The quarterback free agency class is as unpredictable as it’s ever been this offseason. Aaron Rodgers headlines the list with speculation on his landing spot across the league. Will he return to the Jets? Will he sign elsewhere? Will he retire? Let’s take a look at some surprising free agency landing spots for 2025’s QBs.
An Unpredictable Destination for Aaron Rodgers
For the 41-year-old Rodgers, the veteran could end up in endless places. Plenty of teams need a quarterback to serve them for a year or two. With that being said, NFL analyst Craig Carton thinks Rodgers may go to a team that is already comfortable at the position.
Craig Carton thinks Aaron Rodgers will be the starting quarterback for the 49ers next season and they’ll trade Brock Purdy to the Browns for Myles Garrett
🎥: @craigcartonlive | @BrkfstBallOnFS1 pic.twitter.com/YkIGethg87
— Coach Yac 🗣 (@Coach_Yac) February 12, 2025
After a less-than-attractive two seasons with the Jets, maybe it is time for the four-time MVP to move on. Carton believes if Rodgers is to make that move, he will want to go to a solidified contender where there are legitimate weapons.
Why the Move to San Francisco Makes Sense
Regardless of whether Deebo Samuel stays or goes, the 49ers do fit such a mold. With Christian McCaffrey, Brandon Aiyuk, George Kittle, Ricky Pearsall, and company all healthy, the 49ers have one of the most exciting offenses in the league.
Rodgers’s hometown of Chico, California, is also just a three-and-a-half-hour drive outside of San Francisco. The Super Bowl winner would be moving close to home in a very comfortable place for a career to conclude.
Why Rodgers to the 49ers Doesn’t Make Sense
If Carton’s take were to go through, that would mean the quarterback, whom all four of the aforementioned players are familiar with (Brock Purdy), would be shipped out to Cleveland, with defensive end Myles Garrett being the return.
While Garrett may just be the most exclusive trade bait in the NFL, do the 49ers ultimately need him? With Nick Bosa and Leonard Floyd on the outside of their defensive line, they shape up favorably against most NFL squads. However, adding Garrett to work alongside Bosa would immediately propel the 49ers to the top spot of edge rusher duos in the entire league.
What About Brock Purdy?
Purdy is set to become a free agent in 2026 and will likely require a hefty bag from one NFL team. For Carton and his thoughts on the matter, he does not believe the 49ers will be willing to pay Purdy such an amount. “There is some debate amongst some people, how much money do you give Brock Purdy,” said Carton. “Can he command $50-60 million out of the market? Maybe.”
Purdy ranks seventh on PFSN’s 2024 QB+ rankings, while Rodgers ranks 21st. Purdy’s B+ with an 88 score is the worst QB+ thus far of Purdy’s career, but it still plots him in the top 10.
Conversely, Rodgers comes in at a C- with a score of 72.2, ranking him in the lower half of all QBs for 2024. With numbers like this, at his age, is taking the risk for Rodgers worth it for anyone?