QB Statuses for Head Coach-less Teams

Michael Ginnitti
Michael Ginnitti, Managing Editor & NFL/MLB ExpertJanuary 08, 2025
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Chicago Bears

Caleb Williams enters Year 2 of his rookie contract, with cap hits of $8.9M, $10.7M, & $12.5M through 2027. He won’t become extension-eligible until after the 2026 season, and the Bears hold a 5th-year option on him in 2028 if needed.

QB2 Tyson Bagent is scheduled for restricted free agency this winter. Tendering him at the first right of refusal should cost around $3M in 2025.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Trevor Lawrence enters Year 2 of his 7 year, $306.3M total value contract in Jacksonville, set to earn $37.5M in 2025. His cap hits remain extremely team-friendly thanks to the use of a signing bonus & four option bonuses over the course of the contract (Lawrence stands to account for $17M of cap in 2025). There are early vesting guarantees through 2028 on this deal, making this at least a 4 year, $163M contract for practical purposes.

Backups Mac Jones & C.J. Beathard are both pending unrestricted free agents.

Las Vegas Raiders

$3.16M of Gardner Minshew’s 2025 salary is already fully guaranteed, but that only represents 25% of the $12.5M he’s set to be owed next season. He’s a keep, trade, and release candidate this offseason as he recovers from a collarbone injury.

Aidan O’Connell enter Year 3 of his rookie contract, set to earn $1M in 2025, and $1.1M in 2026 (barring a Proven Performance Bonus). The Raiders are certain to add another QB to the mix this offseason, but O’Connell’s near minimum, non-guaranteed contract should allow for him to compete in 2025.

The Raiders hold the #6 pick in the upcoming draft.

New England Patriots

Drake Maye enters Year 2 of his rookie contract, with cap hits of $8.3M, $9.9M, & $11.6M through 2027. He won’t become extension-eligible until after the 2026 season, and New England holds a 5th-year option in 2028 as needed.

Jacoby Brissett is a pending unrestricted free agent this March.

New Orleans Saints

Derek Carr has a fully guaranteed $10M roster bonus in 2025 to go along with a $30M base salary that becomes guaranteed March 14th. He’s already on the record stating he won’t be taking a pay cut this winter, so for now it appears imminent that he’ll remain with the Saints through 2025. He holds $50.1M of dead cap against a $51.4M salary cap figure for the upcoming season.

Spencer Rattler enters Year 2 of his rookie contract, with non-guaranteed minimum salaries on the books through 2027.

The Saints hold the #9 pick in the upcoming draft.

New York Jets

Aaron Rodgers’ $35M option bonus isn’t due until the start of the 2025 regular season, but it’s largely expected that a decision on his future in NY will come at the beginning of the league year (March 12th). The Jets would take on $49M of dead cap to release/trade the 41-year-old.

$2.5M of Tyrod Taylor’s $6M 2025 salary is fully guaranteed already, and his deal carries plenty of incentives to bump that up based on playing time and production. It stands to reason that Taylor could be in the Jets’ plans next season regardless of who else is brought in at the position.

The Jets hold the #7 pick in the upcoming draft.

Honorable Mention: Dallas Cowboys

With current HC Mike McCarthy’s contract set to expire in the coming days, it’s plausible that the Cowboys could find themselves in this mix sooner rather than later.

Dak Prescott is entering Year 2 of a 5 year, $274M contract, set to earn $47.75M in 2025. He holds a league-high $89.9M cap hit for the upcoming season that can (will) be lowered down to $52.7M after a salary conversion. The deal carries early vesting guarantees through 2027, making this a 3 year, $132.75M contract for practical purposes.

Cooper Rush & Trey Lance are both pending unrestricted free agents.

 


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