The NFL Quarterback Shuffle

As we near the end of the 2012 NFL season, there are murmurs going through the media about Quarterback situations throughout the league. Many of the teams finishing in the bottom half of the standings are sorely in need of a new regime, Quarterback or both.

A question was asked regarding Flavor of the Month Kirk Cousins and the possibility that the Kansas City Chiefs should try and trade for him. That was the impetus for this post.

The Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs and Arizona Cardinals will all be shopping for a new Quarterback this offseason, even if they draft a guy. Are the Minnesota Vikings ready to move beyond Christian Ponder yet, despite rallying his team to victory this week?
Baltimore has a decision to make because Joe Flacco will be a Free Agent.
How about the Tennessee Titans? Bud Adams is pissed because he’s paying for a loser of a team. Do you think he believes Jake Locker is the answer?
And Oakland? Carson Palmer is a shell of the player he once was. He is set to make $13M in 2013 in the second year of a $43M contract for the Cap strapped Raiders and the Front Office has no confidence in Terrelle Pryor, the wasted Supplemental Draft pick from last year.

The San Diego Chargers will be getting a new GM and head coach. They will want their own guy. Philip Rivers may not be around much longer.

The Philadephia Eagles are in the same boat. Andy Reid quite likely is finished. Michael Vick is no longer worth his $100M contract and Nick Foles may or may not grow into the Quarterback they are looking for.

Buffalo invested$62M in Ryan Fitzpatrick for a 5-win season this year and head coach Chan Gailey likes Wildcat Quarterbacks. My bet is that they will seek a cheaper solution. Rumor has it that he will be released.

The New York Jets are a mess and that is something that will continue in the foreseeable future. They have a terrible Cap situation with Mark Sanchez guaranteed at least $8.25M, so I don’t see him being released. Not when they have been overspending for every other player on the squad. Tim Tebow’s days are numbered since he won’t be starting. The rumors are that he will be a Jaguar come next year and that may be his only chance to be a Quarterback in the NFL. That kind of fits too, since the Jag’s could use a Quarterback and really need all their draft picks. Shad Khan wanted him last year, but wouldn’t pony up. Now he may get Tebow for nothing if the Jets release the Southpaw.

Let’s face it, the 2013 NFL Draft won’t be known as the year of the Quarterback. Not like 1983 or even 2012. The choices are Geno Smith of West Virginia, Matt Barkley of USC, Oklahoma's Landry Jones or maybe Tyler Wilson of Arkansas. None of those strike me as Opening Day starters for any team in 2013. Sure they will be drafted, but for future use.

Meanwhile, there is a big batch of Free Agents set to open up during the offseason and there will be lots of movement. There are also Quarterbacks that will be available. Like Alex Smith, who the 49ers will release. I’m sure Matt Flynn can be had for the right price.

In no particular ranking, here is a list of 2013 Free Agents at the Quarterback spot and their 2012 contract numbers:

