When Super Bowl LIX ends, the focus can quickly shift to 2025, the precursor to an offseason that figures to be as entertaining as it is wild. While neither of the participants in today’s game, the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles, have quarterback questions, plenty of teams do.
It appears we are facing another offseason filled with QB drama and changes. Here is a snapshot look at some of the key passers with futures up in the air:
The Jets and Aaron Rodgers have been in discussions about his future and a decision on whether the four-time NFL MVP returns to New York could come as soon as this week, per sources. New Jets head coach Aaron Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey have great respect for Rodgers, a Super Bowl champion and probable first-ballot Hall of Famer whose two seasons in New York so far have been a mess of injuries and underwhelming results. He’s 41 years old and looked it for much of 2024. But keeping Rodgers would give the Jets’ new regime optionality in free agency and the draft by relieving some of the pressure to find an immediate answer at the most important position. If Rodgers stays, he’d almost surely have to take a pay cut from his scheduled 2025 base salary of $37.5 million. (Several decorated veteran QBs — Peyton Manning, Ben Roethlisberger, Drew Brees — all took pay cuts at the end of their careers.) Rodgers likely also needs to commit to being with the Jets during the offseason program to learn a new system under first-time offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand, something that would benefit all parties.
Matthew Stafford intends to play in 2025, sources have said, with his arm and body feeling good after a solid season that saw him lead the Rams to the playoffs. The Rams would welcome him back, as well. But it’s unlikely that Stafford would play for just $27 million in 2025 after playing for $40 million last year. Plenty of QBs have taken pay cuts late in their careers. And it does sound like Stafford will be reasonable. But where it lands remains to be seen.