5 best QBs in 2024 free agency that NFL teams will look to sign

Kirk Cousins is close to hitting the free agent for the second time in his career. But he isn’t the only high-profile quarterback whose contract with their current team is up before the next NFL calendar year begins. Names such as Ryan Tannehill and Baker Mayfield, along with a few others, may find themselves playing somewhere else in 2024.

Quarterback is undeniably the most important position in football. Teams usually build a team around the QB. If a team somehow manages to land a player best fit for the spot, they can get transformed from a bottom feeder to a title challenger. The Houston Texans and Cincinnati Bengals are great examples of it.

Teams can either try their luck in the draft or comb through the free agency for an experienced campaigner. But usually, top quarterbacks don’t find themselves out of a job unless they are over 35 or have suffered serious injuries. Kirk Cousins checks out both boxes. Similarly, Tannehill or even Russell Wilson can be categorized as one of the two. 

5 best free agent quarterbacks in 2024 that teams should sign

There’s also the path of taking up the backup job at a franchise behind a rising star or among the quarterbacks counted among the top echelons of football. Baker Mayfield is a great example. After the Cleveland Browns let him go, he bounced around from the Carolina Panthers to the Los Angeles Rams, finally ensuring general managers that he could be a starter for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

So without wasting any more time, here are the top 5 free agent quarterbacks that teams can target in the 2024 offseason.

Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings (age 35)

Unlike his first free agency experience following his exit from the Washington Commanders in 2018, there is still hope that the current employers may eventually give Kirk Cousins a new deal. The Minnesota Vikings, especially head coach Kevin O’Connell, are massive fans of their quarterback.

Kirk Cousins knows how I feel about him. I've held no secrets there. He knows how the Minnesota Vikings. feel about him. I believe Kirk wants to be a Viking, and we're going to work to try to make that the outcome.

O’Connell, as per Sports Illustrated

A torn Achilles midway through the season hampered the Cousins and the Vikings’ chances of another postseason run. Despite a shaky start, they were on course to play football, but everything fell apart. His contract is up before free agency starts on March 13, and other franchises will be allowed to directly contact him 48 hours before the deadline. 

Russell Wilson, Denver Broncos (age 35)

The love-hate relationship between the Denver Broncos and Russell Wilson came to an end after just two years. After poaching the Super Bowl winner from the Seattle Seahawks with a record deal, the Broncos were optimistic about getting the good days back at Mile High.

However, constant coaching changes and Wilson showing clear signs of regress ended his tenure prematurely. As a result, the Broncos have to digest an NFL record of $85 million in dead money, which is more than the next two combined.

While there was optimism that the Broncos would eventually opt to keep Wilson, possibly as a backup, they decided to release him. He is now free to choose the next best destination. And if rumors are to be true, then the Pittsburgh Steelers may be where fans get to witness him trying to win two more. Even the Vikings could be a good prospect.

Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (age 28)

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers gave Baker Mayfield a deal, which many thought was very little compared to how he performed down in Florida. 2023 was a prove-it season for the first pick of the 2018 NFL Draft. 4 teams in 5 years isn’t the CV a projected top-tier quarterback would want to brag about, so he went out there and showcased that he can be the starter of a championship-targeting side.

With Mike Evans and Antoine Winfield Jr. giving their support, Mayfield dropped his career-best stats. In 17 games, the former Sooner registered 364 completed passes for 4,044 passing yards with a completion rate of 64.3%, scoring 28 touchdowns.

Both Evans and Winfield Jr. bagged extensions, and the Buccaneers are hopeful to strike a long-term deal with Mayfield. The Athletic claimed that he might sign a contract worth in the region of $160 million for four years. But the situation is that he hasn’t, and free agency is days away. Boston.com reported that there are a few New England Patriots who are keeping a close eye on the situation.

Joe Flacco, Cleveland Browns (age 39)

It’s hard to keep a top-tier quarterback down, especially when he has won a Super Bowl. Joe Flacco answered the Cleveland Browns calls and came to their rescue in the nick of time. The Browns were short on QBs as three of their four regulars ended up in the hospital. 

Joe Flacco played five regular-season games for the Browns, recording 1616 passing yards with an accuracy of 60.3% for 13 touchdowns and eight picks. He led the Browns to their first post-season game since 2020.

Browns tight end David Njoku initially thought Flacco was a mole because he had played for their AFC North rivals for a long time. But once he got going, Njoku’s suspicion turned to admiration for the veteran quarterback. He wants the Browns to extend Flacco’s stay in Ohio.

We definitely had fun, man. I hope he stays in Cleveland.

General Manager Andrew Berry wants to keep Flacco, as per NFL.com.

He did not just come off the couch. If he did, I want to buy a couch like that. We'd absolutely love to have Joe back; he's a good quarterback.

Ryan Tannehill Tennessee Titans (age 35)

Ryan Tannehill had a great first three years with the Tennessee Titans. But in the last two years, his form has taken a massive nose dive. But that doesn’t mean he can’t be a serviceable quarterback; rather, the soon-to-be 36-year-old can be installed as an excellent bridge quarterback for a needy franchise.

His best years in the NFL came playing for the Titans, playing post-season football. But in 2023, the first injury and then the emergence of rookie Will Levis restricted Tannehill to 8 starts (3-5). 

Teams such as the Steelers could be a potential destination for the former, the 8th overall pick in the 2012 draft. The Athletic wrote,

He’s [Ryan Tannnehill] 35 and not the same player anymore, but he can still be an OK starter and at least push [Kenny] Pickett, who is probably the Steelers’ preferred starter.

The Steelers already have Kenny Pickett and Mason Rudolph (cut Mitch Trubisky). On top of Russell Wilson being a target, it will be interesting to see how Tannehill fits in considering general manager Omar Khan likes Rudolph.

Honorable free agent quarterback mentions:

• Jacoby Brissett
• Gardner Minshew
• Tyrod Taylor
• Sam Darnold
• Jameis Winston
• Marcus Mariota

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