2018 NFL Free Agents: Quarterbacks

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2018 NFL Free Agency: Star rating is out of five. Age listing as of Sept. 1, 2018.
Follow me @walterfootball for updates.

Drew Brees, QB, Saints. Age: 39.
Re-signed with Saints (2 years, $50 million)

Drew Brees is no longer the quarterback he once was because of his age, but even with slight regression, he’s still one of the top signal-callers in the NFL. He’s 39 now, but Brees should be able to have one or two more exceptional seasons at the very least. He completed 72 percent of his passes in 2017 with an 8.1 YPA.
Jimmy Garoppolo, QB, 49ers. Age: 26.
Re-signed with 49ers

Jimmy Garoppolo is a very promising 26-year-old quarterback who thrived in limited action with the 49ers. He has already won over the locker room, with the players referring to him as a “Young Tom Brady.” Garoppolo was well worth what San Francisco surrendered in the trade with the Patriots, so he’ll receive a big contract from them to be their new franchise quarterback.
Kirk Cousins, QB, Redskins. Age: 30.
Signed with Vikings (3 years)

Kirk Cousins is very difficult to grade. Sometimes he plays like a 4.5-star player; over the past three years, he has thrown for 81 touchdowns and just 36 interceptions, completing 67 percent of his passes in the process. However, Cousins occasionally performs like a street free agent, melting down at the worst times possible. Still, Cousins has consistently been around 12th in the NFL Quarterback Power Rankings, so the Redskins need to pay him, as he’s their best quarterback since Joe Theismann.
Case Keenum, QB, Vikings. Age: 30.
Signed with Broncos (2 years, $36 million)

Case Keenum is difficult to rate. Is he just a 1-year wonder? Keenum was a journeyman prior to arriving to Minnesota, but he put together a dream season. He completed 67.6 percent of his passes with a 7.4 YPA, throwing 22 touchdowns to just seven interceptions. He also did some nice work with his legs, picking up 160 rushing yards and another score. The Vikings have seen nothing from Keenum to make them believe that he can’t be their quarterback going forward, but no one should be surprised if he regresses either.
A.J. McCarron, QB, Bengals. Age: 27.
Signed with Bills (2 years)

A.J. McCarron was nearly traded to the Browns before the front office screwed up the paperwork. Perhaps Cleveland will make another attempt to acquire him this offseason. If so, the Browns are getting a quarterback who can probably be an average starter in the NFL. In extensive action in 2015, McCarron threw six touchdowns to two interceptions, with a 66.4 completion percentage and a 7.2 YPA.
Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Vikings. Age: 25.
Signed with Jets

It was nice to see Teddy Bridgewater take the field late in the year. Bridgewater suffered a devastating knee injury two years ago, but it seems like he’ll be ready to start in 2018. It’s unclear if he’ll ever be the same quarterback he once was, a signal-caller with a career completion percentage of 65 and a total touchdown-to-interception ratio of 32:21. He’d be rated much higher if it weren’t for his injury history.
Sam Bradford, QB, Vikings. Age: 30.
Signed with Cardinals (1 year, $20 million)

Sam Bradford would be rated much higher than this if he weren’t such an injury liability. Bradford played just one full game in 2017 because of a knee injury that just wouldn’t go away. He’s made out of glass and can’t be relied upon to stay healthy.
Josh McCown, QB, Jets. Age: 39.
Re-signed with Jets (1 year)

Despite playing behind a putrid offensive line and with only one viable receiver, Josh McCown was brilliant in 2017, completing 67.3 percent of his passes on an acceptable 7.4 YPA. His touchdown-to-interception ratio was 18:9, and he also rushed in five more scores. Imagine what he would’ve done with better talent around him! McCown deserves to compete for a starting job in 2018.
Colin Kaepernick, QB, 49ers. Age: 30.
Colin Kaepernick has sparked controversy, but his football skills are the big problem. Kaepernick has declined every single year since 2013, as he has refused to put the appropriate amount of work into film study. Some will point to his 16:4 touchdown-to-interception ratio, but that was a farce because most of Kaepernick’s production came in garbage time of blowouts. He maintained a sub-60 completion percentage, which is more of an indication of how he really played. Kaepernick still has good potential, but no team should consider him to be a starter. At most, he’s a decent backup and a potential reclamation project.
Robert Griffin, QB, Browns. Age: 28.
Signed with Ravens

Robert Griffin obviously has great natural ability, as he was a former No. 2 overall draft pick, but he’s an injury-prone quarterback who doesn’t put any work into studying film. However, he still has time to turn things around and mature as a professional athlete.
Mike Glennon, QB, Bears. Age: 28.
Signed with Cardinals

Mike Glennon had a career completion percentage of 59.4 and a YPA of 6.5 entering the 2017 season, so it seems so asinine that the Bears signed him to a big contract. Glennon predictably flopped as a starter, but should be a solid backup.
Geno Smith, QB, Giants. Age: 27.
Signed with Chargers

Geno Smith was once a second-round pick with promise, but he’s been hurt by inaccuracy and an inability to grasp the mental part of the game. He still has potential at just 27, which is why I’m giving him two stars, but I don’t have much hope for him.
Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB, Buccaneers. Age: 35.
Re-signed with Buccaneers

Ryan Fitzpatrick’s days as a starting NFL quarterback are over, but he’s at least a very strong backup. He quarterbacked the Buccaneers to a couple of wins in relief of Jameis Winston, throwing seven touchdowns to just three interceptions.
Matt Moore, QB, Dolphins. Age: 34.
Matt Moore has been one of the better backup quarterbacks in the NFL over the past several years, but that could change soon, given that he turns 34 over the summer.
Jay Cutler, QB, Dolphins. Age: 35.
Announced retirement

Jay Cutler was atrocious in most of his games this past season, and it’s clear that he’s no longer a starting-caliber quarterback. He would be a good backup, but he’ll likely reenter the world of broadcasting instead.
Derek Anderson, QB, Panthers. Age: 35. — Signed with Bills
Drew Stanton, QB, Cardinals. Age: 34. — Signed with Browns
Tom Savage, QB, 49ers. Age: 28. — Signed with Bengals
Chad Henne, QB, Jaguars. Age: 33. — Signed with Chiefs
Blaine Gabbert, QB, Cardinals. Age: 28. — Signed with Titans
E.J. Manuel, QB, Raiders. Age: 28. — Re-signed with Raiders
Johnny Manziel, QB, Browns. Age: 25.
Brock Osweiler, QB, Broncos. Age: 27. — Signed with Dolphins
Mark Sanchez, QB, Bears. Age: 31. — Signed with Redskins
Ryan Mallett, QB, Ravens. Age: 30.
Joe Webb, QB, Bills. Age: 31. — Signed with Texans
Kellen Clemens, QB, Chargers. Age: 35.
Austin Davis, QB, Seahawks. Age: 29.
Matt Cassel, QB, Titans. Age: 36. — Signed with Lions
Scott Tolzien, QB, Colts. Age: 30.
Taylor Heinicke (RFA), QB, Texans. Age: 25.
Ryan Griffin, QB, Buccaneers. Age: 28.
Tyler Bray, QB, Chiefs. Age: 27. — Signed with Bears
David Fales (RFA), QB, Dolphins. Age: 27. — Re-signed with Dolphins (1 year)
Chase Daniel, QB, Saints. Age: 31. — Signed with Bears
Brandon Weeden, QB, Titans. Age: 34. — Signed with Texans
Trevone Boykin, QB, Seahawks. Age: 25.