jr, he would still have a shot to play. Penix Jr is one of the most injury prone starting QBs and Fields as a result could still see the field. Penix Jr has certainly not proven to be a surefire NFL starter either and if he were to go into a slump, Fields could come in and play very well.

7. Jimmy Garappolo – Titans

Garoppolo during his time with the 49ers consistently led one of the best NFL offenses and NFL teams starting for San Francisco. However, his fragility and lack of big game intangibles ultimately ended up shortening his time with the 49ers. He then left the team to play for the Raiders, and it didn’t end up working out and he has since been the backup QB for the Rams. Talks of Garoppolo re-emerging as a starter in the NFL have begun to simmer this offseason and I believe going to the Titans would be a strong fit. The Titans are a team that is flying under the radar and entering this offseason cycle they are essentially a doppelganger of the Patriots from the 2024 season to this past season. Both teams finishing with amongst the league’s worst record, both teams hiring a proven defensive minded head coach heading into next season, both teams hiring a very established offensive coordinator heading into next season, both teams having the most cap space in the NFL entering the offseason, and both teams having their rookie top 3 pick QBs going into year 2 as the starter as well. However, the biggest difference between the Patriots who made the Super Bowl the following year and the Titans headed into this offseason is the QB spot. Patriots’ QB Drake Maye as a rookie looked very sharp and overachieved in his rookie season whereas Titans’ rookie QB Cam Ward did not look good at all as a rookie. So, if the Titans plan to succeed in a similar fashion to New England headed into next season, they will need stronger QB play. Bringing on a veteran Garoppolo to push Ward for the starting job and to provide Tennessee with at least a capable solid starter for their season’s hopes could be a wise move. As Ward has not even proven to be an NFL caliber starter like Garoppolo has.

8. Geno Smith – Bengals

Geno Smith after an awful 2025 season was just recently released by the Raiders but is better suited as a backup in my estimation. With Joe Burrow being perhaps the most injury prone QB in the NFL and his current backup in Joe Flacco approaching age 42 and not being a lock to return to the team, Smith could be a very good fit. Geno Smith had an outstanding 2022 season where he was a borderline MVP candidate, but outside of that year he has played at a fringe starter to a backup level with regularity. Smith has high end capabilities but is not consistent in maintaining a high level of play. So, filling in for a likely to be injured Burrow for stretches, Smith can potentially thrive and show that high ceiling for bursts like he has in the past. Playing in a backup role in a very QB friendly offense behind arguably the most injury prone QB, will utilize Smith’s high ceiling but lack of consistency the best. As Smith will just need to show his high ceiling for shorter periods of time with the Bengals in all likelihood. Smith was handicapped by a brutal Raiders’ offensive infrastructure this past season, but the Bengals have one of the most QB friendly systems in the NFL led by a superstar wide receiver duo and a very smart offensive head coach. Perhaps if Smith can thrive and play closer to his 2022 form during his potential time on the field for a high injury risk in Burrow, he can earn a starting job the following year with a different team. The Bengals, having the often-injured Burrow as their starter would greatly benefit from bringing on perhaps an overqualified QB2 to back up Burrow. This pairing just seems like a hand in glove fit to me for both parties.

9. Aaron Rodgers – Retire

The future hall of famer Rodgers will go down as one of the greatest QBs in NFL history without a doubt. Rodgers staying around well beyond his prime, looking like a shell of himself for years at a time now, is perhaps tainting his legacy a bit. Perhaps Rodgers should just hang up the cleats.

10. Kirk Cousins – 49ers

Kirk Cousins being a pocket passer who is deadly accurate with a high football acumen is the perfect type of QB for Kyle Shanahan to work with. Cousins could see a career resurrection working with the elite offensive mind in Shanahan as Cousins has never played for an offensive coach of that caliber before. Cousins would not be under pressure to start but will still have a chance to play in place of the not overly durable Purdy who saw rumblings of his starting job security diminishing this past season as well. If Mac Jones can threaten to steal the starting job from Purdy, then why can’t Cousins? If Purdy continues to perform poorly against the Seattle defense, perhaps Cousins could step in and provide the 49ers with a better option at QB. Cousins would have the opportunity to play the best football of his career and see a career resurrection under Kyle Shanahan.

11. Joe Flacco – Colts

The Colts need a solid veteran backup for Daniel Jones and their Super Bowl caliber roster. The young Riley Leonard is too inexperienced, and Anthony Richardson has demanded a trade. Flacco has experience with the Colts and head coach Shane Steichen and should return to the team. Flacco would be waiting behind Jones to come in and save the day in the postseason just as he did before in the postseason. Flacco played very well for stretches under Zac Taylor of the Bengals this past season and the Colts have an even more QB conducive offense than Cincinnati.