The 2025 NFL Draft is in the books, and the biggest wave of free agency is over. That makes it a perfect time to take stock of NFL rosters as we head toward the 2025 season. Over the next few weeks, I’ll be looking at the quarterbacks, running backs, and pass catchers for all 32 NFL Teams. I’ll be ranking each unit 1-16 in their conference. When taking stock of the whole unit, it’s not just about star power but depth. Today, the first half of the quarterback rooms in the NFC are in. Teams appear in ascending order.
#16 New Orleans Saints
On the Roster: Tyler Shough, Spencer Rattler, and Jake Haener
About: The Saints are not just at the bottom of the NFC list, but at the bottom for all 32 teams. That might sound unkind, but a lot of it has to do with the retirement of Derek Carr. I do like Kellen Moore and want to see what he can do to turn this team around. But without Carr, that’s a tall task.
Haener was a late-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft and is likely little more than a career backup. Rattler was a late-round pick last year who started games in 2024. He went 0-6 with 1,317 yards and only four touchdowns. It’s not inspiring. The Saints did spend a second-round pick on Shough, but he’s an older rookie with a checkered injury history. His selection raised some eyebrows during the draft. If he’s a hit, this group could have some upside. But, at this point, this is the bottom of the heap for me.
#15 Minnesota Vikings
On the Roster: J.J. McCarthy, Sam Howell, and Brett Rypien
About: Sure, the Vikings don’t have much experience for their projected starter in McCarthy, but the state of the room is stronger than in New Orleans. McCarthy was a more highly regarded prospect who went in the first round. He spent a year learning from Kevin O’Donnell, which should help.
Behind him, the Vikings acquired Howell, who is on his third team but has some good starting experience from his time with the Commanders. He didn’t have a great record, but he threw for nearly 4,000 yards and 21 touchdowns in 2023. Rypien also has plenty of experience and has even started a few games. It’s not much, but it was enough to lift them off the bottom spot.
#14 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
On the Roster: Baker Mayfield, Kyle Trask, and Michael Pratt
About: This is a case of an incredible starter with nothing, and I mean nothing, behind him. Mayfield was QB4 in 2024. I have no question about Mayfield, who is one of the best quarterbacks in the NFC. But if he were to miss time, that would be a disaster.
Trask has been with the Buccaneers for a long time but hasn’t started a game. In fact, he’s only attempted 10 career passes. Pratt is another late-round selection who was with the Packers for a season before coming to Green Bay. If Mayfield goes down, this may be the worst room in the NFC. So, the depth gives them a big hit.
#13 Seattle Seahawks
On the Roster: Sam Darnold, Drew Lock, and Jalen Milroe
About: On paper, there’s some talent in this group. But it’s not without risk. Darnold had an incredible 2024 season with the Vikings, which he parlayed into a big free-agent deal. But that was by far his best season, and could it be an outlier?
Behind him, the Seahawks brought back Drew Lock as a solid, veteran backup. He’s not flashy, but he can start games, which is more than you can guarantee for the three teams behind the Seahawks. The biggest unknown is Milroe, a rookie who likely needs some time to cook. But I like his upside. If Darnold keeps up his performance from 2024 and Milroe shows some spark, this could be too low.
#12 Detroit Lions
On the Roster: Jared Goff, Hendon Hooker, and Kyle Allen
About: This is another team that has a great starter and not much behind him. I love Goff. He finished as QB6 in 2024. I suspect he’ll be in for more of the same, even without Ben Johnson, in 2025. But what happens if he goes out?
The Lions were so unsure of Hooker at the end of 2024 that they pulled Teddy Bridgewater out of retirement—and off a high school sideline—to serve as Goff’s backup for a playoff run. What has improved for Hooker? Hard to say since he hasn’t done anything since being drafted. However, Allen is a more experienced backup, which gives them a lift over a team like Tampa Bay.
#11 Dallas Cowboys
On the Roster: Dak Prescott, Joe Milton, and Will Grier
About: I don’t blame you if you think this is too high for the Cowboys. The room took a serious hit when Cooper Rush went to the Ravens. They also moved on from Trey Lance, though what he really offered is dubious. The Cowboys still won’t have much if something happens to Dak. And Dak might not be as good as Goff or Mayfield.
But I liked Milton’s Week 18 start in 2024. He passed for 241 yards and a touchdown, completing nearly 76 percent of his passes. It was against backups, but he looked good. The Cowboys must have felt the same because they traded for Milton and have him as their backup. Grier is little more than a roster filler, but I like Dak, and Milton intrigues me.
#10 Chicago Bears
On the Roster: Caleb Williams, Tyson Bagent, and Case Keenum
About: Could I be too low on the Bears? Yes, that’s possible. Williams was the first overall draft pick for a reason. He finished as QB16, which wasn’t bad. And now he’s got Ben Johnson as his Head Coach.
Behind him, Bagent has been a solid QB2. It’s not a bad battery. Now, the team has added a solid veteran in Keenum. Does he have much left? Probably not, but that’s a lot of experience in the quarterback room. I think it’s a solid group; it just feels like it’s a lead quarterback who still has something to prove. So, I placed them here.
#9 San Francisco 49ers
On the Roster: Brock Purdy, Mac Jones, Kurtis Rourke, and Tanner Mordecai
About: The 49ers are another team with a solid unit. Purdy has proven himself an above-average starter. He finished as QB14 on the season despite a rash of injuries that plagued the 49ers. He’s on the cusp of a big extension, too.
The team added Jones as a backup this year. Kyle Shanahan has been interested in Jones since the draft, and now he’s with the 49ers to learn, grow, and continue rehabbing his image. Jones was once a solid starter in New England and looked strong in taking over for Trevor Lawrence last year in Jacksonville. I like the group’s potential, but it felt more like a middle-of-the-pack room, so I placed them here.
Matthew Fox is a die-hard NFL fan and Broncos’ homer. He’s a member of the FSWA. You can find more from him on Twitter @knighthawk7734 or as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast, a part of the Campus2Canton Network.
