NFL free agency begins in March.
Veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers is slated to hit free agency after the New York Jets announced they are moving in a different direction. Rodgers is set to join a group of free-agent quarterbacks that includes Sam Darnold, Russell Wilson and Justin Fields.
Multiple NFL teams are void of a starting quarterback. Is Rodgers the best available quarterback on the open market? Or should QB-needy clubs pursue a younger signal-caller in Fields, who appears to be beginning to tap into his potential?
USA TODAY Sports analyzes the best fits for the top free-agent quarterbacks this offseason.
NFL free agent QB best fits
Aaron Rodgers (2024 team: Jets)
Best fit:Las Vegas Raiders
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The Jets announced on Feb. 13 that they are parting ways with Rodgers. New York will likely release Rodgers with a post-June 1 designation. That means the Jets must carry Rodgers on their roster until March 12, the start of the NFL’s league year. Rodgers is permitted to sign elsewhere on March 13.
Rodgers, 41, doesn’t perform at the four-time MVP level he once did, but he’s still a starting-caliber QB. He started to play better during the later portion of last season. He had a 90-or-above passer rating in four of his final five starts in New York.
The Las Vegas Raiders don’t have a starting-caliber quarterback on their roster. Even in his 40s, Rodgers is an upgrade from Aidan O'Connell and Gardner Minshew. Rodgers would be a solid bridge QB while the Raiders look for a QB of the future.
Unfortunately for Rodgers, the Pittsburgh Steelers are perhaps the only QB-needy team that possesses a ready-to-win roster. However, Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith’s scheme is better suited for Russell Wilson or Justin Fields. Furthermore, Steelers safety DeShon Elliott publicly scoffed at the idea of the team signing Rodgers.
Sam Darnold (2024 team: Vikings)
Best fit:New York Giants
Is Darnold the quarterback who helped lead the Vikings to a 14-2 record through 17 weeks or the QB who withered down the stretch?
It’s likely somewhere in the middle.
Darnold enjoyed career-highs in every significant statistical quarterback category this season, including yards (4,319), touchdowns (35) and passer rating (102.5), but he regressed in Week 18 and during Minnesota’s wild-card loss to the Los Angeles Rams. He had a 55.5 passer rating in the regular-season finale and followed that performance up with an interception, a fumble and indecisive play in the postseason.
In totality, Darnold’s 2024 season was much improved from what we’ve previously seen from the journeyman. The Vikings could re-sign Darnold, but will they really sit J.J. McCarthy another year?
I believe Darnold should return to New York, but this time in a blue uniform.
Russell Wilson (2024 team: Steelers)
Best fit:Pittsburgh Steelers
Wilson passed for 16 touchdowns to just five interceptions in 11 regular-season games. He had a 6-5 record as a starter and helped the Steelers earn a playoff berth. The Steelers might re-sign Wilson. He quietly had a solid year in Pittsburgh and even earned a Pro Bowl invite.
The 36-year-old QB still throws a nice moon deep ball, but his game has become limited to long passes or check downs. Wilson rarely throws intermediate passes or delivers balls in tight windows. Is that a byproduct of waning arm strength?
Wilson doesn’t maneuver as he once did but can still cook when playing off-script.
A short-term deal with the with the Steelers seems logical for both sides.
Justin Fields (2024 team: Steelers)
Best fit:New York Jets
Is Fields ready for another starting opportunity? He had a 4-2 record as Pittsburgh’s starter before Russell Wilson took over the job.
To Fields’ credit, he improved as a pocket passer in 2024. He had a career-best 93.3 passer rating last season, albeit in a short sample size.
The Steelers are likely to keep either Wilson or Fields. Fields turns 26 in March and has a higher ceiling. His dual-threat ability is a good fit in Arthur Smith’s system. Can Fields’ passing ability continue to trend upward? I believe the answer is yes.
Fields in the Big Apple would be intriguing.
Jameis Winston (2024 team: Browns)
Best fit:Atlanta Falcons
Super Bowl 59 festivities proved that Winston’s got a future in television. Fans enjoy the charismatic quarterback.
TV can wait for a while, though, because the well-traveled QB still has football left in him. Winston possesses above-average arm strength, is experienced and a good guy to have in the locker room.
Winston’s play can be erratic. His propensity to give the football away resulted in demotions at practically all his stops (Tampa Bay, New Orleans and Cleveland). He isn’t a long-term answer but he’s a serviceable starter or a high-end backup.
The Falcons are inevitably going to move on from Kirk Cousins. Winston could fill in as Atlanta’s backup behind Michael Penix Jr.
Follow USA TODAY Sports' Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.
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