Free agency preview: Quarterbacks
February 22, 2025
by Steve Thomas
This is part of our continuing series on Washington’s possible options in free agency, which begins on March 12. Today, we’re going to cover quarterbacks. The team clearly already has their starter lined up for the first time in decades, hopefully for many years to come, but with Marcus Mariota now a free agent, Washington is on the hunt for a backup. Plus, since Jayden Daniels is in his rookie contract, his cap his is only $8.58M, which is still low by quarterback standards. This means that Washington can afford to put some money into this position group in order to get a quality backup. Washington also has Sam Hartman on the roster for 2025, but the idea that he’ll be ready to be the backup seems unlikely.
The options this year aren’t necessarily ideal. These are the choices, in my rough order of preference:
Marcus Mariota (6’4” / 222): Mariota is the most obvious choice. He plays with a similar style as Daniels, performed well last year when given a chance, and knows the system. Last season, he played in 3 games and completed 34 passes in 44 attempts, a 77.3% completion percentage, for 364 yards, 4 touchdowns, and no interceptions, earning a 131.2 quarterback rating. In addition, he had 18 rushing attempts for 92 yards, 5.1 yards per carry, and 1 touchdown. Spotrac lists his market value at $4.2M, which would be a bargain as compared to his $6M contract last season. If Washington can sign Mariota for $4.2M, they should do so as quickly as possible. However, it seems likely that he’ll get some consideration from teams in need of a bridge starter.
Jacoby Brissett (6’4” / 235): Brissett, 32 years old, was with Washington under Ron Rivera in 2023 and spent last season as the Patriots backup. He played in 8 games last season, starting 5, completing 95 of 161 pass attempts, a 59% completion percentage, 826 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception, for a 74.2 quarterback rating. Those numbers aren’t good, but they are below his career averages of 61.1% completion percentage and an 84.3 quarterback rating. Spotrac lists his market value at $3.1M.
Taylor Heinicke (6’1” / 210): Heinicke, who turns 32 in March, was the Chargers’ backup last season. He only played in 4 games, with 3 completions in 5 attempts for 28 yards. Washington fans are well acquainted with Heinicke; he mostly overperformed in Washington from 2020 to 2022, playing in a total of 26 games, including 24 starts, with 494 completions in 772 attempts, a 64% completion percentage, 5415 yards, 33 touchdowns, and 21 interceptions, for a quarterback rating of 87.5. Spotrac lists his market value at just $1.3M. Heinicke isn’t a starter-level player, but is hard-working and smart. He wouldn’t be an ideal choice, but he is able to improvise somewhat, which is a hallmark of Daniels’ game.
Jimmy Garoppolo (6’2” / 225): Garoppolo, who is now 33 years old, spent 2017 through 2022 as the 49ers sometimes starter in between recovery from knee and ankle injuries. He spent 2023 and 2024 with the Raiders as the principal backup. This past season, he played and started in 1 game, and completed 27 passes in 41 attempts, 65.9% completion percentage, 334 yards, 2 touchdowns, 1 interception, and a 97.0 quarterback rating. Garoppolo is another professional quarterback who would be a quality backup, but his play style probably doesn’t fit Jayden Daniels’ style as much as some others. Spotrac lists his market value at $3.0M.
Jameis Winston (6’4” / 230): Winston, 31, spent last year in Cleveland, where he played in 12 games, including 7 starts, and completed 181 of 296 pass attempts, a 61.1% completion percentage, 2121 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions, for a quarterback rating of 80.6. Winston served as the backup to the creepiest player in NFL history, Deshaun Watson. He was elevated to starter when Watson ruptured his Achilles, but was benched in week 15 in favor of someone named Dorian Thompson-Robinson. Spotrac lists his market value as $6.0M. Winston would not be the ideal choice for Washington, to say the least.
Other options:
Mason Rudolph (6’5” / 235): Spent 4 years in Pittsburgh before moving to the Tennessee Titans last year. Played in 8 games, starting 5. Completed 64% of his pass attempts and had an 80.1 quarterback rating.
Drew Lock (6’4” / 228): Spent 3 years with the Broncos before moving to Seattle in 2023, then the Giants in 2024. Played in 8 games last year, starting 5, had a 59% completion percentage and a 75.5 quarterback rating.
Mac Jones (6’3” / 220): First round pick by the Patriots in 2021. Had the unenviable job of following Tom Brady on a failing team. Spent 2024 with the Jacksonville Jaguars and played in 10 games, including 7 starts, earning a 65.3% completion percentage and an 80.5 quarterback rating.
Justin Fields (6’3” / 227): Former first round pick by the Bears in 2021. He was a bust in Chicago and was traded to the Steelers the 2024 offseason for a conditional 6th round pick. Played in 10 games last year, including 6 starts, with a 65.8% completion percentage, quarterback rating of 93.3. Has some talent and to some extent was a victim of a lousy organization in Chicago. Certainly would not be the good backup to Daniels, for many reasons.