There are exactly 32 starting quarterback jobs in the NFL. Some are locked in long before training camp begins. Others are wide open.
But almost all of them come with questions.
Whether you are a proven starter or fighting for a shot in a crowded room, every quarterback has something to prove. Here are a few with the biggest challenges ahead in 2025, and whether they can answer them.
Sam Darnold – Seattle Seahawks
Sam Darnold has had one of the stranger quarterback arcs in recent memory.
Projected as the likely number one pick in 2018, Darnold ended up going third overall to the Jets after the Browns opted for Baker Mayfield instead. His time in New York was plagued by dysfunction, and his next stops in Carolina and San Francisco never really sparked a career turnaround.
Then last year happened.
Minnesota picked up Darnold as insurance in case rookie JJ McCarthy was not ready to start. That plan shifted quickly after McCarthy tore his meniscus in the preseason opener. Darnold stepped in and delivered one of the most improbable seasons in recent memory.
In 17 starts, Darnold threw for 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns with a 66.2 percent completion rate and a 102.5 passer rating. Before 2024, his career highs were 3,024 yards, 19 touchdowns, and a rating of 92.6. Nobody saw this coming, especially in year seven.
Still, the Vikings moved on. McCarthy returned, and Darnold’s uneven second half and rough playoff showing pushed Minnesota in a different direction.
Now in Seattle, Darnold replaces Geno Smith and will have to prove 2024 was not a one-off. He will not have Justin Jefferson, but he will have capable targets in Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Cooper Kupp. Whether that is enough to replicate last season’s magic remains to be seen.
Geno Smith – Las Vegas Raiders
From Seattle’s current quarterback to their former one.
Geno Smith faces a critical season as the newest starter for the Raiders, the latest in a long line of post-Derek Carr experiments.
Smith’s 2024 was underwhelming. He threw for 4,320 yards with a 70 percent completion rate but only 21 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. The volume was solid. The scoring and ball security were not. Seattle fans began calling for journeyman Sam Howell by season’s end.
After refusing a pay cut, Geno was traded to Las Vegas and now reunites with Pete Carroll, the coach he credits for reviving his career. But will that spark still be there?
Las Vegas has some intriguing pieces. Rookie running back Ashton Jeanty could open things up, and Geno will have reliable weapons in Jakobi Meyers and second-year tight end Brock Bowers. The passing game will likely lean short and efficient rather than vertical.
Can Geno bring consistency to Vegas? It is possible. But if not, his reunion with Carroll may be a short-lived one.
Justin Herbert – Los Angeles Chargers
Justin Herbert has more to prove than most think.
He checks every box. Big arm. Smart processor. Natural mobility. He protects the football and piles up yardage. He is a darling in film rooms and on advanced stat sheets.
But the shine has started to fade. Because Herbert has yet to win when it matters.
He has made just two playoff appearances and delivered two touchdowns, four interceptions, 515 total yards, and a 60.7 passer rating. In both games, he completed fewer than 60 percent of his passes.
Jim Harbaugh has made no secret about how much he believes in Herbert. But the NFL is a results business. Harbaugh was brought in to win now. The Chargers have not been to a conference championship since the mid-2000s. If Herbert does not change that narrative soon, even Harbaugh’s faith may begin to crack.
Daniel Jones and Anthony Richardson – Indianapolis Colts
Few quarterback rooms are more uncertain than the one in Indianapolis.
Anthony Richardson was expected to be a franchise savior when the Colts drafted him, but he has not stayed healthy or productive. His refusal to slide has led to multiple injuries, including back and shoulder problems and a concussion. When on the field, Richardson has struggled with accuracy and touch. His career completion rate sits at a bleak 50.6 percent.
His game still leans too heavily on athleticism. Unless he takes a leap in mechanics and decision-making, his spot is not secure.
Enter Daniel Jones.
The former Giants quarterback arrives in Indy after being dumped despite a massive extension. New York gave up on him despite a recent playoff appearance and ate the money to move on. Now Jones finds himself in a competition that is wide open.
Reports suggest Jones has looked sharp in Colts training camp. That may be preparation for a full-blown PR pivot if Richardson falters again.
But Jones has his own issues. He has flashed at times with underrated mobility and touch, but his inconsistency and turnover problems have never gone away.
The Colts have two quarterbacks who both have talent and both have real flaws. Whether either one can take the reins for the full season is still very much in doubt.
Final Thoughts
The NFL rarely follows the script. A few of these quarterbacks will rise and reshape their reputations. Others may fade under pressure or lose their grip on a starting job. What feels like a comeback story in July might be a cautionary tale by December. One thing is certain. Every name on this list enters 2025 with something to prove, and how they respond will shape the story of their season.
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