The legal tampering period begins a few days early on March 9th, which is when teams can start negotiating with agents. During this time, both parties can come to verbal agreements on deals, but nothing can be signed and sealed until the start of free agency three days later.
Teams can also franchise tag players, which prevents them from becoming free agents.
Now, let's take a look at our top 10 NFL quarterback free agents of 2026!
10. Zach Wilson
The fourth-youngest QB free agent in Wilson only saw the field for 11 pass attempts in four games this past season with the Dolphins. He spent the first three brutal years of his career with the New York Jets, where he never played a full season or threw for more than 10 touchdowns.
The former No. 2 overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft has a career 57% completion percentage with 23 passing touchdowns and 25 interceptions.
9. Trey Lance
The former 2021 third overall pick of the NFL Draft has not had much of a career whatsoever since entering the league, having only six starts in 16 games, including being out for the entirety of 2023.
He has as many passing touchdowns (five) as he does interceptions, but his age (25) could make him a target as a primary backup for a lot of teams.
8. Tyrod Taylor
Also, a now-former QB of the Jets, Taylor is becoming somewhat of a diet-Josh Johnson journeyman who's made a career off of being a capable backup quarterback.
He finished last season with six total touchdowns (five passing) with five interceptions in six games (four starts) and hasn't been a full-time starter since his three years with the Buffalo Bills (2015-2017). Should he sign with a new team he hasn't played for (Ravens, Bills, Browns, Chargers, Texans, Giants, Jets), it'll be his eighth team in 16 years.
7. Russell Wilson
Wilson's time on the New York Giants this past season was a disaster. From being benched for rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart, to literally having fans boo him off the field while Dart was being evaluated for injuries,
It wasn't just a career-low in passing for Wilson, but it was the first time ever in his career where he finished a season with fewer than 10 starts (3), less than 2,400 yards passing (831), and less than 15 passing touchdowns (3). However, a lot of teams in this league need a quarterback and the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft class is insanely thin at QB.
6. Marcus Mariota
Another veteran on this list, Mariota, actually proved to be a solid backup for the Washington Commanders when Jayden Daniels was hurt. He started in eight of the 11 games he played, putting up 1,695 passing yards and 297 rushing yards with 11 total touchdowns and seven interceptions.
It was the second-most starts Mariota has put up in a season in the past seven years, the most being 13 when he was a starter for the Atlanta Falcons in 2022. The 32-year-old still has some juice left in him for a team that needs a valuable backup.
5. Aaron Rodgers
Everyone expects Rodgers to go back to the Steelers after they signed his former head coach, Mike McCarthy, to replace Mike Tomlin. The 42-year-old threw for 3,322 yards with 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions, completing 65.7% of his passes - tied for the third-highest in his career since 2014.
Pittsburgh barely clinched a playoff birth with Rodgers under centre after Ravens kicker Tyler Loop shanked what would've been a game-winning field goal to end the Steelers' season. But it's Rodgers we're talking about. He might wake up tomorrow and decide to retire out of nowhere.
4. Joe Flacco
It's crazy to even be saying this in 2026, along with Rodgers, but yes - Joe Flacco is a very capable and proven backup quarterback at this point in his career. After ditching Cleveland for Cincinnati, Flacco, at one point, led the entire league in passing yards during his six-game starting stiny for the Bengals.
He finished last season with 2,479 passing yards, 15 passing touchdowns (13 with Cincinnati), and 10 interceptions (4 with Cincinnati). The old man can still sling the rock but it needs to be in the right system. That was evident after his night-and-day performances between the Browns and Bengals.
3. Tyler Huntley
Huntley might've seriously made himself the No. 1 backup quarterback in the NFL last season after stepping in for Lamar Jackson. He was 2-0 in his two starts, both against NFC North playoff teams in the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers.
He finished last year with a whopping 77.6% completion percentage in five games with 577 total yards (426 passing) and two passing touchdowns - no turnovers. At 28, Huntley might try to secure a starting job elsewhere as he did before when he left the Ravens the first time.
However, it wouldn't be a surprise if he found himself back in the black and purple.
2. Malik Willis
Willis made a name for himself this past season after Jordan Love went down. He finished the season playing in four games (one start), throwing a, get ready for this - 85.7% completion percentage!
While some say Huntley, Flacco, Wilson, and Rodgers could be over Willis on here, the fact remains is that Willis is only 26-years-old - the other guys are in their 30s and 40s. That's a big advantage for him when it comes to longevity.
1. Daniel Jones
This is obvious. Jones, at one point last season, was only an MVP candidate trajectory before getting hurt and the Colts train completed derailed halfway through the season.
But he proved to the entire league that, in the right system, Jones can actually flourish. And with around half the teams in this league in need of a solid quarterback, Jones could be that guy after he tossed 3,101 yards and 19 touchdowns with eight interceptions, along with 164 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns.
Even more so, the 28-year-old tossed a career-best 68% completion percentage.
Jones will undoubtedly become the highest paid quarterback out of free agency if he signs a long-term contract.
