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Who Still Needs a QB? 1 Sentence to Describe Each Team's Urgency After 2024 NFL Draft

Brad Gagnon

Now that the NFL draft is done and the quarterback carousel has stopped spinning for 2024, it's time to take the temperature of every signal-caller situation in the league.

Looking primarily at age, trajectory, experience, contract, injury history and the state of the team, let's break down every squad's QB-need level with a single sentence for each.

In each category, teams are listed from most to least desperate.

Contract information courtesy of Spotrac.

Prime Candidates to Pursue a New Franchise Quarterback Next Offseason (if Not Sooner)

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Las Vegas Raiders: Aidan O'Connell and Gardner Minshew II were both born and raised to be bridge quarterbacks.

Seattle Seahawks: Geno Smith clearly isn't the long-term solution, and it's real easy to get out of the 33-year-old's deal after the 2024 campaign.

New York Giants: Daniel Jones has given us no reason to believe he can become something good, and there's an easy way out of his contract next offseason.

Dallas Cowboys: It sure does seem as though this is a make-or-break contract year for 2023 MVP runner-up Dak Prescott, and Dallas' inability to use the franchise tag on the 30-year-old is a factor here as well.

Carolina Panthers: I'm really not sure they'll tolerate another dumpster fire of a season from 2022 No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young.

New York Jets: I'm not convinced Aaron Rodgers is a good quarterback anymore, or that he will stick around (by choice or otherwise) if things go badly in 2024.

Pittsburgh Steelers: They're giving low-cost, low-risk shots to Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, but there's a chance both fail and they're back at it next offseason.

Tennessee Titans: Will Levis doesn't have enough clout to survive anything but an exclamation point of a sophomore season, and nobody outside of the Rudolph or Willis families is fired up about Mason Rudolph or Malik Willis.

Somewhere in Between

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New Orleans Saints: If Derek Carr fails to deliver at age 33 in 2024, they could blow it up and cut their losses while saving $30 million with a post-June 1 release.

Los Angeles Rams: Matthew Stafford is locked in contractually for a couple more seasons, but the 36-year-old hasn't been the same of late and a retirement in the next year wouldn't be shocking.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: If Baker Mayfield proves his 2023 breakout was a fluke in 2024, the Bucs could easily bail with limited financial implications.

Arizona Cardinals: Kyler Murray's contract likely gives him two more years in Tampa, but a third consecutive unproductive season could see the Cards to do something extreme in 2025.

Jacksonville Jaguars: Trevor Lawrence is under contract for the next two years, but if things really hit the fan in 2024, it's possible they'll do something dramatic.

Detroit Lions: Jared Goff is playing the best football of his career, but the 29-year-old is entering a contract year so you never know.

Green Bay Packers: Jordan Love had an awesome half-season in 2023, but that's a small sample and if he falls apart in 2024 they could easily move on as his contract expires.

San Francisco 49ers: The team has at least two more cheap years with the highest-rated passer in NFL history (min. 500 attempts), but that also means an all-or-nothing organization could do something drastic if Brock Purdy suddenly bombs in 2025.

Probably Not In the Quarterback Market Until 2026 or Later

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Indianapolis Colts: Sophomore first-round pick Anthony Richardson has to prove he can stay healthy and produce in 2024, but the Colts are conservative enough to give him another chance in 2025 anyway.

Cleveland Browns: Deshaun Watson has been a disappointment, but his massive fully guaranteed contract realistically keeps him in Cleveland for the next two years at a minimum.

Denver Broncos: Bo Nix wasn't a top-10 pick, but that could buy him some time if the Broncos feel less pressure to bring him along quickly.

Minnesota Vikings: When you spend a high first-round pick on a guy, he deserves at least two full seasons to make his case.

New England Patriots: Same rule above.

Washington Commanders: Ditto.

Chicago Bears: Same rule, but to the absolute max with Caleb Williams.

Miami Dolphins: We didn't have Miami in this category last year because of Tua Tagovailoa's health history, but he earned the benefit of the doubt during another strong (and concussion-free) season in 2024.

Los Angeles Chargers: Maybe the new regime won't have a lot of patience with the yet-to-become-a-star Justin Herbert, but the 26-year-old's contract likely marries him to the team for at least two more years.

Philadelphia Eagles: Jalen Hurts had a tough 2023 season, but he's still a superb 26-year-old talent under contract through 2028.

Cincinnati Bengals: At age 27, the marvelously talented Joe Burrow is under contract in Cincinnati through 2029.

Houston Texans: C.J. Stroud is coming off one of the greatest rookie seasons in NFL history.

Buffalo Bills: Josh Allen has been in the MVP mix pretty much annually for much of his career, and the 27-year-old is under contract through 2028.

Baltimore Ravens: Reigning MVP Lamar Jackson, 27, is under contract through 2027.

Kansas City Chiefs: Two-time Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes is smack dab in the middle of his prime—and his current contract—at the age of 28.

Atlanta Falcons: Clearly they've spent big enough to give Kirk Cousins plenty of time, but the presence of top-10 pick Michael Penix Jr. really puts Atlanta at the top of the secure column.

   

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