Best Options for NFL Teams in QB Limbo as Free Agency Opens
Quarterback is the most important piece of any NFL roster. Teams that don't have a quality starter are always searching for an upgrade. The gnawing need to address the position is ever-present, but some moves aren't always a solution.
With quarterbacks expected to go first, second and third overall to the Chicago Bears, Washington Commanders and New England Patriots in the 2024 NFL draft, respectively, other teams will need to address the position another way.
The Atlanta Falcons, Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders and Minnesota Vikings currently find themselves on the league's QB merry-go-round. However, the existing possibilities may not be exactly what the front offices have in mind.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Pittsburgh Steelers made sure to get off the ride as soon as possible. The former signed Baker Mayfield to a three-year, $100 million contract extension before free agency opened, and Russell Wilson decided to join the latter on a veteran minimum deal after the Denver Broncos released him.
Kirk Cousins remains the top available free-agent option. He may not be the key to a Super Bowl victory, but he's the best that this year's offseason offers.
Here's a look at each of those four merry-go-round teams, and what moves they can make.
Atlanta Falcons
1 of 4
New Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris summed up his team's situation during his introductory press conference when he told reporters, "If we had better quarterback play last year in Atlanta, I might not be standing here."
The Falcons have been searching for a new quarterback for the past few seasons. Matt Ryan wanted out once he caught wind of that, and the team hasn't been quite right under center ever since.
Desmond Ridder, whom the Falcons selected with a third-round pick in 2022, primarily served as their starter this past season. They gave him every opportunity to claim the long-term job and he failed to do so, hence Morris' comment.
The Falcons are now hot and heavy in the quarterback market, with Kirk Cousins apparently being their top choice. According to B/R NFL insider Jordan Schultz, Atlanta is a "considered a major contender" to lure Cousins away from the Vikings.
Minnesota wants Cousins back. The 35-year-old veteran laid roots with his family after six years in the Minneapolis area. He can go back and still throw to Justin Jefferson and play for a smart offensive play-caller in head coach Kevin O'Connell.
However, Atlanta must be enticing considering what the organization added offensively over the last three years. Cousins has a chance to complete a unit that already features wide receiver Drake London, tight end Kyle Pitts, running back Bijan Robinson and a good offensive line.
New Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson comes from the Sean McVay tree, just like O'Connell did. The Falcons also may feel desperate enough to offer him a massive deal, and Cousins is a well-known member of the Business of Football Hall of Fame (h/t Andrew Brandt).
With Cousins in the fray, the Falcons could take control of the NFC South and easily add three to four wins over last season's 7-10 record. None of the other options are quite as enticing for a team that requires stability and consistency behind center.
If Cousins decides to say in Minnesota, the Falcons should strongly consider a trade with the Chicago Bears for Justin Fields. However, the 25-year-old's best traits are completely different than Cousins', who is one of the best at working within structure.
Despite the surrounding cast, Fields would be a step down among these available options.
Denver Broncos
2 of 4
Once the Denver Broncos informed quarterback Russell Wilson that they planned to cut him, he became the centerpiece of the worst trade in NFL history.
Well, it's the worst trade in NFL history from a Broncos perspective. The Seattle Seahawks seem quite happy with left tackle Charles Cross, defensive end Boye Mafe, cornerback Devon Witherspoon, outside linebacker Derick Hall and offensive lineman Anthony Bradford, whom they acquired with the draft picks from the Wilson trade.
With Wilson out of the way, the Broncos organization will eat $85 million in dead money over the next two seasons. That may prevent them from making any big quarterback moves. Denver is more likely to move forward with a second-tier option or a draft pick.
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler recently reported that "the feeling among teams I've spoken to is the Broncos could roll with Jarrett Stidham but bring in competition via free agency or the draft."
Trading for Justin Fields could be an option, though Denver seems far more likely to be in play for this year's fourth-ranked quarterback prospect, Michigan's J.J. McCarthy. As the owner of the 12th overall pick, the Broncos may be able to stand pat and select McCarthy or maneuver themselves into the top 10 for the reigning national champion.
The Broncos, who finished 8-9 last season, aren't likely to dramatically improve under center either way. Despite all of the issues with Wilson over the last year, the 12-year veteran played well in spurts for Sean Payton. The juice wasn't worth the squeeze, though. The roster will now be built entirely in Payton's vision.
However, short-term gains shouldn't be expected as Denver takes its medicine with the Wilson contract and either moves forward with a stopgap veteran quarterback or a rookie learning on the job.