Vince Young (Free Agent)
Derek Anderson (CAR) 3/14/2012: Signed a 1-year, $825,000 contract. 2013: Free Agent
Charlie Batch (PIT) 12/12/2012: Signed a 1-year, $465,000 contract. 2013: Exclusive Rights Free Agent
Jason Campbell (CHI) 3/13/2012: Signed a 1-year, $3.5M contract with a $2M signing bonus. Another $1M is available through incentives based on playing time. 2012: $1.4M (+ $100,000 workout bonus), 2013: Free Agent
Chase Daniel (NO) 3/12/2012: Signed a 1-year, $1M contract. The deal included a $300,000 signing bonus. 2012: $700,000, 2013: Free Agent
Trent Edwards (PHI) 9/5/2012: Signed a 2-year, $1.415M contract. 2012: $700,000, 2013: $715,000, 2014: Free Agent
Joe Flacco (BAL) 2012: $6.76M (+ $2.1M roster bonus), 2013: Free Agent
Bruce Gradkowski (CIN) 2012: $1.8M(+ $200,000 reporting bonus), 2013: Free Agent
Rex Grossman (WAS) 3/17/2012: Signed a 1-year, $1.3M contract. The deal included $350,000 in guarantees. 2012: $950,000, 2013: Free Agent
Tarvaris Jackson (Buf) 2012: $1.75 million, 2013: Free Agent
Byron Leftwich (PIT) 4/26/2012: Signed a 1-year, $825,000 contract. 2013: Free Agent
Tyler Thigpen (Buf) 9/2/2012: Signed a 1-year, $1.5M deal. 2012: $1M (+ $500,000 roster bonus) 2013: Free Agent
Josh McCown (Chi) 11/13/2012: Signed a one-year, $825,000 contract. 2013: Free Agent
Matt Leinart (Oak) 5/1/2012: Signed a 1-year, $700,000 contract. 2013: Free Agent
Luke McCown (Atl) 8/28/2012: Signed a 1-year, $825,000 contract. 2013: Free Agent
Brady Quinn (KC) 3/17/2012: Signed a one-year, $1M contract. 2013: Free Agent
Brian Hoyer (Ari) 11/20/2012: Signed a 1-year, $615,000 contract. 2013: Free Agent
Jordan Palmer (Jac) 11/21/2012: Signed a 1-year, $615,000 contract. 2013: Free Agent
Matt Moore (Mia) 2012: $2.75 million, 2013: Free Agent
David Carr (NYG) 3/14/2012: Signed a 1-year, $990,000 contract. The deal included a $65,000 signing bonus. 2012: $925,000, 2013: Free Agent
Kellen Clemens (StL) 9/13/2012: Signed a 1-year, $710,000 contract. The deal included a $10,000 signing bonus. 2012: $700,000, 2013: Free Agent
Drew Stanton (Ind) 3/16/2012: Signed a 1-year, $1.2M contract with a $500,000 signing bonus. 2012: $700,000, 2013: Free Agent


Here is a list of available Quarterbacks that attended Training Camps in 2012. Some of them made it on NFL Practice Squads and will become Free Agents in January.

Josh Johnson (SF) - Free Agent
Mike Kafka (Phi) - Free Agent
Jerrod Johnson (Pit) Free Agent
Jacory Harris (Phi) - Free Agent
Aaron Corp (Buf) - Free Agent
John Brantley (Bal) Free Agent
Matt Blanchard (Chi) Free Agent
Chester Stewart (Bal) Free Agent
Zac Robinson (Cin) - Free Agent
Rhett Bomar (Oak) Free Agent
Kyle Newhall-Caballero (Oak) Free Agent
Sage Rosenfels (Min) Free Agent
Chris Redman (Atl - QB) Free Agent
Richard Bartel (Ari) Free Agent
Dan LeFevour (Jac) Free Agent
John Parker Wilson (Jac) Free Agent
Nathan Enderle (Jac) Free Agent
John Beck (Hou) Free Agent
Case Keenum (Hou) Free Agent
Thaddeus Lewis (Cle) Free Agent
Seneca Wallace (Cle) Free Agent
Curtis Painter (Bal) Free Agent
Brett Ratliff (TB) Free Agent
Zach Collaros (TB) Free Agent
Adam Weber (TB) Free Agent
B.J. Coleman (GB) Free Agent
Nick Hill (GB) Free Agent
Jonathan Crompton (Was) Free Agent
Ryan Perrilloux (NYG) Free Agent
Matt Simms (NYJ) Free Agent
G.J. Kinne (NYJ) Free Agent
Tom Brandstater (StL) Free Agent
Chandler Harnish (Ind) Free Agent
David Legree (Ind) Free Agent
Trevor Vittatoe (Ind) Free Agent
Kevin O'Connell (SD) Free Agent
Kyle Boller (SD) Free Agent
Jarrett Lee (SD) Free Agent
Josh Portis (Sea) Free Agent
Nick Stephens (Ten) Free Agent
Tyler Hansen (Cin) Free Agent
R.J. Archer (Det) Free Agent
Mike Hartline (NE) Free Agent
Stephen McGee (Dal) Free Agent
Rudy Carpenter (Dal) Free Agent
Sean Canfield (NO) Free Agent
Troy Smith (Pit) Free Agent

Here are the contract status for other Quarterbacks that could be in the mix.

