NFL free agency has arrived, with teams taking advantage of the legal tampering period before the start of the new league year, March 12.
Deals abound, so let’s grade the notable quarterback agreements so far.
Geno Smith | Las Vegas Raiders
Deal: Raiders trade 2025 third-rounder to Seattle Seahawks for Smith, per NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero, Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo | Grade: B-
In Vegas, Smith will reunite with Raiders head coach Pete Carroll, whom he played for in four of his five seasons with the Seattle Seahawks.
Smith provides some stability for the Raiders. In 2024, Vegas QBs Gardner Minshew II and Aidan O’Connell combined for 17 touchdown passes and 14 interceptions. Per The Athletic’s Tashan Reed, Vegas plans to release Minshew at the start of the league year.
Smith, meanwhile, finished with the league’s fourth-most passing yards (4,320) and tied for 13th in touchdown passes (21) in 17 starts in 2024.
Smith, however, is turnover-prone. Over the past three seasons, he has tossed 11 interceptions or more twice. He also turns 35 on Oct. 10.
Sam Darnold | Seattle Seahawks
Deal: Three years, $100.5M ($55M guaranteed), per ESPN’s Adam Schefter | Grade: C
Last season, the former New York Jets flop salvaged his career with the Minnesota Vikings. In 17 games in 2024, Darnold finished fifth in the league in passing yards (4,319) and TD passes (35).
But can he replicate those numbers with a weaker supporting cast in Seattle?
Last season, the Seahawks allowed 54 sacks, which tied for the third most in the league. On Sunday, Schefter reported the Seahawks dealt wide receiver DK Metcalf — a two-time Pro Bowler — to the Pittsburgh Steelers for a 2025 second-rounder. They also swapped 2025 sixth- and seventh-rounders.
Darnold, 27, has yet to prove he can succeed outside Minnesota head coach Kevin O’Connell’s system. In his first six seasons with the Jets, 49ers and Panthers, he never threw more than 19 TD passes.
Justin Fields | New York Jets
Deal: Two years, $40M ($30M guaranteed), per The Athletic’s Dianna Russini | Grade: C
Fields, 26, will likely be New York’s QB1 in 2025. The club has confirmed it’s moving on from QB Aaron Rodgers. Journeyman QB Tyrod Taylor is under contract in 2025, but he has a 28-28-1 regular-season record.
In 2024, Fields went 4-2 in six starts with the Pittsburgh Steelers before Russell Wilson replaced him. However, he may not be entering an ideal situation in New York.
New Jets HC Aaron Glenn hasn’t shown he can develop QBs. Outside of WR Garrett Wilson — who tied for seventh in the league in receptions (101 in 17 games) in 2024 — the Jets lack playmakers. New York tied for 24th in the league in points scored (19.9) last season.
Fields still hasn’t solved his accuracy issues, either. In four seasons with the Steelers and Chicago Bears, the 2021 No. 11 overall pick has completed a below-average 61.1% of his passes.
Matthew Stafford | Los Angeles Rams
Deal: Contract restructure (terms still undisclosed), per Stu Jackson of the team website | Grade: A
On March 3, Rams head coach Sean McVay told the media he’s been “sleeping much better” since they restructured Stafford’s deal.
At 37, Stafford is still among the best QBs in the league. In 16 regular-season games in 2024, he completed 65.8% of his passes for 3,762 yards and 20 TD passes.
Stafford could be in a position to win his second Super Bowl ring in L.A. On Sunday, Schefter reported the Rams and six-time Pro Bowl WR Davante Adams agreed to a two-year, $46M deal. Adams and fellow WR Puka Nacua could form an explosive duo for L.A.
