Ranking the 7 NFL teams most likely to make a quarterback change in 2025

The NFL is an ever-changing league, as the quarterback position in particular sees regular turnover from year to year.

As we're settling into the second half of the season, it's worth looking at the NFL teams who are most likely to change out quarterbacks next year.

Three teams came across our desk, but we decided to leave them off this list.

The Pittsburgh Steelers could choose not to re-sign resurgent quarterback Russell Wilson if he gets a better offer elsewhere, but we're betting those two sides come to a new deal. Likewise, we're guessing the New Orleans Saints and quarterback Derek Carr stay together for at least one more season.

It's also very likely we'll see the Minnesota Vikings swap out Sam Darnold for J.J. McCarthy next year, but that's just the natural succession plan in place for the franchise.

However, these seven teams made a lot of sense to us as possible destinations for change, and we've ranked them below from least likely to most likely. Let's dive in.

7. New York Jets

It's really hard to tell what's coming next with the Jets. The team has a lot of financial incentive to bring Aaron Rodgers back for another season with the way his contract is structured. Cutting him would send New York into rebuilding mode. Rodgers could also decide to retire. The future is very tenuous in the Meadowlands, but Rodgers will probably be the one to determine if he wants to come back. If New York jettisons him, it's because the team wants to start from scratch.

6. Carolina Panthers

Quarterback Bryce Young has won two straight games in what's turning into an audition for him to keep the job for 2025. If he keeps showing signs of improvement, Carolina has a lot of incentive to give him another chance next year as opposed to dipping into a shaky 2025 draft class. If Young starts to falter down the stretch and the Panthers pick high, we could see him elsewhere next fall.

5. Cleveland Browns

The Browns are basically stuck with Deshaun Watson's albatross of a contract, so the odds of Cleveland either cutting him or finding a trade partner are extremely low. However, the franchise risks empty seats if Watson returns in 2025 the same player he was in 2024. It's possible the team stomachs Watson sitting on the bench while a new quarterback leads the team in 2025. Yes, that'd make Watson the most expensive backup quarterback of all time. However, the Browns cannot afford to have Watson start a full season as he is and expect to meaningfully contend. This team may just have to make a change at the position out of basic necessity. The money makes it very hard for a release, so the difficult dynamics just leave the team without any great options for 2025.

4. Indianapolis Colts

The Colts are going to have a really hard time going into 2025 with Anthony Richardson as their starter. Richardson still has tons of potential, but his spotty play and injury history put Indianapolis in a tough spot. The longer the Colts go without giving Richardson the reps he desperately needs to grow, the less likely it is they bring him back in 2025. The 2023 draft pick might find himself trying to rebound as a backup next season if Indianapolis doesn't feel comfortable with him as the future. The Colts aren't likely to have a high draft pick, so Darnold might be a logical short-term fix.

3. Tennessee Titans

The Will Levis era of Titans football is probably coming to an end this fall, as turnovers and durability may push Tennessee to use its likely high 2025 draft pick to find his successor. Levis is a solid candidate to rehabilitate his career as a backup with a quarterback-friendly coaching staff. The tools are there for success. However, the odds of him starting in Tennessee next year feel increasingly low unless he's able to get healthy and show major strides in his development.

2. New York Giants

The Giants are probably cutting Daniel Jones next year. The hyper-inconsistent quarterback is solid one week and a pumpkin the next, and New York will probably pick high in the 2025 NFL Draft. Jones will most likely continue his career as a backup with some hope to revitalize himself for a possible future starting opportunity. It's just hard to see this going differently for either party.

1. Las Vegas Raiders

The Raiders will find a new quarterback in 2025. This is almost guaranteed. Gardner Minshew is an excellent backup and a capable bridge quarterback in the right offense, but he's not Las Vegas' answer. Aidan O'Connell and Desmond Ridder probably aren't, either. Look for Las Vegas to draft high next spring, and it'd be a shock if the pick is any position but quarterback.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Ranking the 7 NFL teams most likely to make a quarterback change in 2025