Kirk Cousins (Was) 5/31/2012: 4-year, $2,572,688 contract with a $472,688 signing bonus. 2012: $390,000, 2013: $480,000, 2014: $570,000, 2015: $660,000, 2016: Free Agent

Matt Flynn (Sea) 3/18/2012: 3-year, $19.5M contract with $10M guaranteed -- a $6M signing bonus, Flynn's 2012 base salary, and $2M of his second-year salary. Another $5M is available through escalators. An additional $2M worth of incentives is available, but is "unlikely to be earned." 2012: $2M, 2013: $5.25M, 2014: $6.25M, 2015: Free Agent

Mark Sanchez (NYJ) 3/9/2012: 5-year, $58.25M contract with $20.5M guaranteed, an $8M signing bonus and all of Sanchez's 2012 and 2013 base salaries. Another $10M is available through escalators. Sanchez is eligible for annual $500,000 workout bonuses throughout the contract's life. 2012: $3.25M, 2013: $8.25M, 2014: $9M (+ $2M roster bonus due in late March), 2015: $12.5M (+ $1M roster bonus due in late March), 2016: $10.75M (+ $1M roster bonus due in late March), 2017: Free Agent

Tim Tebow (NYJ) 7/29/2010: 5-year, $9.75M contract. The deal contains $8.7M guaranteed, including a $6.275M option bonus in the second year. Another $23.25M is available through incentives, though $9M of them are "unlikely to be earned." $1,537,500 of the incentives are available through a "likely to be earned" one time escalator. 2012: $2.1M (+ $472,500 roster bonus due in late July), 2013: $2,586,875, 2014: $895,000, 2015: Free Agent

Alex Smith (SF) 3/20/2012: Signed 3-year, $24M contract with $9M guaranteed -- an initial roster bonus of $3M, all of Smith's 2012 base salary, and $1M of his 2013 salary. Another $9M is available through incentives, though $5.25M of them are "unlikely to be earned." An annual $250,000 workout bonus is available. 2012: $5M, 2013: $7.5M (+ $1M roster bonus due in March), 2014: $7.5M, 2015: Free Agent

Michael Vick (Phi) 8/29/2011: Signed a 6-year, $100M contract with $32.5M guaranteed, including a $7M signing bonus and all of Vick's 1st- and 2nd-year base salaries and $3M of his 2013 salary (for injury only). The 6th year voids if Vick participates in 35% of the Eagles' offensive snaps in any of the first 5 seasons, making the contract more realistically worth $80M over five years. Another $3M is available through incentives based on Super Bowl wins in 2011 and 2012, and playing time (77.5% of the regular season snaps). 2012: $12.5M, 2013: $15.5M, 2014: $12.5M (+ $3M roster bonus), 2015: $14.5M (+ $2M roster bonus), 2016: $20M (Dummy Year), 2017: Free Agent

Ryan Fitzpatrick (Buf) 10/28/2011: Signed a seven-year, $62.195 million contract. The deal contains $24 million guaranteed, including a $10 million signing bonus. An annual $200,000 workout bonus is available throughout the contract's life. 2012: $2.8 million (+ $5 million option bonus due 3/19), 2013: $4.25 million (+ $3 million roster bonus), 2014: $4.35 million (+ $3 million roster bonus), 2015: $7.2 million, 2016: $8.75 million, 2017: $9.45 million, 2018: Free Agent

