The quarterback pool in free agency dried up quickly after Sam Darnold agreed to contract terms with the Seattle Seahawks and free agent Justin Fields decided to leave the Pittsburgh Steelers for the New York Jets. Now that the dust has settled, we can step back and take a look at the best remaining options on the market.
For teams in need of a starting quarterback, good luck! Aaron Rodgers has been taking his good old time to choose his next destination, and retirement isn't out of the question. Sadly, nearly all of the quarterbacks with starting experience on the market are well past their primes with their best days behind them.
Teams in need of a quality backup or added QB competition still have options to choose from. Here are the best remaining free-agent quarterbacks after the first two weeks of free agency.
Ranking the 10 best available quarterbacks in free agency
1. Aaron Rodgers, New York Jets
With the Minnesota Vikings out of the running, Aaron Rodgers has two offers on the table—one from the New York Giants and the other from the Pittsburgh Steelers. Though he's 41 years old and a headache to deal with, Rodgers is easily the top QB remaining in free agency, and a desperate team will put up with him if he can help them compete in 2025.
2. Russell Wilson, Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers have made it clear that they wish to move on from Russell Wilson. While the 36-year-old crumbled down the stretch in 2024, you could do worse for a stop-gap starting option. Wilson can help raise the floor of a struggling offense. Just don't view him as anything more than a temporary fix.
3. Jameis Winston, Cleveland Browns
Jameis Winston has been a journeyman quarterback who found some success with the Browns last season, but for some teams, he's not a fit. Winston has a tendency to put the ball in harm's way, and that's not going to change at 31 years old. He's a low-end starter or potentially high-end backup; it just depends on which Jameis shows up to play each week.
4. Joe Flacco, Indianapolis Colts
Joe Flacco is 40 years old and about as boring as it gets from the QB position at this stage of his career. But thanks to his size and arm, the veteran still acts as a high-end backup who can stand back in the pocket and go through progressions. Flacco is still capable of starting for a few games at a time to help keep a team's season afloat.
5. Teddy Bridgewater, Detroit Lions
Here's where the talent starts to take a dip. Teddy Bridgewater found a way to hang around the league for a long time after a two-year absence early in his career. Bridgewater has been on six different NFL rosters, but he hasn't thrown a football in an NFL game since 2022. His profile and body of work scream quality backup.
6. Carson Wentz, Kansas City Chiefs
Don't expect a reclamation project with Carson Wentz at this stage of his career. The former second-overall pick has bounced around the league after a quality start to his career with the Eagles, which included Pro Bowl honors in 2017. Wentz still deserves a shot to be a team's QB2, but temper expectations.
7. Drew Lock, New York Giants
Drew Lock went 0-3 as the New York Giants' starter last season, but he was capable of finding some success with the Denver Broncos during his rookie season back in 2019. Lock is 28 years old and in the prime of his career. He's got a quality skill set and could still be a respectable backup QB, but he's confirmed to us he's not a player you want on the field for more than a few games at a time.
8. Trey Lance, Dallas Cowboys
If a team is looking to take an upside gamble on a quarterback in free agency, Trey Lance is one of the only QBs who fits the bill. Still just 24 years old, Lance has impressive arm strength and athletic traits. This reclamation project is likely too far away to every do anything significant in the NFL, but at least there's in impressive skill set to work with.
9. Desmond Ridder, Las Vegas Raiders
Despite being a third-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Desmond Ridder is already looking for his third NFL team in four seasons. Ridder has almost an even touchdown-to-interception ratio early in his career (16 touchdowns to 14 interceptions) and he hasn't developed much as a passer since his rookie season. Ridder has youth on his side, but only backup-level traits.
10. Jeff Driskel, Washington Commanders
Jeff Driskel has respectable enough traits to land on an NFL roster and could still compete for a backup job on the right team. At 31, Driskel isn't old by quarterback standards, but his 1-10 career record as a starter suggests you're better off looking elsewhere for QB help.