NFL Free Agency 2024: Top quarterbacks available, Colts needs

NFL free agency is upon us, ushering in a dizzying number of players changing teams or staying put with new deals. Here are key dates:

March 5: Teams can designate franchise or transition players.

March 11: Teams and player agents can negotiate.

March 13: Free agent signings begin.

NFL free agent quarterbacks in 2024

Here are the most notable quarterbacks on the market, including 2023 performance and salary, and profiles.

Players listed in alphabetical order; salary cap hits according to Spotrac

∎ Jacoby Brissett, Commanders

(March 11 report: Brissett, Patriots agree on one-year, $8 million contract)

2023 performance: He appeared in 3 games, passing for 3 touchdowns. He was in line to start the closing games of the season but was sidelined by injury. Salary cap hit: 1 year, $8.5 million. Free agency profile from Pro Football Focus: Brissett (31 years old) is a solid pocket passer who can stand in and take a hit. He showed improved pocket manipulation over his time in Cleveland and is a quarterback sneak savant.

∎ Kirk Cousins, Vikings

(March 11 report: Cousins will join the Falcons on a four-year, $180 million deal)

2023 performance: Cousins suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in his eighth game after completing 69.5% of his passes for 2,331 yards, 18 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. Salary cap hit: $20 million, but reached $35 million with roster bonuses. Profile from 33rd Team: The 35-year-old is "a better quarterback now than he was when he initially signed with Minnesota in 2018, and that will be an upgrade for most teams." He's considered the No. 1 available QB.

∎ Josh Dobbs, Vikings

2023 performance: He started the season with the Browns but was traded to the Cardinals. He played 8 games for the Cardinals, who then traded him to the Vikings, where he made 4 more starts before being benched. He totaled 62.8% completions for 2,464 yards, 13 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Salary cap hit: $2 million for the season.

∎ Joe Flacco, Browns

(March 13: Flacco, Colts agree to one-year contract)

2023 performance: The 39-year-old joined the Browns in November and started their last 5 regular-season games, going 4-1 as Cleveland made the playoffs. He completed 60.3% of his passes for 1,616 yards, 13 touchdowns and 8 interceptions. Salary cap hit: $2.5 million. Profile from Pro Football Network: Flacco intends to play in 2024, and the Browns have expressed interest in re-signing him. But other teams not tied to a Deshaun Watson-level QB contract might make more sense for Flacco if he wants playing time.

∎ Tyler Huntley, Ravens

2023 performance: He appeared in 5 games, passing for 3 touchdowns. Salary cap hit: 1 year, $2.67 million. Free agency profile from 33rd Team: Huntley (26 years old) has filled in admirably enough, usually in less-than-ideal circumstances, when Lamar Jackson hasn’t been on the field. Huntley has the arm and mobility to make plays and could serve as a short-term starter.

∎ Drew Lock, Seahawks

(March 12 report: Lock, Giants agree to one-year, $5 million contract)

2023 performance: The 27-year-old made 4 appearances and 2 starts, completing 63.2% of his passes for 543 yards for 3 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. Salary cap hit: 1 year, $4 million.

∎ Baker Mayfield, Buccaneers

(March 11 report: Mayfield, Bucs agree on three-year, $100 million contract)

2023 performance: He led the Bucs to the NFC South title, completing 64.3% of his passes for 4,044 yards, 28 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Salary cap hit: He played under a 1-year, $4 million contract in 2023. Free agency profile from Pro Football Focus: Mayfield made the most of his starting opportunity with the Buccaneers and at least left the door open to be involved in future training camp battles for starting jobs. He has brought his pressure-to-sack rate way down to 18.3% during the regular season, well below his rate over the past two seasons.

∎ Gardner Minshew, Colts

(March 11: Minshew, Raiders agree on a two-year, $15 million contract)

2023 performance: He was the Colts' QB2 but ended up starting 13 games, completing 62.2% of his passes for 3,305 yards, 15 touchdowns and 9 interceptions. Salary cap hit: He was on a 1-year, $3.5 million deal, but got a $2 million bonus for playing time incentives. Free agent profile from Pro Football Focus: Minshew has an erratic nature to his game, with frantic feet in the pocket that at times cause him to miss throwing windows or lead to inaccurate throws. Minshew has put the ball in harm's way far too many times in 2023, but the high-variance nature of his play can also win games.

∎ Mason Rudolph, Steelers

(March 13: Rudolph, Titans agree to one-year, $3.6 million deal)

2023 performance: The 28-year-old started the last 3 games of the season, winning all of them as the Steelers made the playoffs. He completed 74.3% of his passes for 719 yards and 3 touchdowns. Salary cap hit: 1 year, $1.1 million.

∎ Ryan Tannehill, Titans

2023 performance: Tannehill suffered an ankle injury in Week 6 and spent time on the bench behind rookie Will Levis. He appeared in 10 games, completing 64.8% of his passes for 1,616 yards, 4 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. Salary cap hit: He just completed a 4-year, $118 million contract. Profile from 33rd Team: At his best, (36-year-old) Ryan Tannehill is a plus play-action quarterback who can make the most out of bad situations. The offense line around him in Tennessee continued to get worse — and a sack-prone quarterback took a sack on 30.2% of pressures, the third-highest rate in the league.

∎ Tyrod Taylor, Giants

(March 12 report: Taylor, Jets agree on a contract)

2023 performance: He made 11 appearances, 5 of them starts, completing 64.4% of his passes for 1,341 yards, 5 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. Salary cap hit: He completed a 2-year, $11 million contract.

∎ Russell Wilson, Broncos

(Reports: Broncos cut Wilson, who agrees with Steelers for one year)

2023: The 35-year-old had 66.4% completions, 3,070 yards, 26 TDs, 8 INTs; his relationship with coach Sean Payton never appeared steady. Salary cap hit: $22 million.

∎ Jameis Winston, Saints

(March 12 report: Winston, Browns agree to contract)

2023 performance: He appeared in 7 games, passing for 2 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. In Week 18, he overruled head coach Dennis Allen’s call for a kneel-down in favor of letting RB Jamaal Williams score his first TD of the year. Salary cap hit: $4 million. Free agency profile from Pro Football Network: Winston didn’t make a single start in 2023. ... Winston threw 30 interceptions the last time he was a full-time NFL quarterback (2019).

Colts quarterback needs

They have their QB1 in Anthony Richardson, but as they learned last season with Gardner Minshew, having a capable QB2 is vital. They will be looking at many of these players.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: NFL Free Agency 2024: Top quarterbacks available, Colts needs