Carson Palmer (Oak) 10/18/2011: Signed a four-year, $43 million contract. The deal contains $7.5 million guaranteed, including all of Palmer's first-year salary and $5 million of Palmer's second-year salary. 2012: $825,000 (+ $11.675 million "signing" bonus), 2013: $13 million, 2014: $15 million, 2015-2016: Voidable Years, 2017: Free Agent

Terrelle Pryor (Oak) 8/25/2011: Signed a four-year, $2.36 million contract. The deal included a $586,000 signing bonus. 2012: $485,000, 2013: $595,000, 2014: $705,000, 2015: Free Agent

Matt Cassel (KC) 7/14/2009: Signed a six-year, $63 million contract. The deal contains $28 million guaranteed, including a $10 million roster bonus in the first year and a $7.5 million option bonus in the third. An annual $250,000 workout bonus is available in years two through six. 2012: $5.25 million, 2013: $7.5 million, 2014: $9 million, 2015: Free Agent

Ricky Stanzi (KC) 7/28/2011: Signed a four-year, $2,286,052 contract. The deal included a $211,052 signing bonus. 2012: $465,000 (+ $11,000 workout bonus), 2013: $555,000 (+ $12,000 workout bonus), 2014: $645,000 (+ $12,000 workout bonus), 2015: Free Agent

Alex Tanney (KC) 6/5/2012: Signed a three-year, $1.44 million contract. 2012: $390,000, 2013: $480,000, 2014: $570,000, 2015: Restricted Free Agent

John Skelton (Ari) 7/14/2010: Signed a four-year, $1.972 mllion contract. The deal included a $181,650 signing bonus. 2012: $540,000, 2013: $575,000, 2014: Free Agent

Chad Henne (Jac) 3/14/2012: Signed a two-year, $6.75 million contract. The deal included a $3 million signing bonus. Another $2.5 million is available through incentives. An annual $25,000 workout bonus is available in both seasons. 2012: $1.075 million, 2013: $2.625 million, 2014: Free Agent

Matt Hasselbeck (Ten) 7/29/2011: Signed a 3-year, $20M contract with a $6M signing bonus. Another $1M is available through incentives. 2012-2013: $5.5M, 2014: Free Agent

Rusty Smith (Ten) 6/17/2010: Signed a $-year, $1,904,225 contract. The deal included a $114,225 signing bonus. 2012: $540,000, 2013: $575,000, 2014: Free Agent

Colt McCoy (Cle) 7/22/2010: Signed a four-year, $4.96M contract. The deal contains $1.07M guaranteed, including a $751,000 signing bonus. 2012: $540,000, 2013: $575,000, 2014: Free Agent

Dan Orlovsky (TB) 3/15/2012: Signed a 2-year, $2.5M contract with $300,000 guaranteed -- a 1st-year roster bonus of $100,000 and $200,000 of Orlovsky's 2012 base salary. 2012: $900,000, 2013: $1.5M, 2014: Free Agent

Graham Harrell (GB) 12/7/2011: Signed a three-year, $1.62 million contract. 2012: $540,000, 2013: $630,000, 2014: Restricted Free Agent

Charlie Whitehurst (SD) 3/16/2012: Signed a two-year, $4 million contract. The deal included a $1 million signing bonus. 2012: $750,000, 2013: $1.3 million, 2014: Free Agent

Shaun Hill (Det) 3/17/2012: Signed a 2-year, $5.5M contract. The deal included a $1M signing bonus. 2012: $1.75M, 2013: $2.4M (+ $350,000 roster bonus), 2014: Free Agent

Caleb Hanie (Den) 9/10/2012: 2-year, $2.25M contract. 2013: $1.25M, 2014: Free Agent

Jimmy Clausen (Car - QB) 7/28/2010: Signed a 4-year, $6.3M contract. The deal includes $2.533M guaranteed and a 4th-year escalator that could boost Clausen's 2013 salary to $2.85M. 2012: $540,000 (+ $923,000 roster bonus due 3/27), 2013: $575,000, 2014: Free Agent

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