The NFL offseason saw two major dominoes fall on Tuesday, when reigning MVP Aaron Rodgers announced he was staying with the Packers, and the Seahawks struck a deal to send nine-time Pro Bowler Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos.
But Rodgers and Wilson weren't the only quarterbacks whose fates could reshape the league landscape before training camps open.
Several other high-profile signal-callers have been reported or rumored to be candidates for a change of scenery, whether by trade or free agency.
Here's a look at five notable quarterbacks thought to be on the move, and our predictions for where they'll be suiting up for the 2022 season.
Deshaun Watson, Houston Texans
The three-time Pro Bowler's football future remains cloudy, with civil and criminal cases still unresolved amid multiple allegations of sexual misconduct. But he's also the best player on this list, and, given his age and talent, probably the best player who could be changing teams this offseason.
It remains to be seen whether any team would make a move before there's clarity on Watson's legal situation, but it's worth noting he hasn't been suspended or otherwise sidelined by the league. He was inactive for the Texans last season after the allegations surfaced, and he had also previously requested a trade out of Houston.
It's hard to predict how interested suitors will proceed given the tricky circumstances, but as the saying goes it only takes one motivated trade partner -- and of course, all bets are off if he's exonerated. The Carolina Panthers have long been rumored to be among the interested teams, and with head coach Matt Rhule reportedly on the hot seat in Year 3, they still seem like an obvious landing spot.
The relative proximity of Charlotte to Watson's alma mater, Clemson, and his home state, Georgia, would seem to help too. The Washington Commanders would seem to make sense on all of the same grounds, but head coach Ron Rivera has stressed the importance of character and leadership countless times, so maybe he would be hesitant in Watson's case.
Prediction: Carolina Panthers
Jimmy Garoppolo, San Francisco 49ers
It feels like the clock has been ticking on Jimmy G's tenure in San Francisco since the 49ers' disappointing loss to the Chiefs in Super Bowl LIV.
His departure was all but a foregone conclusion after the Niners appeared to draft Trey Lance as his heir apparent last year, but Lance struggled with injury and ineffectiveness as a rookie, and Garoppolo led the team to a second NFC title game in three years while playing through a thumb injury that later required surgery.
Still, the bounceback didn't exactly earn Garoppolo a vote of confidence, and it wouldn't be shocking to see the 49ers move on. With only one year left on his contract, Jimmy G could be a nice short-term option for a number of teams.
The Buccaneers, Saints and Commanders have been floated as trade destinations, though at least one report indicated Tampa Bay wouldn't be a good fit owing to head coach Bruce Arians' affinity for the deep ball, while the Saints are deep in the red on cap space, even after restructuring the deals of several players. The Commanders, after reportedly striking out in an effort to trade for Wilson, might be the best fit.
Prediction: Washington Commanders
Jameis Winston, free agent
You can go home again?
Famous Jameis was allowed to leave the Buccaneers in free agency to make room for Tom Brady, but now Brady is gone, and it seems Tampa Bay and their former No. 1 overall pick might need each other.
Winston beat out Taysom Hill to take over for Drew Brees as Saints starter last season, only to see his opportunity go up in smoke due to a season-ending knee injury in Week 7.
As mentioned earlier, Arians seems to fetishize strong-armed QBs -- famously dubbing his offense the "chuck and duck" -- and Winston is nothing if not that.
Coming off two two seasons with modest production, Winston probably won't be looking to break the bank, but rather reestablish his value, which should appeal to the cap-strapped Bucs, who currently have only unproven sophomore Kyle Trask and journeyman Blaine Gabbert as in-house options.
Prediction: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Carson Wentz, Indianapolis Colts
Despite the Colts' hugely disappointing finish last season, it was still something of a surprise to see Wentz's name surfacing in trade rumors. After all, they acquired him just last offseason, reuniting him with former Eagles offensive coordinator Frank Reich, and he played decently in his first season in Indy.
Even still, Wentz didn't play well in either of the Colts' final two games, losses to the Raiders and Jaguars, and his vaccination status seemed to be something of a distraction for the team.
The Seahawks are now in need of a quarterback after Wilson's departure, but it remains to be seen if that move comes as part of a larger rebuild. The Pittsburgh Steelers are in the same boat after Ben Roethlisberger's retirement, and with plenty of cap room and a solid team to put around Wentz, it seems like a situation where he could succeed. At least a couple reports have linked Wentz to the Steelers in recent weeks, with one indicating he'd essentially get a one-year tryout since he has no guaranteed money beyond 2022.
Prediction: Pittsburgh Steelers
Derek Carr, Las Vegas Raiders
Whether the Raiders and new head coach Josh McDaniels want to keep or move on from Carr is unclear, but it's not unreasonable to think Wilson's arrival in the AFC West could change their thinking -- as they'll now have to face all of Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert and DangeRuss twice each per season for the foreseeable future.
The Commanders reportedly checked in recently with the Raiders regarding Carr, which makes sense given their cap situation. Like Jimmy G, Carr has one year remaining on his deal -- but at a more reasonable price tag, which arguably makes Carr the more attractive trade target.
The Saints still have a nice all-around roster, and new head coach Dennis Allen has been relatively vague about what he's seeking in the Saints' next signal-caller other than a "winner." While Carr has had mixed results in terms of wins and losses, there's a sense he's settled in as a serviceable game manager in recent years, and the duo has experience together from Allen's tenure as a head coach in Oakland, when Carr's career was just getting started. There's comfort in familiarity, and for one year, the contract commitment might be manageable for general manager Mickey Loomis.
Prediction: New Orleans Saints
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