-2025 NFL Schedule -Strength of Schedule
MOCK DRAFT
Ask the Commish.Com 2025 Draft Kit
Mason Rudolph draws confidence from Steelers as potential starterThe Steelers are reportedly "comfortable" heading into the 2025 season with Mason Rudolph as the team's starting quarterback.This could end up being the case if Pittsburgh can't land Aaron Rodgers. Rudolph signed a two-year deal last week to return to the Steelers. He has shown to have a arm, but consistency might be an issue for DK Metcalf and George Pickens.
The Steelers are reportedly "comfortable" heading into the 2025 season with Mason Rudolph as the team's starting quarterback.
This could end up being the case if Pittsburgh can't land Aaron Rodgers. Rudolph signed a two-year deal last week to return to the Steelers. He has shown to have a arm, but consistency might be an issue for DK Metcalf and George Pickens.
The Raiders traded a third-round draft pick for Geno Smith in March and gave him a two-year contract extension worth $85.5 million. Smith will helm an intriguing Raiders offense that will be guided by new offensive coordinator Chip Kelly, who likes to run his offense at an uptempo pace. TE Brock Bowers was a revelation as a rookie, WR Jakobi Meyers is a dependable veteran, and the Raiders added RB Ashton Jeanty and WR Jack Bech in the draft. Smith finished QB13 in fantasy scoring last season, averaging 16.5 fantasy points per game. He completed 70.4% of his passes last season for 4,320 yards, with 21 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. Smith will be drafted as a low-end QB2 or high-end QB3 but could once again finish as a high-end QB2.
The Jets have tabbed Justin Fields to be their quarterback of the (near) future, giving him a two-year, $40 million deal that includes $30 million in guaranteed money. After an uneven three-year run with the Bears, Fields was traded to the Steelers last year and started the first six games of the season for Pittsburgh before being benched in favor of Russell Wilson. Rushing production is Fields' fantasy calling card. In 2022, Fields ran for 1,143 yards and eight touchdowns in 15 games, finishing QB6 in fantasy scoring. Last year, Fields ranked QB7 in fantasy points per game (19.1) over the first six weeks of the season before Wilson replaced him. Fields' productivity as a passer has been a mixed bag, but with Tyrod Taylor as the second-best QB on the Jets' roster, Fields will have a lot of leeway as he settles in with his new team.
The Giants signed 36-year-old Russell Wilson to a one-year, $21 million deal in March, and he's the favorite to open the season as the Giants' starting QB. But Wilson might not have the job for long. The Giants traded up to take Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart late in the first round of this year's draft, and they also added veteran Jameis Winston in the offseason. Wilson made 11 starts for the Steelers last season and averaged 16.2 fantasy points per start. He'll be drafted as a QB3 in 2025 but might be useful as a spot starter in favorable matchups.
Sam Darnold resurrected his career in Minnesota last season and now heads to the Pacific Northwest to take over as Seattle's starting quarterback. Darnold finished QB9 in fantasy scoring last year, throwing for 4,319 yards, with 35 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He completed a career-high 66.2% of his passes and averaged 7.9 yards per pass attempt. The question is whether Darnold can duplicate his success in what appears to be a lesser offense environment. Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell is regarded as a top playcaller, and Darnold won't have Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison to throw to this season. Now, Darnold will be running Klint Kubiak's offense and throwing to Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Cooper Kupp. Darnold is still being viewed skeptically by fantasy analysts, who have him ranked outside the top 24 at QB in FantasyPros' Expert Consensus Rankings. Darnold seemed to collapse at the end of the season, completing 53% and averaging 5.1 yards per attempt in a Week 18 loss to the Lions and a playoff loss to the Rams.
Joe Flacco is the favorite to be the Browns' starting quarterback in Week 1 of the 2025 season, but Cleveland has a crowded QB room. The Browns also signed former Steeler Kenny Pickett in the offseason, then drafted Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. After his 11-year run with the Ravens, Flacco has reinvented himself as a daring gunslinger late in his career. In stints with the Jets, Browns and Colts over the last five years, Flacco has averaged 269.9 passing yards over 20 starts, with 36 touchdowns and 21 interceptions. The Browns have incentive to give Gabriel and Sanders 2025 auditions before they decide whether to take a quarterback in what looks like a QB-rich 2026 draft, so the 40-year-old Flacco may not be the starter for long. But Flacco is such an aggressive thrower that he'll be fantasy-viable for as long as he starts.