2025 First NFL QB Benched Odds: Richardson, Flacco Preseason Favorites

By Adam Thompson Jul 10th, 2025 1:42 PM EDT

Anthony Richardson should be on the hot seat in Indianapolis, with Daniel Jones brought in to add another option under center.

Not every quarterback who starts Week 1 of the 2025 NFL season will start Week 18. Injuries will play a role, to be sure, but “coaches decision” will factor into it as well.

There will be teams in the win-now mode that may not be getting what’s needed from their most important position and look for a spark elsewhere. Other teams, out of the running, may take a look at someone else under center as a glimpse of a possible future. If a coach feels he could be next, his first big move could be to try someone else at QB and see if it sticks. 

Regardless, new QBs will lead teams, and the first change often comes sooner than expected. Bryce Young was first. Bookies.com veteran oddsmaker Adam Thompson has updated NFL betting odds as to which QB is the first to get benched in 2025. 

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Next NFL QB Benched In 2025 Odds

These odds are for entertainment purposes only and do not reflect odds that may be available on legal betting apps.

Potential NFL QBs On The Hot Seat

Joe Flacco has been a part-time starter for the last seven seasons. He’s done a good job replacing struggling QBs in those seasons, but now the 40-year-old is getting handed the reins in Cleveland. For how long is TBD, but with two rookies and a younger Kenny Pickett in the same room, Flacco is likely a placeholder until someone else is ready.

Anthony Richardson has made it through just 15 games through two seasons with the Colts, and he has more INTS (13) than TDs (11) in those games. The team brought in Daniel Jones to compete with Richardson, who might be a more polished, experienced version that coach Shane Steichen prefers.

Tyler Shough, if he wins the starting job, may not have it for long. Spencer Rattler struggled mightily in his six starts last year (0-6, 40.3 QBR), but Shough, a second-round pick out of Louisville, may have a short leash, depending on how preseason and training camp go.

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Russell Wilson was brought in to New York to be a steady presence for the building Giants. But he’s 36 and the team used a first-round pick to get Jaxson Dart. Jameis Winston is also in the mix.

In the same building, Justin Fields has been handed the QB1 spot with the Jets with a limited amount of past success. Unlike Wilson, however, the competition behind him isn’t as strong, with Tyrod Taylor the top challenger. And Fields is far younger, so expect him to get a fair shot.  

Michael Penix Jr. was surprisingly handed the Falcons offense as a rookie late in 2024 despite the team signing Kirk Cousins to a massive free agent deal. He went just 1-2 with 3 TDs and 3 INTS and a 51.0 QBR. He’ll be the guy in Week 1, but Cousins is still on the roster. If things go south under center and the rest of the team plays like a contender, the Falcons could make a move.  

There are other QBs that could get demoted, though it would be a surprise. Those signal-callers include J.J. McCarthy of the Vikings, Bryce Young of the Panthers, and Tua Tagovailoa of the Dolphins.

The Field includes Matthew Stafford of the Rams and Sam Darnold of the Seahawks. 

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About the Author

Adam Thompson

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Long established as one of the nation's premier handicappers, Adam Thompson joined Bookies.com in 2019 after a successful run as senior handicapper for SportsLine & CBSSports.com. He specializes in the NFL and MLB, where he's hit on well over 60% of his picks the past five years. Adam's NBA and horse racing picks have also produced consistent, major winners over the years.