A handful of teams are still deciding on their starting QBs for the opening week of the 2024-25 NFL season, and sportsbooks are open for that action.
The tightest battle appears to be between Aidan O’Connell and Gardner Minshew for the QB1 spot on the Las Vegas Raiders. Clear favorites have emerged in other races, including expectations that the Pittsburgh Steelers are leaning toward Russell Wilson over Justin Fields.
As the preseason continues, you can weigh in on how it will all shake out. Bet365 Sportsbook is among the NFL betting sites that have posted Week 1 starting QB odds.
Which teams are still deciding on their Week 1 starting QB?
The countdown continues for NFL Week 1 action, which begins on Thursday, Sept. 5. As the exhibition season continues, a few QB battles are still taking shape, while others appear to be all but officially settled.
Nix favored to win Broncos’ starting gig
In March, the Wilson era officially ended for the Denver Broncos. Acquired via a massive trade with the Seattle Seahawks in 2022, Wilson had a rocky two-year tenure. He quickly agreed to a one-year deal with the Steelers. Based on the latest bet365 odds, Bo Nix is the clear favorite to take over at quarterback in Week 1
Nix was the 12th pick at this year’s NFL Draft. In his final season at Oregon, he set a record for the best completion percentage in a college football season at 77.4% while throwing for 4,508 yards and 45 TDs.
Stidham started Denver’s final two games last season, throwing for two touchdowns and one pick while the team went 1-1. The Broncos acquired Wilson — the second overall pick in the 2021 draft — for a sixth-round draft choice via a trade with the New York Jets over the offseason.
O’Connell vs. Minshew in Las Vegas spotlight
Last season, the Raiders dropped to 3-5 with a Week 8 loss to the Detroit Lions. The team shook things up afterward, firing head coach Josh McDaniels and replacing him with Antonio Pierce on an interim basis. One of Pierce’s first moves was to replace Jimmy Garoppolo at QB1 in favor of O’Connell, who is now battling Minshew for the starting gig.
The Raiders went 5-4 over their final nine games last season. O’Connell finished with 2,218 passing yards, 12 TDs, and seven interceptions. Minshew spent last season with the Indianapolis Colts, taking over as the starter following a season-ending injury to Anthony Richardson.
He helped lead the team to a 9-8 finish. The veteran inked a two-year, $25-million deal to join the Raiders during free agency. The QB battle will continue Saturday when Las Vegas takes on the Dallas Cowboys in preseason Week 2 action.
Veteran Brissett expected to lead the way in New England
It’s a season of change in New England. Bill Belichick stepped down as head coach in January, and the team quickly hired Jerod Mayo as his successor. At the NFL Draft, New England used the third pick to select Drake Maye. However, veteran Jacoby Brissett is the favorite to take the reins for the Patriots in Week 1.
Maye spent his college career at North Carolina, throwing for 3,608 yards and 24 touchdowns in his final campaign. As the lofty draft position suggests, Maye is viewed as the future in New England. The team has moved on from Mac Jones, whom it traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars for a sixth-round pick.
The club signed Brissett to a one-year deal worth up to $12 million with incentives. The veteran began his pro career with the Patriots in 2016. He spent last season seeing limited duty with the Washington Commanders. Brissett is expected to be under center for at least a few weeks while Maye gains some seasoning.
Wilson holding off Fields in battle of Steelers newcomers
In March, the Steelers rapidly overhauled the quarterback room. Wilson came on as a free agent. A pair of trades saw Fields arrive in Pittsburgh by way of the Chicago Bears and Kenny Pickett depart to the Philadelphia Eagles. It’s now Wilson and Fields atop the depth chart, and signs point to a clear hierarchy.
The Steelers closed last season with a record of 10-7, earning a wild card berth despite a revolving door at QB. Pickett, Mitchell Trubisky, and Mason Rudolph all saw time in the starting role. Rudolph was under center when the season came to a close with a 31-17 road loss to the Buffalo Bills in the opening round of the NFL playoffs.
Pittsburgh made it clear that offensive improvement was a priority over the offseason. Initial indications were that Pickett would return to the starting role, but plans quickly changed. The Broncos and Bears both decided to go in new directions, opening the door for Wilson and Fields to continue their careers elsewhere.
Wilson is entering his 13th pro season. He’s on a one-year deal with Pittsburgh. Fields was the 11th pick in the 2021 draft by the Bears. He showed several intriguing flashes of potential during his time in the Windy City, including back-to-back outings with four passing TDs last season.
Other QB situations to monitor
For the first week of NFL preseason action, Minnesota Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy was one of the top rookies on display. The 10th overall pick at this season’s draft threw for 188 yards, two TDs, and one pick. Unfortunately, that will serve as the lone highlight of his rookie campaign, as he suffered a knee injury during the game.
Testing revealed a torn meniscus, and he’s now set for season-ending surgery. Veteran Sam Darnold, who signed with the team in free agency, was already expected to be the Week 1 starter. He’s now comfortably atop the depth chart as the club looks to get through the remainder of the preseason without any further blows.
The first two overall picks at the draft, Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels, are expected to immediately take the helm for two franchises hoping to end their lengthy searches for a franchise QB. Williams takes over for a Bears team that closed last season at 7-10. Daniels joins a Commanders squad looking to rebound from a 4-13 campaign.
