Quarterback is the most important position in football—and some teams still treat it like a forgotten group chat. Every year, a few franchises convince themselves that a mid-round draft pick or recycled backup is the answer, only to be shocked when things fall apart by Week 6.
Whether it’s clinging to false hope, drafting the wrong guy, or just plain bad luck, these teams have found themselves in quarterback purgatory with no obvious exit. It’s not just about talent either—it’s scheme, coaching, injuries, vibes, and sometimes, an unhealthy amount of delusion.
10. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Baker Mayfield had a fun comeback season, but let’s not pretend this is a long-term love story. The vibes are nice, the ceiling is not.
9. Tennessee Titans
Will Levis has a cannon arm and the accuracy of a guy playing darts in the dark. The Titans are rebuilding around him… mostly because they don’t have a better idea.
8. Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons quarterback strategy has been extremely confusing. First they pay Kirk Cousins a ton of money to join them and then they draft Michael Penix Jr?! Penix Jr may be a star in the making, but the jury is still out.
7. Las Vegas Raiders
The Las Vegas Raiders are taking a chance on Geno Smith in 2025. While Smith was solid for the Seahawks, he’s more of a placeholder than a long-term solution.
6. New England Patriots
Mac Jones flamed out faster than a TikTok trend, and Drake Maye hasn’t exactly proven himself to be Brady 2.0. Bill Belichick left the QB room in shambles on his way out.
5. New York Jets
Aaron Rodgers was supposed to lead this team to a Super Bowl and well, that certainly didn’t happen. This team was built to win now but kept putting training wheels on at quarterback.
4. Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings managed to get a great season out of Sam Darnold, but now all of their 2025 eggs are in JJ McCarthy’s basket. Will the rookie be the franchise’s next great star? We’ll have to wait and see.
3. Carolina Panthers
Bryce Young looks like he’s stuck in a group project where everyone else forgot to show up. They traded away their future for him, but forgot to give him a team.
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2. New York Giants
Daniel Jones got paid like a franchise QB and then proceeded to play like a backup, so it’s no wonder the Giants said farewell. Will they take a chance on a rookie or bring in a veteran for 2025?
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1. Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers have tried to find a suitable replacement for Ben Roethlisberger and well, it hasn’t gone super well. Sure, Russell Wilson was decent last year, but who are they going to turn to for the 2025 season?! Time will tell.
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