If you’re leading an NFL team in search of a quarterback, spring can feel like a magical season. The weather is improving, life is flourishing — and you might land a player who thrills your fan base, secures long-term stability, and wins multiple championships.

Then again, spring can also be brutal. Storms are brewing, mud is spreading — and you might wind up settling for a declining veteran or convincing yourself to reach for a mediocre prospect too early in the draft.

At least, that’s how it seems. Recent QB history suggests reality is more nuanced, and we likely won’t know for months, or even years, which teams have truly found their franchise leader—or at least a solid starter—for the upcoming season.

With the veteran market taking shape and the 2025 NFL Draft fast approaching, now is a great moment to reflect on the successful QB acquisitions of the past few years.

This not only balances the offseason hype (or panic) but also showcases the multiple approaches teams can take to secure a quarterback. While finding the perfect rookie or veteran by May sounds ideal, QB success comes in many forms—something worth considering when analyzing this year’s moves.

A few clarifications: I focused on the last five years (starting from the 2020 offseason and draft) to keep the sample size relevant without straying too far from today’s NFL trends. Instead of ranking quarterbacks outright—since that would merely list the top QBs from recent years—I categorized them based on how they were acquired, as many differ too much to compare directly.

Lastly, while some QBs have signed extensions, switched teams, or inked new contracts, I only considered the original transaction that brought them to their teams.

So, here are the best QB additions of the past five years, divided into veterans and rookies.