Fantasy Football 2022: Top 5 NFL Free Agent Quarterbacks
The NFL season just ended, but that doesn’t mean we’re finished talking about football. Truthfully, the NFL offseason can be one of the more exciting times in the sport, with free agency, the draft, and trades, not to mention the rumors and speculation swirling around these events. The legal tampering period for the NFL begins in a little under a month, on March 14, and the gold rush officially begins on March 16, so we don’t have much time left before free agency hits.
A few teams have big question marks about the quarterback position between retirements and the strength at the position in this year’s draft class. Many of these free agents are seasoned veterans, but that may be just what some teams want to help develop their young talent. Keep your ear to the ground about the following players.
Top 5 Unsigned Free Agent Quarterbacks
Jameis Winston still holds the unfortunate record of being the first player to throw 30 touchdowns and 30 interceptions in the same season, but it seems that he cleaned that up under Sean Payton. He only threw three in the seven games he played before an unfortunate ACL tear took him out for the season. The Saints need a quarterback, but with their cap issues, it’s unlikely Winston gets paid a starting quarterback’s salary if he stays there. Winston’s gun-slinging style of play could be intriguing to a team like the Steelers who have been limited by Ben Roethlisberger’s low aDOT in recent years, and, unlike the Saints, the Steelers have plenty of cap space to pay Winston a starter’s salary.
An unfortunate injury prior to his third season with the Minnesota Vikings turned Teddy Bridgewater into a journeyman quarterback, but it is not because of his lack of skills or bad play. He’s one of the few free-agent quarterbacks under 30 years old who has proven he can be a starter, well out-performing the one-year deal he signed with the Broncos for the 2021 season. Denver needs a quarterback, and the strength (or lack thereof) of the incoming draft class coupled with the fact that Bridgewater knows the system hints that there’s a good chance he’ll stay in the Mile High City. His health is still a slight concern, as he has yet to start a full season since 2015, but Denver shouldn’t risk moving on from him until they figure out a long-term solution.
Marcus Mariota hasn’t been a starting quarterback since his last year with the Tennessee Titans in 2019, but he’s still a Heisman Trophy-winning player who could make an immediate impact on a team. He still has wheels, as he showed late in 2021 with the Raiders, and he was the seventh-most accurate downfield passer in the league during his last season with the Titans. Being a backup the past two seasons could make Mariota an affordable option for teams with cap space issues like the Saints.
With Justin Fields in his second season with the Bears and a new coach in charge, Andy Dalton is likely on the move for the third time in as many years. He didn’t play terribly in 2021, but there aren’t many quarterbacks he could beat out at this stage of his career. However, there are a few teams that could be looking for a veteran backup presence, including the Steelers, Texans, and Commanders. There is still a possibility Dalton starts somewhere in 2022 if a team decides to develop new talent behind him.
As they say in the South, Ryan Fitzpatrick is no spring chicken. He missed practically the entire 2021 season with a hip subluxation, and there is no guarantee that he even plays in 2022. If he does, though, he would bring a big personality and experience to the locker room of a team looking to develop a young player. Fitzpatrick is the journeyman of all journeymen, playing for nine teams in his 17-year career, but with that comes insight not everyone has. Some possible landing spots are the Buccaneers, Jaguars, and Texans.
RELATED LINKS
Looking for the rest of the top unsigned free agents? Check out the links below for what's been published already:
- Free Agent Quarterbacks
- Free Agent Running Backs
- Free Agent Wide Receivers
- Free Agent Tight Ends
- Free Agent Linebackers
Player News
Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said Sam Darnold will take “over 90% of the snaps.”
“One of the reasons we hired [Klint Kubiak] was his ability to incorporate the whole roster and really bring out what everybody does really well. Adding Jalen [Milroe] is a part of that,” Macdonald added. That’s a pretty revealing quote, and while we blurbed Macdonald talking about how Jalen Milroe isn’t an option in a Taysom Hill role, it sounds like Milroe will at least have some package of run-play installs. If those plays come near the goal line, it’s possible that Darnold will suffer reduced fantasy viability in superflex leagues this year. With the Seahawks not married to Darnold by contract in 2026, there’s already some inherent benching risks to consider as well. Darnold should still open the year as the starter, but he probably needs to perform well to stay on it all season.
Ben Johnson told Colston Loveland at Loveland’s pro day that he reminded him of Sam LaPorta.
“Obviously we did a lot of things with LaPorta ... I can see you doing a lot of those things as well,” Johnson continued per ESPN’s Courtney Cronin. So obviously we can expect a second-year fade for Loveland, but those 10 touchdowns in his first year should be great. (Hold for applause.) The Bears have preached competition coming out of the draft and we’ve yet to see a quote that indicates Loveland is guaranteed a ton of playing time as he steps into a room led by Cole Kmet. There’s nothing wrong with Loveland from a dynasty perspective, but it may be worth tempering expectations in the short-term until we’re sure he’ll have a major role in the offense.
Bengals exercised their fifth-year option on CB Dax Hill.
Hill suffered a torn ACL in Week 5 against the Ravens and missed the remainder of the season. We don’t have a current update on his status, but a normal timeline would probably have him set to return sometime in camp or September. He’s a likely PUP candidate. Hill will make $12.6 million in 2026. Frankly, it’s a little surprising that this option was picked up considering how little Hill did right in 2022 and 2023 as he was shuttled back-and-forth between corner and safety. Hill was having a career season before the injury in 2024, finishing with a 68.0 PFF coverage grade.
Seahawks waived QB Jaren Hall.
With Drew Lock and Jalen Milroe added shortly before and during the draft, Seattle’s room had become too crowded for Hall to crack. The 27-year-old started twice for the Vikings in 2023 and threw for 168 yards on 20 attempts, getting intercepted once. He’ll try to find a third-quarterback role elsewhere.
Rams coach Sean McVay said Terrance Ferguson reminds him of Chris Cooley and Travis Kelce.
“Those are big, lofty comparisons, so I’m certainly not saying that he’s those guys yet. But there’s a lot of instincts. He plays with a change of pace when the ball gets in his hands ... When things go off-schedule he shows what a feel he has to find soft spots. … I’m really excited to get him in that tight end room,” McVay elaborated. It’s not clear that Ferguson will have a major role in his first year with the Rams, but with Tyler Higbee heading into the final year of his contract, this sure has the look of a pick that gets handed the starter role in 2026.
The Athletic’s Paul Dehner Jr. thinks that if Jermaine Burton “can straighten out and shift from headache to reliable, there are roles available.”
The Bengals exited the draft without adding receiver help, and Andrei Iosivas was more reliable than spectacular in his second season. Dehner Jr. notes that Burton went through “two evictions, trouble with the law, missed meetings, missed practices, being left off a road trip and healthy scratches” and said Burton is “lucky to even have this opportunity.” The 2024 third-rounder was seen in the building all week during draft weekend and this is likely a make-or-break year for him. He’s not a must-hold in dynasty at this point, but he retains upside.