NFL free agency QB rankings 2024: The best available from Kirk Cousins to Joe Flacco

If the 2023 NFL season taught us anything, it's that a quarterback is at a premium in the league.

The quarterback carousel was spinning last season with 66 different quarterbacks recording a start − one even started for two different teams − whether it be because of injuries or poor performance. Free agency offers teams the opportunity to upgrade the position outside of a trade or the draft, and with the opening of NFL free agency approaching on Wednesday after 4 p.m. ET, many teams will be looking to make moves.

Who are the top free agent quarterbacks? We rank the best options.

NFL free agency quarterback rankings

1. Kirk Cousins

Cousins, 35, might be coming off a season-ending Achilles injury that he suffered in Week 8, but he’s still atop the list. Prior to suffering a season-ending injury, Cousins threw for 2,331 yards, 15 touchdowns and five interceptions in eight games for the Minnesota Vikings, all while completing 69.5% of his passes.

KIRK COUSINS LANDING SPOTS: The cases for, and against, Vikings, Falcons options

2. Baker Mayfield

(Update: Baker Mayfield re-signs with Buccaneers on three-year deal)

Mayfield, 28, signed a one-year contract last season following Tom Brady's retirement and not only led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to an NFC South championship, he helped Tampa Bay win a playoff game. The former first overall pick recorded a career-high in passing yards (4,044), touchdowns (28) and completion percentage (64.3%), while throwing 10 interceptions in 17 starts.

3. Russell Wilson

Wilson's turbulent two-year stint with the Denver Broncos is officially over. Last week, the Broncos announced that Wilson officially will be released on Wednesday, the start of the new league year, despite the team having to take a record $85 million salary cap hit. Before being benched in the final two games of the season, the 35 year old had an efficient year and threw for 3,070 yards, 26 touchdowns and eight interceptions, while completing 66.4% of his passes in 15 starts.

(Update: Russell Wilson to sign with Steelers after release from Broncos becomes official, per reports)

OPINION: Grabbing Russell Wilson instead of Justin Fields could be costly QB mistake for Steelers

4. Gardner Minshew

Minshew, 27, was named the Indianapolis Colts' starting quarterback in Week 5 after Anthony Richardson was ruled out for the remainder of the season with an AC joint sprain. Despite the shakeup, Minshew almost led the Colts to the playoffs and threw for a career-high 3,305 yards, 15 touchdowns, nine interceptions, while completing 62.2% of his passes in 17 games (13 starts).

5. Ryan Tannehill

Tannehill, 35, started last season as the Tennessee Titans' starting quarterback. However, after missing several games due to a high ankle sprain sustained in Week 6, the Titans replaced him with Will Levis and the rookie was named the team's starter moving forward. Tannehill eventually returned to the lineup in the final games of the season after Levis was injured. In 10 games (eight starts), Tannehill threw for 1,616 yards, four touchdowns and seven interceptions, while completing 64.8% of his passes.

6. Joe Flacco

Flacco wasn't on a team at the start of the season, but he signed to the Cleveland Browns' practice squad midseason and was named the starter in Week 13 following injuries to both Deshaun Watson and Dorian Thompson-Robinson. Flacco, 39, completed 60.3% of his passes for 1,616 yards, 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions in five starts. He led the Browns to the playoffs for the first time in three years, before unraveling in the wild-card round against the Houston Texans following a pair of costly interceptions. Flacco, however, was named the NFL's comeback player of the year for his resurgence.

7. Jacoby Brissett

Brissett didn't get any notable play last season. He appeared in three games for the Washington Commanders and completed 78.3% of his passes for 224 yards and three touchdowns, but he's had respectable stints at several franchises, including Indianapolis, where he recorded 30 starts in 46 games played across four seasons.

8. Jameis Winston

Winston, 30, appeared in seven games (no starts) last season or the New Orleans Saints and threw for 264 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Winston has battled the injury bug throughout his career, including a torn ACL in 2021 and sustaining several back fractures in 2022.

9. Carson Wentz

Wentz, 31, has bounced around the league following a five-year run with the Philadelphia Eagles (2016-2020). He had a one-year stint with the Indianapolis Colts (2021) and Cleveland Browns (2022) before settling into the backup role with the Los Angeles Rams. In two games (one start), Wentz threw for 163 yards, two touchdowns and one interception, while completing 70.8% of his passes.

10. Tyrod Taylor

Taylor, 34, became just the second Black starting quarterback in New York Giants history when he took over for an injured Daniel Jones in Week 6 and later made history as the first Black quarterback in the franchise's history to win a game in Week 7. He suffered a rib injury that knocked him out for more than a month before returning the final two regular season games. In 11 games (five starts), Taylor completed 64.4% of his passes for 1,341 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NFL free agency QB rankings: Kirk Cousins, Russell Wilson and more