It's easy to envision the Los Angeles Chargers, now being led by Jim Harbaugh, surpassing the Broncos and the latter ending up in the AFC West's basement.
Las Vegas Raiders
3 of 4
It may be difficult for the Las Vegas Raiders to find themselves a quality quarterback option this offseason.
The Raiders have the 13th overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft. To trade up, they'd have to outmaneuver the likes of the Atlanta Falcons, Minnesota Vikings and Denver Broncos, all of whom are currently ahead of them in the draft order.
If acquiring a top-four quarterback prospect isn't a realistic option, the Raiders must look at other avenues. Las Vegas could be the last team standing, depending on who's left.
The Atlanta Falcons and Minnesota Vikings are vying for Kirk Cousins' services. Russell Wilson is already off the board. The Denver Broncos don't have a lot of wiggle room. The Chicago Bears may want to see what happens with Cousins before they get serious about moving Justin Fields.
Fields would make sense for the Raiders on paper, though the Raiders' hire of offensive coordinator Luke Getsy may be a negative since he spent the last two seasons in the same role for the Bears. If Getsy doesn't provide favorable reports about Fields, the Raiders likely won't pursue a trade.
Basically, the Raiders may be forced to strongly consider lesser options since Aidan O'Connell, who lacks any semblance of functional mobility, is currently their starting quarterback. O'Connell is tough and can deliver the football, but he didn't do enough last year to warrant another look in a featured position.
The Raiders could consider a bridge option from the group of Jacoby Brissett, Ryan Tannehill, Jameis Winston and Gardner Minshew II. But that isn't the route head coach Antonio Pierce suggested earlier this offseason.
"Again, I'll go back, if it's Aidan [O'Connell], or it's somebody we draft or we bring in—you don't want to put a Band-Aid at that position," he told reporters. "That's old, man, that's old."
The alternative is selecting Oregon's Bo Nix or Washington's Michael Penix Jr. a little later in the draft. Whatever the case, Las Vegas likely won't be considerably better at quarterback in the short term.
With Pierce taking over the reins as full-time head coach and a second or third option behind center, the Raiders will likely finish around the same record of 8-9 as they did last year. Marginal improvement may be expected, but that's the ceiling.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Minnesota Vikings
4 of 4
The Minnesota Vikings have been very clear about their plan this offseason. General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah wants to re-sign quarterback Kirk Cousins.
"Kirk the player is somebody that, as we saw what he does to this team, I thought we were playing really good football before he got injured, and it's the most important position in sports," Adofo-Mensah told reporters in January. "Now ultimately it always comes down to can you find an agreement that works for both sides and all those things, but as a player it's certainly my intention to have him back here."
Because of interest elsewhere, Cousins has leverage. The 35-year-old is coming off a torn Achilles tendon, but he had an excellent first half of the season, where he looked as efficient as possible.
"I know Kirk is going to go through a full process," Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said at the NFL Scouting Combine. "He's a process guy. Hopefully we continue to be a strong part in that process and we figure out a way to keep him a Minnesota Viking. My expectation is that we aren't going to be the only ones that want Kirk Cousins to be the quarterback of our team in 2024."
The Vikings must ask themselves whether Cousins is the right person to lead them for a few more seasons. They haven't experienced a ton of success with him at the helm, and his asking price will likely be exorbitant. The team will almost certainly prioritize a contract extension for wide receiver Justin Jefferson this offseason, too.
Maybe change under center is necessary, regardless of whether it causes Minnesota to improve or decline.
The latter seems harsh when it's still possible to bring Cousins back. A source told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler that his return remains a "50-50 proposition." But the team hasn't gotten a great return on the $185 million its invested over the last six seasons. Why give him another big-dollar deal to keep the same situation intact?
With Cousins possibly leaving, Baker Mayfield already off the market and Justin Fields not a possibility since he's currently with a division rival, someone like Jacoby Brissett makes a lot of sense. According to The Athletic's Dianna Russini, the Vikings reached out to the Washington Commanders about Brissett before last season's trade deadline before eventually making a move to acquire Joshua Dobbs.
The Commanders weren't overly interested in moving Brissett unless someone blew them away with an offer. However, he's a free agent now.
Brissett hasn't been the same caliber of quarterback as Cousins throughout their careers. Yet he's a cheaper, younger and more athletic alternative with plenty of starting experience, including playing relatively well with both the Cleveland Browns and Commanders.
The Vikings could easily win seven or more games with Brissett behind center and still draft someone to develop behind him.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
.png?w=480)
