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Football

The top ten free agent NFL quarterbacks this offseason

Joe Mewis
The top ten free agent NFL quarterbacks this offseasonRobin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
A number of experienced quarterbacks will be heading for free agency next month.

One of the busiest days of the NFL’s offseason calendar is just around the corner, with free agency set to get underway in two weeks. 

The opening of the market will allow teams to restock their rosters and put together the pieces of what they hope will be a side that contends for Super Bowl honours next year. 

Quarterbacks are always in demand in the NFL, so what does this year’s upcoming crop of free agents look like? Here is a rundown of the top ten quarterback free agents. 

1. Kirk Cousins

The clear number one in this year’s batch of QBs set to hit the market and the former Washington and Minnesota signal-caller should have plenty of suitors.

However, he is still on the comeback trail after tearing his Achilles last season and at 36 years of age, he’s not one for the future. 

2. Jacoby Brissett

Over eight seasons in the NFL, Brissett has largely been restricted to the role of a more-than-capable back-up. He is certainly better than several NFL starters last season and would be a useful addition to most QB rooms. 

3. Baker Mayfield

It’ll be interesting to see how the league reacts to Mayfield’s bounce-back season last year as the former number-one overall draft pick put in perhaps his most solid campaign so far. 

4. Ryan Tannehill

While the first three players on this list could feasibly entertain being handed a starting job, we’re now into the section of this exercise consisting of players who will be looking at back-up roles. Tannehill will turn 36 this summer and after losing the starting job in Tennessee last season, is starting to look his age. 

5. Gardner Minshew

An entertaining player who managed to rack up 37 starts for three teams across five seasons without ever being handed the keys to an offense. 

6. Jameis Winston

Another former number-one draft pick, Winston hasn’t been a regular starter since 2019, when he set an NFL first by throwing for more than 30 touchdowns and 30 interceptions. He has enough experience to take on a back-up role somewhere. 

7. Sam Darnold

Amid promising reports coming out of 49ers training camp, there were brief calls for Darnold to usurp Brock Purdy in the San Francisco offense before Purdy was able to silence the doubters. A year under Kyle Shanahan is good for anyone’s CV. 

8. Tyrod Taylor

Another ageing QB, but the 13-year veteran Taylor is coming off the back of a decent season subbing in for Daniel Jones in New York and is a prime candidate for another back-up role in 2024. 

9. Drew Lock

Lock’s stock will be boosted by his Week 15 92-yard game-winning drive against the Eagle and has enough experience in the league to make himself useful somewhere. 

10. Joe Flacco

The unlikely resurgence of Joe Flacco during the home stretch last season and subsequent run to the playoffs with Cleveland was one of the more eyebrow-raising storylines in 2023, so who would bet against Flacco being another mid-season pick-up when injury strikes somewhere next season?

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