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Where Every Qb Has Landed In 2026 Nfl Offseason

The NFL's quarterback carousel never really stops spinning – it only slows down sometimes.

As NFL free agency officially began on March 11, three NFL teams' deals to acquire a new starting quarterback became official. Eight more teams had their backup quarterback decisions for 2026 finalized as well.

With the 2026 NFL Draft class lacking in top-end quarterback talent, free agent signal-callers are especially valuable commodities this offseason. The volume of early moves to lock down free-agent quarterbacks underscores the value.

After a flurry of early moves in the initial wave of the NFL's "legal tampering" window, the carousel continues to spin on. There are still several notable free agent quarterbacks in both the starter and backup tiers available to sign with new teams.

Here's a look at the most recent quarterback transactions from across the league:

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NFL quarterbacks on the move in 2026

Dolphins sign Malik Willis to be their new starter

Willis agreed to terms on a three-year, $67.5 million contract early into the league's "legal tampering" negotiation period before the official start of free agency. The three-year deal is the longest-term contract a free-agent quarterback has agreed to prior to the start of the 2026 league year. Every other contract has been for one or two years.

The $67.5 million value is also the second-highest given to a pending free-agent quarterback this offseason, behind only the $88 million the Colts agreed to give Daniel Jones after his initial transition tag.

The former Green Bay Packers' backup quarterback is expected to take over as Miami's new starting signal-caller. The Dolphins officially announced their intent to cut former starter Tua Tagovailoa on March 9, and the only other quarterbacks on their roster are 2025 seventh-round pick Quinn Ewers and undrafted free agent Cam Miller.

Colts re-sign Daniel Jones to short-term deal

Indianapolis initially placed the transition tag on Jones while it tried to agree to extensions for both the quarterback and top wide receiver, Alec Pierce. The Colts got the Pierce deal done on March 9, soon after the legal tampering window opened, and on March 11, they locked up Jones for two years and $88 million hours before the new league year began.

Jones will make $50 million in 2025, according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, and his deal can be worth up to $100 million with incentives.

The 28-year-old quarterback tore his Achilles in December and is still recovering from the injury. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported on March 11 that Jones "is expected to be ready for the start of the regular season."

Jones had something of a career renaissance in his first season in Indianapolis last year after an up-and-down six years with the Giants that ended with his 2024 release. In 13 starts in 2025, Jones led the Colts to an 8-5 record with 3,101 yards, 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He also had 164 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns.

Jets bring back Geno Smith in a trade

Ten years after Smith played his last snaps for the team that drafted him, he's returning to New York for a fifth season with the Jets. "Gang Green" sent a sixth-round pick to the Las Vegas Raiders to acquire Smith and a seventh-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on March 10.

The Raiders had previously told Smith they intended to release him at the start of the new league year, barring a trade. The Jets, needing a quarterback after a disastrous 2025 season behind center, were happy to oblige.

New York first drafted Smith in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft. He started 30 of his 33 appearances for the Jets in his first four seasons in the NFL, but a torn ACL cut his 2016 season short. Smith hit free agency the following offseason and went on to spend time with the Giants (one year), Chargers (one year), Seahawks (six years) and Raiders (one year). In 2026, he'll head back to the Jets to be their starting quarterback once again.

Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer reported the Raiders will pay $16.2 million of Smith's 2026 salary while the Jets will pay $3.3 million.

GENO SMITH TRADE: Grades for Jets, Raiders in QB deal

Falcons sign Tua Tagovailoa to compete for starting job

Shortly after the Dolphins announced their intent to release Tagovailoa, the seventh-year quarterback agreed to terms on a one-year deal with the Falcons. Financial details have yet to be reported as of March 11, but the Dolphins still owe $54 million fully guaranteed – minus whatever the Falcons pay him. Tagovailoa's dead cap hit in Miami is $99 million.

The left-handed quarterback joins an Atlanta team that already features a left-handed gunslinger on the roster: third-year Michael Penix Jr. Tagovailoa is expected to compete with Penix for the Falcons' starting job. The Falcons' 2024 first-round pick struggled in his first full year as the starter before his 2025 season was cut short by a torn ACL.

In a related move, Atlanta announced on March 11 that it was releasing veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins and designating him as a post-June 1 release.