What’s next: Ranking the 7 veteran NFL QBs expected to be available this offseason

It’s time for many NFL teams to start shopping for their next quarterback. When it comes to the veteran search, this offseason will be as interesting as any in recent memory, largely because the 2026 draft has so little to offer at the position. There’s the consensus No. 1 overall pick, Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza. But even more so than Cam Ward last year (supposedly a disappointing No. 1 pick), Mendoza isn’t necessarily a transcendent talent. To make matters worse, there also appears to be less QB depth in this draft class than last year. Mendoza may not be elite, but he’s the only quarterback with clear starting traits. So that puts more emphasis on veteran NFL quarterbacks who should be available this offseason, one way or another. Let’s take a look at these QBs, in descending order. 7. Kirk Cousins ​​How to get him: Trade to the Falcons I’m not saying he’s going to save an organization. But if you need a starting quarterback, that’s what Cousins ​​is. He’s smart. He is dedicated. He understands the game on a deep level. And he has all the traits needed to lead any offense, especially now that he’s further removed from his Achilles injury. He looks more physically ready to play than when he joined the Falcons in 2024. Cousins ​​is still under contract with Atlanta so may not be available. But if new head coach Kevin Stefanski intends to go with Michael Penix Jr. or wants to go in a completely different direction at QB, it could help the team remove Cousins’ contract from the salary cap. 6. Tua Tagovailoa How to get him: Potential free agent if cut by the Dolphins or a trade target as part of a salary cut. We’ve seen how many things need to happen for Tagovailoa to succeed, and that’s why it never made sense to pay him $55 million a year. The size of his contract made it very difficult to sustain him. This is why a new, less lucrative contract could help him regain success. Tagovailoa must have a strong supporting cast. So when teams look to build around him, they’ll need to think about how to create a Miami-like situation in 2023. And you’re probably thinking: Good luck! But don’t be so dismissive. These Dolphins obviously had star receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, as well as running back tandem Raheem Mostert and De’Von Achane. But the offensive line wasn’t very good. Neither does the defense. And Mike McDaniel had his moment, but he’s clearly not the transcendent coach we once crowned him as. At the risk of sounding too negative about the Dolphins, I’m trying to point out that someone can put Tua in a position to succeed again. But first, he’ll probably have to beat out someone else, because no team is giving him a starting job at this point. 5. Daniel Jones How to get him: Free agency Jones had a good start to the season while healthy, but then the Colts quickly fell apart, especially as he racked up injuries. He was playing with a broken leg when his Achilles tendon tore – and ended his season in early December. If all things were equal and Jones’ total health was a guarantee, then he would rank much higher on this list. But he’s not a Madden player. His Achilles recovery will slow him down next year, and his mobility is part of his game, so I would have serious reservations about signing him for a QB1 role in 2026, as you would also need a contingency plan. Jones has potential. He has talent. We’ve seen what he can do. It’s just unclear how quickly he can return to his peak. It’s also unclear whether he can hold up. In short, it’s unclear if “Danny Dimes” will return in 2026. 4. Mac Jones How to get him: The 49ers trade Brock Purdy showed why he has more upside as a creative playmaker. But in replacing Purdy last season, Jones proved why he was once a first-round pick who still has the tools to start in the NFL, especially in a QB-friendly system (and one that features elite playmakers like Christian McCaffrey and George Kittle). Jones’ time in New England proved he could play with the help of a good offensive coordinator (Josh McDaniels). He also proved he couldn’t do it all alone when hampered by a lack of quality offensive personnel and coaches. There are no hidden surprises here. For F1 fans, I would compare Jones to Valtteri Bottas, who was so consistent behind the wheel of a Mercedes, the fastest car on the track. But when he joined Alfa Romeo, he couldn’t compete with the pack. He missed his Mercedes. In many ways, this F1 comparison rings true for several guys on this list. It’s just that Jones, 27, is younger and has a shorter injury history. The only downside is that it will take recruiting capital to get him, as he is signed through next season with San Francisco. 3. Kyler Murray How to get him: Potential free agent if he’s cut by the Cardinals or is a trade target on a salary cut. Will Murray ever be consistent enough to be a quality starter in the NFL? That seems like a boring question, especially for a player like Murray, who can be as fun to watch as any QB in the league. But those are just its strong points. The entire work gives rise to a murky evaluation. It can’t be a coincidence that the team wrote into his contract that he had to spend more time studying film, which means less time playing video games. This element of the contract was once a joke. But now, with years of Murray being stuck in the mud developmentally, it’s fair to wonder if he’s failing to work the way successful quarterbacks do. He has tons of potential and a film that proves he can play well for extended periods of time. But that just begs the question: After seven seasons in the NFL, why hasn’t Murray put it all together yet? Can he find a coach who will help him not only reach his peak potential, but maintain it for a full season (and the playoffs)? I am hopeful. But I’m not betting on that. 2. Aaron Rodgers How to get him: Free agency He can still throw the ball when he has clean pockets. But given the league-wide trend where defenses are a step ahead of offenses — especially in offensive pass protection — it’s difficult to work with an aging QB like Rodgers, who no longer has the athleticism to make things happen when the play breaks down. The good news is that the 21-year NFL veteran might be as sharp as Matthew Stafford when it comes to pre-snap and coverage intelligence. Rodgers just wasn’t in the Rams’ offense last year. He’s seen it all and probably has an answer for everything. It’s just a question of whether his 42-year-old body can do what his mind thinks it can. But if a team needs a winner to lead their organization for a season, Rodgers has all the sense in the world. Clearly, Pittsburgh could work, especially since it would mean a reunion with Mike McCarthy, who coached Rodgers in Green Bay. Don’t count out Minnesota, though. 1. Malik Willis How to get it: Free agency It’s like that Paul Rudd meme: Who would have thought it? Not me! It’s so difficult to rank Willis against proven entities, when signing any of them would be like dealing with the devil you know. Aaron Rodgers is aging quickly and has physical limitations. Kyler Murray may never be consistent enough to lead an organization. And where to start with Tua Tagovailoa’s problems? We know what’s wrong with each of these quarterbacks. In Willis’ case, we don’t know what we don’t know, especially when it comes to his weaknesses. His strengths were on display this season, with impressive arm strength and talent, as well as an aptitude for the Kyle Shanahan system that Matt LaFleur runs in Green Bay. Willis didn’t win his starts for the Packers, but he definitely won over the league’s talent evaluators. There is an interesting amount of talent to work with, although the sample size is so small that it might scare off some teams. But it only takes one. And some teams will sign Willis to a three-year deal thinking he’s the next Sam Darnold or Baker Mayfield. To be “the next” draft bust-turned-successful starting journeyman, Willis will need a safe landing spot, perhaps like Atlanta. As we saw with Darnold, if you hit a quarterback at the right time in his career, you can legitimately win a Super Bowl. Willis is clearly not the best QB available. But it might be good for a long time. That’s why I like it the most. He could give a team 10 years of solid play.