2026 NFL free agency preview: Looking at QB market and what could make sense for Detroit's backup situation

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The NFL’s negotiating window for pending free agents opens on March 9, and players will be eligible to sign with new teams on March 11 at 4 p.m.

Ahead of those dates, we’ll preview each position, looking at the top options expected to hit the market, the Detroit Lions’ pending free agents, plus three outside players who could be fits.

Today, we’ll be looking at the quarterbacks.

Quick overview

The Lions continue to have stability at the top of the depth chart with starter Jared Goff. He has started every game each of the past four seasons, earned Pro Bowl honors three times during that stretch, and delivered his two best years in 2024 and 2025.

Of course, in the NFL, you’re always one play away from injury, and Detroit’s backup situation is once again in flux. It’s not a top priority, given some of the team’s other roster holes, but it’s an area that must be addressed this offseason.

Top players available

Daniel Jones

After six middling seasons in New York, where he posted a passer rating above 90.0 just once, the former first-round pick was benched during the 2024 season. That led to his midseason release and finishing the year as the Vikings’ third-string option.

Looking for a chance to compete for a starting job, Jones took a one-year, $14 million offer from the Colts last offseason. That bet paid off as he eventually besting Anthony Richardson in an offseason competition for the role.

Jones was in the midst of a career-year, completing 68.0% of his passes and posting a 100.2 passer rating before tearing his Achilles in December. With an approximate eight-month recovery window, he could be ready for training camp.

Malik Willis

Viewed by some analysts as the top quarterback in a weak 2022 draft class, Willis slid to the third round, where he was snapped up by the Titans. After struggling in limited action his first two seasons, he was traded to the Green Bay Packers for a seventh-round draft pick.

In Green Bay, Willis thrived as an occasional injury replacement for starter Jordan Love, completing 78.7% of his passes for 972 yards, six touchdowns and zero interceptions and rushing for another 261 yards and three scores.

Aaron Rodgers

The future Hall of Famer is well beyond his prime, but proved he can still capably manage an offense in Pittsburgh last season. The 42-year-old posted a 94.8 passer rating, leading the Steelers to a postseason berth.

Presumably, if he returns for another season, it would be to stay in Pittsburgh, reuniting with former Packers coach Mike McCarthy.

Russell Wilson

Another past-prime option, Wilson hasn’t been able to recapture anything close to his consistent Pro Bowl form from his days in Seattle.

Staring down the possibility of playing for his fourth team in five years, Wilson’s one season with the Giants was a disaster. Signing a one-year, $10.5 million contract last offseason, he started just three games before he was benched in favor of rookie Jaxson Dart.

Marcus Mariota

There are potential cap casualties, such as Kirk Cousins, Geno Smith and Justin Fields, that will presumably be higher priority than some of the names on our list, including Mariota.

The former No. 2 pick in the draft started eight games for the Commanders last season, finishing with 10 touchdowns, seven interceptions and an 86.1 passer rating. At 32 years old, there’s still some lingering dual-threat ability, as well. The veteran QB ran for 297 yards and one touchdown in 2025.

Detroit’s pending free agents

Kyle Allen

Signed to a veteran minimum deal to push Hendon Hooker for Detroit’s backup role last offseason, Allen easily won the job with a strong preseason performance. In four games, he completed nearly 80% of his throws for 401 yards, five scores and a pair of interceptions.

An eight-year veteran, Allen has appeared in 34 games during his career, including 19 starts. Despite no previous connection to incoming offensive coordinator Drew Petzing, re-signing Allen is an easily justifiable option.

Potential outside fits

Teddy Bridgewater

Bridgewater briefly retired after the 2023 season to coach his former high school to a state championship. He re-signed with Detroit late in the 2024 season and backed up Baker Mayfield in Tampa Bay last season.

If Bridgewater is interested in continuing his career, he has a good relationship with Lions coach Dan Campbell and worked with Petzing in Minnesota from 2014-17.

Case Keenum

A 13-year veteran, Keenum has extensive starting experience, racking up 66 across his career, although none since 2023. Posting a career passer rating of 84.6, he’s overlapped with Petzing twice, first in Minnesota in 2017, then two more seasons in Cleveland (2020-21).

Keenum spent last season as experienced depth in Chicago. If he’s good enough to be a trusted set of eyes for former Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, Keenum would presumably mesh well with Goff.

Jeff Driskel

Another, more recent Petzing connection, Driskel had two separate stints with Arizona during the coordinator’s three years with the Cardinals.

The athletic journeyman has never been a full-time starter since entering the league in 2016. He has made 12 career starts, including three for the Lions during the 2019 season, when he served as Matthew Stafford’s backup.