The 2026 NFL quarterback carousel will be very active this offseason with an array of options available to teams needing a signal-caller. What will make this spring unique is the fact that there isn’t a can’t-miss quarterback prospect nor a high-end starter in free agency or on the trade market.
Ahead of the 2026 NFL QB carousel, let’s rank who we see are the best quarterbacks available in the 2026 NFL Draft, NFL Free Agency and the trade market. Of note, we are factoring in contracts and acquisition cost.
1. Dante Moore, QB, Oregon Ducks – 2026 NFL Draft
Fernando Mendoza is the more well-known name in the 2026 NFL QB carousel, but we do have a preference for Oregon Ducks quarterback Dante Moore. He offers ideal NFL size at 6-foot-4 and offers athleticism that exceeds what Mendoza brings to the table. Even putting that athleticism aside, what Moore can do with his arm is so enticing. He finished second in the nation among qualified passers in Adjusted Completion Rate on throws 20-plus yards downfield (64.6 percent), per Pro Football Focus, and he shows great touch throwing to all areas of the field. Furthermore, Moore handles pressure well (fifth-highest completion rate when pressured). Going back to that athleticism, he can make precision throws on the run and his ability to extend plays opens things up downfield. He’s less experienced as a starter than Mendoza, but his ceiling is higher.
Read More: Dynasty Rookie Rankings 2026
2. Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana Hoosiers – 2026 NFL Draft
It is easy to see why NFL coaches and general managers fall in love with Fernando Mendoza. The Indiana Hoosiers quarterback offers prototypical size at 6-foot-5 and 225 pounds, and he checks every box with his leadership, maturity, work ethic, and decision-making. He is remarkably accurate, posting the 10th-highest Adjusted Completion Rate (79.2 percent) this season, and his ability to read and react to defenses is already NFL-caliber. Mendoza does not have upper-echelon arm strength, and he is more of an average athlete despite his size. He could certainly have a Jared Goff-like career, which is an outstanding outcome if the right supporting cast is around him, but less so if he is asked to carry an offense.
3. Malik Willis, QB, Green Bay Packers – NFL Free Agency
Malik Willis is the best quarterback available in NFL free agency this offseason. A third-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, he was meant to be a project for a coaching staff that could put the time into developing him behind the scenes. The Tennessee Titans rushed him into action before he was ready. Since landing in Green Bay, he has had the chance to work with Matt LaFleur and quarterbacks coach Sean Mannion. In 11 games (three starts), he has completed 78.7 percent of his 89 pass attempts with a 6–0 TD-INT ratio and averaged 10.9 yards per attempt while tacking on 261 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns.
Obviously, that is a small sample size that cannot be used to forecast what he would do over a full season as a starter. With that said, there are some numbers that truly matter here. From 2024–25, Willis went 13-for-15 for 456 passing yards and 2 touchdowns on throws 20-plus yards downfield, with a 62.5 percent completion rate on 16 intermediate throws (10–19 yards downfield). He has also been excellent on play-action passes—22-for-32 for 349 passing yards and 10.9 yards per attempt—over the last two years. The arm strength and athleticism have always been there, but now he is a more accurate passer and a better decision-maker. He deserves to be a starter in 2026.
Related: Malik Willis Landing Spots in NFL Free Agency
4. Mac Jones, QB, San Francisco 49ers – Trade
Kyle Shanahan’s school for quarterbacks did wonders for Sam Darnold, and it might revitalize the career of Mac Jones. The Brock Purdy injury earlier this season forced Jones into action, and the former first-round pick even outperformed his play from when he made the Pro Bowl as a rookie. On 289 pass attempts this season, Jones holds career highs in completion rate (69.6 percent), yards per attempt (7.4), touchdown rate (4.5 percent), and passer rating (97.4), while his interception rate (2.1 percent) is at an all-time low.
The physical tools are not anything special, but he plays within the design of the offense, which is something coaches like Mike McDaniel, Kevin Stefanski, Kevin O’Connell, and others of that ilk love to have under center. San Francisco might want a Day 2 pick for him, but the benefit of starting Jones is that he is under contract next season with a $3.98 million cap hit. You will not find a cheaper quarterback than that in free agency or the 2026 NFL Draft.
Related: Offseason NFL Trade Candidates 2026
5. Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama Crimson Tide – 2026 NFL Draft
As a first-year starter, Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Ty Simpson has had the kinds of ups and downs you would expect from someone who came into 2025 with just 50 career pass attempts in three seasons. He offers plus athleticism at 6-foot-2, and his performance against the Oklahoma Sooners showed the kind of touch he has on big-time throws to all areas of the field during his peak moments. Reading defenses, processing what is in front of him, and making the right decisions are all a work in progress. The best thing for Simpson would be either returning to Alabama in 2026 or, if he wants to be a first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, sitting for a year and learning. He is a long-term play with a moderately high ceiling as an above-average starting quarterback at the highest level.
6. Kyler Murray, QB, Arizona Cardinals – Trade
There are a few issues with Kyler Murray that definitively place him sixth on our list. First: a contract that carries a $53.36 million cap hit in 2026, which makes him an expensive one-year rental. It also does not help that he was outperformed by Jacoby Brissett this season, and the Arizona Cardinals made it no secret they greatly preferred Brissett’s leadership. There are also the inherent limitations of a passing game led by a 5-foot-10 quarterback. With that said, Murray is a two-time Pro Bowl selection who posted a 93.4 QB rating from 2021 through 2024. There is at least some upside here, and Arizona might be willing to attach a draft pick just to get off his deal. Plus, if things do not work out for the next team, he can be cut in the 2027 NFL offseason with $36.335 million in cap savings and just a $7.2 million dead cap hit.
7. Marcus Mariota, QB, Washington Commanders – NFL Free Agency
Marcus Mariota will be 33 years old next season, so he should obviously be viewed as a one-year bridge starter for a club developing a rookie or eyeing a quarterback in the 2027 NFL Draft. With that acknowledged, he has been remarkably productive in Kliff Kingsbury’s offense over the last two seasons when starting in place of the injured Jayden Daniels. In 14 games, including eight starts, he completed 63.8 percent of his passes with a 14–7 TD-INT line (a 5.2 percent passing touchdown rate and a 2.6 percent interception rate), averaging 7.6 yards per attempt with a 93.4 QB rating. On a one-year deal, Mariota could be a very cost-effective starting option.
