PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin mentioned he wanted to look at the free agent pool before deciding the direction he would go with the quarterback room in 2025. So, who is available?
Tomlin said he would consider all of the three with him last year-Russell Wilson (6-6 record), Justin Fields (4-2 record), Kyle Allen (did not play). The team signed former Dolphins quarterback Skylar Thompson to a Reserve/Futures contract on Tuesday.
You be the judge as to the depth of the free agent crop in 2025.
Sam Darnold-27-years-old-Vikings
2024 stats (14-3 record, 66% completion, 4319 yards, 35 TD, 12 INT, 102.5 rating)
· The headliner of the class may have just cost himself the huge contract that appeared to be in his reach. Darnold was 47-81 for 411 yards with a touchdown and an interception while sacked 11 times against Detroit and the Rams to end what is his best season by far in the NFL
· The positives from '24—3 TD, 377 yards v Green Bay, 3 TD at Seattle, 5 TD against the Falcons, 4 TD in a 34-7 win against Houston
· In 7 years with the Jets, Panthers, 49ers and Vikings, 61% completion, 16,383 yards, 98 TD, 68 INT, 46 fumbles, 83.9 rating, 197 sacks
Marcus Mariota-31-years-old-Washington
2024 stats (3 games, no starts, 77% completion, 364 yards, 4 TD, 0 INT, 131.2 rating)
· Played a majority of the game against Carolina going 18-23 for 205 yards with 2 TD
· He has twice spent time with Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, while he was an offensive coordinator at Tennessee and again as head coach in Atlanta. In 2022, he started 13 games for the Falcons going 5-8, 61% completion, 2219 yards, 15 TD, 9 INT, 88.2 rating, 28 sacks, 85 rushes for 438 yards with 4 TD, 2156 rushing yards with 18 TD
· 10 years in the NFL, 74 starts, 34-40 record, 63% completion, 16,184 yards, 97 TD, 55 INT, 90.1 rating,
Jameis Winston-31-years-old-Cleveland
2024 stats (2-5, 61% completion, 2121 yards, 13 TD, 12 INT, 80.6 rating)
· At one time put in the conversation to be the Steelers successor to Ben Roethlisberger, but while throwing for 4 touchdowns at Denver, he also threw 3 picks in that game. He threw for 2 touchdowns at the Steelers, but 2 picks. He did lead the Browns to an upset win over Baltimore throwing for 334 yards with 3 TD and no interceptions
· He threw for 5,109 yards in 2019 with Tampa By which led the league. He also led the league with 30 interceptions. He went 5-2 with the Saints in 2021 with 14 TD to 3 INT. He is the Dr. Jeckyl and Mr. Hyde of the 2025 free agents
· Career record 36-51, 61.2% completion, 24,225 yards, 154 TD, 111 INT, 219 sacks, 86.4 rating, 1297 rushing yards with 12 touchdowns
There are a few others
Drew Lock-28-years-old-Giants
· 2019 Broncos second-round pick threw for 4 TD and no INT in a Giants win against the Colts this season. 28 games, 10-18 record, 59% completion, 6354 yards, 34 TD, 28 INT, 51 sacks, 432 rushing yards with 7 TD
Trey Lance-24-years-old-Dallas
· 3rd overall pick by San Francisco in 2021, threw for 244 yards with no TD or INT against Washington in the Cowboys season finale, losing 23-19. 12 games, 2-3 record in 3 seasons, 56.6% completion, 1063 yards, 5 TD, 4 INT, 80.3 rating, 276 rushing yards, TD, 4.2 average
Zach Wilson-25-years-old-Jets
· 2nd overall pick by the Jets in 2021, did not play in 2024. In 2023, started 11 games with New York, 4-7, 60% completion, 2271 yards, 8 TD, 7 INT, 77.2 rating, 46 sacks. Career 12-21 record, 57% completion, 6293 yards, 23 TD, 25 INT, 73.2 rating, 113 sacks, 498 rushing yards with 5 TD.
Desmond Ridder-25-years-old-Las Vegas
· Arthur Smith's 3rd round pick in 2022 in Atlanta, played for LV against Atlanta going 23-39 for 208 yards, TD, 2 INT in 15-9 loss. Started 18 games in three seasons with an 8-10 record, 64% completion, 4002 yards, 16 TD, 14 INT, 82.6 rating, 50 sacks, rushed for 293 yards and 5 TD



