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Quarterback is the most scrutinized position in football, and with every bad throw, the clock ticks louder. Whether it’s injuries, inconsistency, or pressure from a talented backup, not every starting QB is guaranteed to finish the 2025 NFL season under center.

These 10 quarterbacks may be just one bad game—or one strong rookie performance—away from holding a clipboard.

Anthony Richardson – Indianapolis Colts

Richardson’s raw talent is undeniable, but his inconsistency and injuries are major concerns. Across two seasons, the 2023 fourth-overall pick has thrown just 11 touchdowns to 13 interceptions with a career completion rate of 50.6%.

He’s already missed 19 games due to injuries and benchings, and GM Chris Ballard has publicly hinted that Richardson’s starting job isn’t guaranteed.

Enter Daniel Jones—another struggling first-rounder who, while no savior, has more experience. If neither performs, undrafted sophomore Jason Bean lurks, but this may be a battle of “least bad.” In a weak AFC South, that’s not going to cut it.

Geno Smith – Las Vegas Raiders

Smith’s 2022 resurgence was one of the feel-good stories in the league, but since then? The magic’s faded.

Last year, Smith threw just 21 touchdowns to 15 interceptions, with a declining QBR of 50.1 (down from 60.8 in 2022).

The Raiders drafted rookie Cam Miller and have returner Aiden O’Connell on the roster. O’Connell has a decent starting experience, and if Smith underperforms, he could get a shot late in the season.

Tua Tagovailoa – Miami Dolphins

Tua enters 2025 needing not just wins, but consistency. Despite putting up career-best numbers in 2023, the concerns haven’t gone away—injuries, late-season collapses, and questions about his ceiling.

TOUCHDOWN TUA TAGOVAILOA!

Tua was 5/5 on his first preseason drive, capped off by this BEAUTIFUL TD pass: pic.twitter.com/6YRSBBYl30

— Sidelines – Bama (@SSN_Alabama) August 17, 2024

He threw 19 touchdowns and 7 interceptions last season but finished the year with three straight sub-90 passer rating games. If he falters early, expect Miami fans to start calling for a change, with a QB-friendly 2025 draft class looming.

Russell Wilson – New York Giants

Let’s be blunt: Russell Wilson has been on his fourth team for five years for a reason.

He’s 36, his deep ball has lost its edge, and despite flashes with the Steelers last year, the Giants didn’t commit long-term.
Behind him are Jameis Winston and rookie Jaxson Dart, both eager to prove they’re not just backups. Wilson will get the start, but if New York stumbles,  Brian Daboll, who is himself on a hot seat, will make a switch fast.

Justin Fields – New York Jets

After moving on from the disaster Aaron Rodgers’ stint was in New York, the Jets bet on Fields instead of a rookie. But will it pay off?

Fields arrives with high expectations and plenty of highlight-reel runs. But let’s talk numbers: he started six games for the Steelers last season, and went 4-2. While he was having his career-best season, the bar was low, and the numbers don’t suggest he should have unquestioningly remained the starter.

Now in New York, Fields is literally on his last chance as a starter, and if he doesn’t show improvement in the first half of the season, we could see him on the bench for the next half.

Sam Darnold – Seattle Seahawks

Darnold started all 17 games for the first time in his NFL career last season and impressed highly, leading the Vikings to a 14-3 record similar to that of the Super Bowl-winning Eagles. The impressive season earned him a $100 million deal from the Seahawks, but there’s no guarantee he will be the starter by the end of the season.

Wow. Sam Darnold evades heavy pressure, and Justin Jefferson eventually gets open for a 50+ yard touchdown. pic.twitter.com/8KHs4O2wxG

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) December 8, 2024

2024 was essentially Darnold’s only good season since entering the league in 2018, and he thrived with the Vikings because of head coach Kevin O’Connell and their league-best offensive line. That won’t be the case with the Seahawks, who have one of the worst offensive lines in the league.

If Darnold’s sack rate doesn’t remain in control, we could see rookie Jalen Milroe under center by the end of the season.

Dak Prescott – Dallas Cowboys

Dak’s not just on the hot seat—he’s sitting on a blowtorch. After signing a massive extension, fans expect deep playoff runs. Instead, he’s 1–3 in the postseason since 2021.

He threw 11 TDs for eight interceptions last season and missed nine games due to a hamstring injury. The leash is longer because of his contract, but the Cowboys don’t care about numbers. They care about rings.

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Trevor Lawrence – Jacksonville Jaguars

Lawrence was supposed to be a generational talent. But since his 2022 playoff run, it’s been a slow decline.

He threw seven interceptions and just 11 touchdowns last year in 10 games, as Jacksonville missed the playoffs. His QBR dropped to 85.2, and whispers are growing louder in Duval County.

If his regression continues into 2025, the Jags may start eyeing the draft board—again.

Aaron Rodgers – Pittsburgh Steelers

Rodgers is back for what he’s publicly declared will be his final NFL season, but the spotlight in Pittsburgh isn’t exactly warm.

After two underwhelming years with the Jets—where he played just four snaps in 2023 due to an Achilles tear and followed it up with a forgettable 2024—Rodgers arrives in the Steel City with more questions than answers. In 2024, he threw 28 touchdowns with 11 interceptions. However, he ranked 36th from a clean pocket (0.07 EPA/DB), and converted just 33.5% of the time on third down (29th). His 6.2 nYPA ranked 30th and is very low, showing clear signs of decline.

At 41 years old, he’s no longer the MVP-caliber QB from his Green Bay days, and if things continue the way it did in New York, Mike Tomlin will be forced to give Mason Rudolph a chance late in the season.

Bryce Young – Carolina Panthers

Last season, Young was benched after another stretch of erratic play, finishing with just 15 touchdowns and nine picks in 14 appearances. The 2023 No. 1 overall pick has now played under three head coaches in two seasons, another cause of concern for him.

With no consistency around him, it’s hard to judge him fully, but the NFL doesn’t wait. If he doesn’t show real growth in the first half of 2025, the Panthers may look towards Andy Dalton again.

 

The NFL has never been more cutthroat. Rookie contracts, win-now expectations, and stacked draft classes mean the QB carousel never stops spinning.

Which of these quarterbacks do you think is most likely to be on the bench at the end of the season?