As it appears the NFL’s lockout is nearing an end, teams are making preparations around the league to jump into the free agent market as soon as they are allowed. The initial week of free agency is sure to be chaotic, so we’re giving you a head start on the top players on the market at every position.
First up is the most important position on the field – the quarterback. There’s a handful of players available that could make an impact in 2011, and they are sure to be a hot commodity. We’ve included a couple players that aren’t technically free agents, but are expected to be released as soon a CBA is finally agreed to.
1. Matt Hasselbeck – It’s been about four years since Hasselbeck could really be considered to be a top QB in the NFL. In spite of that he has experience to lead a team to the post season, while at the same time showing a young QB the ropes. It’s not likely that Hasselbeck will stay in Seattle. He already has a relationship with both Titans GM Mike Reinfelt and rookie QB Jake Locker. With the retirement of Kerry Collins, Tennessee is in need of a veteran QB and Hasselbeck would fit the need perfectly.
Possible Destinations: Tennessee, Miami, Arizona , Minnesota
2. Donovan McNabb – McNabb’s days in Washington are numbered, and while he’s no longer a top shelf option at QB a team looking for a starter should still look at. He’d be in a great situation if he landed in Arizona, where he could play with an elite receiver in Larry Fitzgerald. The Cardinals going with McNabb could also go a long way in keeping Fitzgerald in Arizona beyond the 2011 season.
Possible Destinations– Arizona, Cincinnati, Miami, Minnesota.
3. Matt Moore – Moore certainly isn’t the biggest name among free agent QBs, but he may be one of the better options. Just because Carolina isn’t going to resign him doesn’t mean he’s not a viable option for a least a back up role. He’s shown some promise, is still relatively young, and also has starting experience. A team like Miami may envy him to challenge Chad Henne for the starting role, or Philadelphia may want a reliable back up if they decide to trade Kevin Kolb.
Possible Destinations¬- Miami, Philadelphia, Arizona
4. Rex Grossman – Surprising as it may seem, there is a good chance that Grossman will be Washington’s starting QB in 2011. For arguably the first time in his career, Grossman looked to be a solid starter, completing 56% of his passes and posting an 81.2 QB rating. With McNabb on his way out of Washington, Grossman would likely be the starter if the season started today. He may receive offers from other teams, but playing in Washington seems to be the best scenario for Grossman.
Possible Destinations¬- Washington, Seattle, Arizona
5. Alex Smith– Alex Smith has faced the pressure of being a top draft pick, endured coaching staff changes, and gone through several benchings and handled it all better than most would expect him too. He’s struggled on the field, but has also shown flashes that indicate he can still have a successful career. New 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh has sung Smith’s praises, and with their drafting of a project in Colin Kaepernick, it seems as though Smith will be the starter for at least one more year in San Francisco.
Possible Destinations- San Francisco, Arizona, Philadelphia
6. Vince Young – Vince Young’s impending departure from Tennessee is the final chapter in what has been a roller coaster ride for both the Titans and Young during his time there. He’s shown flashes of brilliance, paired with moments of maddening immaturity. The bridge in Tennessee is burned, but if he can show that he has grown up, a successful NFL career is still possible for Young. He may look to Miami or Arizona, where he could compete for the starting job, or head to Buffalo or Philadelphia and rebuild his career beginning as a back up.
Possible Destinations: Philadelphia, Miami, Arizona
7. Billy Volek – There was a time when Volek was thought to be one of the best, if not the top back up QB in the league. And he still could be, he just hasn’t seen enough time on the field to show it since becoming a Charger. It’s probably too late in his career to look at Volek as a full time starter, but he could likely handle being a mentor for a rookie QB or going somewhere that just needs a reliable back up. Carolina seems to be an interesting fit: Ron Rivera is familiar with Volek, and his presence would take pressure off of Cam Newton to start immediately. It’s conceivable that Volek is content to stay on as Phillip Rivers back up as well.
Possible Destinations: Carolina, San Diego, Seattle
8. Marc Bulger – Marc Bulger was a high priced back up for Baltimore in 2010, where he didn’t play a single snap. In spite of the lack of playing time behind Joe Flacco, Bulger had to enjoy finally being on a winning team, and not getting battered every game like he was in St. Louis. He may look to an opportunity for more playing time, which might have him land in Arizona or Cincinnati, but it’s not out of the question that he’ll chase a Super Bowl ring and stay in Baltimore.
Possible Destinations: Arizona, Cincinnati, Baltimore, Miami
9. Tavaris Jackson ¬– Minnesota’s drafting Christian Ponder all but guaranteed the end of the Tavaris Jackson experiment in Minnesota. It’s certainly possible that Minnesota will keep Jackson around as a stop gap until they feel Ponder is ready, but it’s hard to imagine Jackson would be thrilled with that scenario. He may look to Arizona or Miami, where he could fight for a starting job.
Possible Destinations: Seattle, Washington, Philadelphia
10. Troy Smith – After leaving Baltimore to get a legitimate opportunity to start, Troy Smith struggled in his time in San Francisco. No team is going to look to Smith as a starter in 2011, and at this point he needs to find a place where he can restart his career on the bench. Buffalo could be a potential landing spot for Smith, which would provide the added benefit of a potential starting job later on in his career. Otherwise he should look to a team like Indianapolis or Philadelphia where he study the work of top QBs.
Possible Destinations: Buffalo, Miami, Indianapolis, Philadelphia
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