The Best Free Agent QBs in 2023

Finding the best free agent QBs

With the NFL offseason quickly approaching, it is time to dive into available free agents. Today, we start with the QBs, where Dwain analyzes the top free agents and a couple of names that are on the trade block.

Tier 1 – High-End Dual Threats

Lamar Jackson

While Jackson is highly unlikely to hit the free agent market, he does not currently have a deal to play with the Ravens in 2023. Baltimore’s top brass remains bullish on getting a long-term contract signed, despite their inability to get something done before the 2022 campaign. If the Ravens can’t reach a long-term agreement, one option would be to tag and trade Jackson.

Jackson will seek a deal similar to Kyler Murray, Josh Allen, Deshaun Watson, and Patrick Mahomes, who all have average annual salaries in the $45M range. The 26-year-old is older than those QBs were when signing their deals and while he is an elite weapon on the ground, he ranks below those options as a passer.

PFF QB Grades from 2020 to 2022 (minimum 300 dropbacks):

Mark Andrews	Marquise Brown	Jalen Hurts	Justin Fields	Ideal Landing Spots:	Aaron Rodgers	Davante Adams	Allen Lazard	Randall Cobb	Christian Watson	Ideal Landing Spots:	Tier 3 – Above-Average Pocket Passers	Geno Smith	Derek Carr	Davante Adams	Darren Waller	Hunter Renfrow
2015	Michael Crabtree (WR17)	Amari Cooper (WR21)
2016	Michael Crabtree (WR12)	Amari Cooper (WR15)

Carr hasn’t shown a high-end upside in the TD department, eclipsing 25 only three times in nine seasons. However, he has surpassed 3,900 yards in six of nine years, which 11 NFL teams failed to do in a 17-game season in 2022.

Tier 4 – Bus Drivers

Daniel Jones

Jones set career-high marks in YPA (6.8), completion rate (67%), and quarterback rating (92.5) on his way to a top-10 fantasy finish with 296 points. His 0.52 points per dropback was also a new watermark, thanks to his 703 yards and 7 TDs on the ground.

The fifth-year QB likely earned himself a nice payday in the $25M per year range, but his underlying data suggests he probably won’t ever be much more than a placeholder in the passing game. Jones ranks below the NFL average in PFF pass grade (71.1), YPA (6.8) and TDs per attempt (3.2%).

Jones could be a viable low-end QB1 option in 2023, thanks to his rushing upside. However, his career-high in passing yardage is 3,206 yards, and his career average is 215 yards per game. That makes it challenging to imagine Jones supporting more than one high-end fantasy option in the receiving game.

Dec 4, 2022; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) looks to pass during the first quarter against the Miami Dolphins at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports

Jimmy Garoppolo

Garoppolo never enjoyed the breakout season some hoped for in his time with the 49ers, but he has 4,000-yard passing upside. The 10th-year veteran averaged 238 yards per game and a touchdown on 5% of his passes, slightly above the NFL average.

He is a decent clean-pocket passer but struggles against pressure. The 31-year-old finished below the NFL average in PFF pass grade versus pressure in four out of his last five seasons in San Francisco.

Garoppolo will likely remain a low-end QB2 option in 2023, but he could provide an upgrade to a QB-starved receiving corps like the Jets or Commanders if they don’t find a better option.

Tier 4 – Clipboard Holders

Gardner Minshew has historically struggled against pressure but delivered a career-high 63.3 PFF pass grade versus pressure in 2022. For his career, Minshew is below average in YPA (7.1) and TDs per attempt (4%), but those numbers are better than Daniel Jones, and Minshew should be much cheaper.

Baker Mayfield hasn’t topped 18 fantasy points per game since his rookie season, and his PFF pass grades have plummeted over the last two seasons (62.4 and 52.2). He shouldn’t be starting in 2023.