Which NFL Team’s New Starting Quarterback is Poised to Succeed or Falter?
Nine NFL teams plan to hand over the offensive keys to a new starting quarterback. We analyze who will hit the fast lane and who may sputter in the 2025 season.
Quarterback turnover in the NFL is normal, especially when a team drafts a rookie or wants to make a quick fix with a veteran.
Other times, though, teams have a successor waiting in the wings to take over or make a high-profile move in an attempt to upgrade the position.
There’s a mix of that heading into 2025 as nine quarterbacks are expected to be the new starter for their respective team. This includes at least one rookie (No. 1 overall draft pick Cam Ward), one 2024 first-round pick (J.J. McCarthy) and some veterans of various levels of experience.
Not all of these new starters may succeed this year, so before the season kicks off, let’s take a look at which quarterbacks are in the best or worst spots.
J.J. McCarthy, Minnesota Vikings
McCarthy, who was sidelined all of last season with a knee injury, has three very positive elements going for him in his debut campaign with the Minnesota Vikings: a great group of skill position players, an upgraded offensive line and a quality coaching staff.
Sam Darnold threw for 4,319 yards, 35 touchdowns and 12 interceptions with the Vikings last season, mainly with receivers Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. Tight end T.J. Hockenson returned midway through the season and running back Aaron Jones was an effective pass catcher as well.
That entire group returns for McCarthy, but with a healthier Hockenson as well as ex-San Francisco 49ers running back Jordan Mason and third-round rookie wideout Tai Felton also in tow. That’s a powerful group of weapons for a young quarterback in his first season as a starter.
Minnesota made offensive line upgrades a priority this offseason after making the playoffs despite allowing the 12th-highest run disruption rate (68.8%) and tying for the 13th-highest pressure rate (42.7%) and the fifth-highest sack rate allowed (8.4%). Not only did the Vikings sign guard Will Fries for $88 million and center Ryan Kelly $18 million, but they also used their first-round pick on Ohio State guard Donovan Jackson.
Fries and Kelly were two of the best pass- and run-blocking interior linemen in 2024, while Jackson finished his final season with the national champion Buckeyes with a 7.9% run disruption rate allowed, an 8.5% pressure rate allowed, and a 2.1% adjusted sack rate allowed.