The transfer portal has officially opened, and few players will attract as much attention as quarterbacks.

Given the importance of the position, signal-callers have always been viewed as high-value talent. That description has taken a very literal, public turn in the name, image and likeness (NIL) era, as well.

Productive and/or high-potential QBs will get paid.

The reality is several of these players are in the portal because their recent year didn't go as planned. However, the right quarterback can make a huge impact. Just look at the 2024 College Football Playoff bracket, which includes five teams—Oregon, Arizona State, Notre Dame, Ohio State and Indiana—with a transfer captaining the offense.

While the choices are subjective, they are based on a mix of college production and perceived potential.

Jackson Arnold

The season didn't go as planned for Jackson Arnold.

Dillon Gabriel left Oklahoma after last season, clearing the path for Arnold—a 5-star prospect in the 2023 cycle—to take command of the offense. Even as expectations for the Sooners were pretty mild in 2024, Arnold was considered the future of the program.

After a sluggish start, however, Arnold found himself benched in favor of freshman Michael Hawkins Jr. for a couple of games. Arnold returned to the lineup and played a valuable role in OU's late-season upset of Alabama, but he averaged just 5.8 yards per attempt this year. It's understandable that Arnold and OU would move in new directions.

There's no doubt someone will take a gamble on Arnold, betting that a fresh situation can unlock his immense potential.

Darian Mensah

Darian Mensah is a classic example of the challenge facing Group of Five programs. If you find a diamond in the rough, that player may capitalize on his increased market value at a new school.

As a high schooler, he held a 2-star rating. Mensah's recruiting profile lists Tulane as his lone offer from an FBS team.

That's not going to be Mensah's situation in the portal.

During his redshirt freshman year, he ranked fourth nationally in yards per pass attempt (9.5). Mensah threw for 2,723 yards and 22 touchdowns to only six interceptions, helping Tulane post a 9-4 record and reach the AAC Championship Game for the third straight season.

Beyond that performance, Mensah will be especially attractive as a transfer because he has three remaining years of eligibility.

Chandler Morris

Sometimes, a step backward in prestige helps you move forward.

Chandler Morris is a well-traveled former 4-star prospect who initially enrolled at Oklahoma in 2020 and transferred to TCU. He showed promise late in 2021, but a pair of knee injuries ruined his time in Fort Worth and pushed him to transfer again last offseason.

Morris shifted to North Texas, where he rediscovered his love for football and assembled a quality year.

Although the Mean Green tailed off down the stretch, he passed for 3,774 yards and 31 touchdowns to 12 interceptions. Morris added 242 yards and four scores on the ground.

Morris will be a popular target for programs that run an Air Raid system.

Miller Moss

Similar to Arnold at Oklahoma, Miller Moss entered 2024 holding the perception of being USC's long-term answer. After all, he threw a Holiday Bowl-record six touchdowns in the postseason last year.

But that optimism faded in a string of frustrating losses.

Moss started nine games, and USC mustered a 4-5 record while squandering a fourth-quarter lead in all five setbacks. While it's entirely unfair to pin that unfortunate trend on Moss, a late interception stung the Trojans in three of those matchups.

Prior to being benched in November, he threw for 2,555 yards and 18 touchdowns to nine interceptions.

Moss has one year of eligibility left to play.

Kaidon Salter

After a 2023 season in which Liberty won Conference USA with an unbeaten record and played in the Fiesta Bowl, Kaidon Salter explored his options in the portal. He ultimately decided to return and helped the Flames put together an 8-3 season in 2024.

This time around, however, the dual-threat quarterback is unlikely to reverse course and stay at Liberty.

According to Matt Zenitz of 247Sports, Salter is expected to visit Colorado, Florida State and Syracuse. Each program needs to replace its starting QB, provided you consider DJ Uiagalelei that player for FSU.

Salter has much to prove—especially after a nightmarish game to close the season against Sam Houston—but offers a dual-threat skill set that certainly will be appealing.

Matthew Sluka

What's the fallout of Matthew Sluka—reportedly due to NIL matters—leaving UNLV during the 2024 season?

The reality is we can't answer that question. I have one opinion, you might have another and coaches from around the country will certainly have varying views on how to handle Sluka.

But we know one thing: He's a good player.

In four seasons at lower-division Holy Cross, Sluka passed for 5,916 yards, rushed for 3,583 yards and totaled 97 touchdowns. He guided UNLV to victories over Big 12 teams Houston and Kansas early in 2024, collecting 571 offensive yards and seven scores in his brief action.

Sluka is another QB with one remaining year of eligibility.

Conner Weigman

Conner Weigman's best moments were really good.

The problem is they didn't happen as often as needed, and injuries in 2023 and 2024 didn't help, either. Texas A&M turned to freshman Marcel Reed in late October, effectively signaling a new direction at QB.

Weigman appeared in 15 games with the Aggies, throwing for 2,694 yards and 19 scores to seven interceptions.

The main intrigue about Weigman is whether a new system can unlock the promise expected of a 5-star prospect. It's not guarantee, of course, but that situation plays out annually in college football—like former A&M quarterback Haynes King at Georgia Tech, for example.