Free Agent Quarterbacks

SI Staff | Jul 26, 2011

Free Agent Quarterbacks /

Free Agent Quarterbacks

Peyton Manning

With the lockout lifted on Monday and teams eligible to jump into the free-agent market on Friday, unsigned players who have accrued more than four years in the NFL will be eligible. With that in mind, here's a look at some of the quarterbacks available. All right, so we all know he's going to be re-signed by the Colts. The four-time NFL MVP is about to be the highest-paid NFL player ever by Indianapolis, but whether that's via a franchise tag or a new contract is yet to be determined.

Matt Hasselbeck

The Seattle QB has had better years after finishing this season with 12 TDs and 17 picks, but he did help the Seahawks to a surprise playoff run by beating the defending champ Saints with four touchdown passes. There are plenty of teams out there looking for a QB with Super Bowl experience.

Alex Smith

The former No. 1 overall pick tossed 14 touchdowns and 10 picks in 2010 despite playing in only 11 games under former coach Mike Singletary. Smith has struggled during his years in the NFL, but his numbers have gradually gotten better since coming to the league in 2005.

Billy Volek

His days in Tennessee with former coach Jeff Fisher didn't end the best way possible, but Volek is a great backup guy who has spent a decade in the league. He played behind Philip Rivers last season and didn't see the field much.

Seneca Wallace

Wallace covered well for Matt Hasselbeck when he went down in 2008 with an injury. Since going to Cleveland he's been sandwiched between veteran Jake Delhomme and Colt McCoy, whom the Browns would love to make a franchise player.

Troy Smith

The former Heisman Trophy winner fought for time with Alex Smith in San Francisco and averaged 196 yards per game in six appearances.

Marc Bulger

Remember when Marc Bulger was a Pro Bowl quarterback? Well in the past two seasons he's played in nine games and thrown five touchdowns and six interceptions. In fact, he hasn't thrown more TDs than interceptions since 2006. With those numbers, he can't be asking for much on the market.

Luke McCown

The last time any team took a chance on this guy was in 2007, when he threw for more than 1,000 yards in five games for the Jaguars. Since then, he's appeared in only six games.

Caleb Hanie

Here's a young guy with very few regular season snaps but some very memorable postseason plays. He went 13-for-20 in the NFC Championship Game for the Bears after starter Jay Cutler went out with an MCL sprain. He tossed two touchdowns and two picks in an incredibly tense second half.

Bruce Gradkowski

He has plenty of years left in him but injuries may not allow him to make it that far. He's suffered two injuries the past two seasons, including one last year that put him on the IR. In six games, he passed for 1,059 yards in 2010.

Tarvaris Jackson

In the three games Jackson stepped in for an injured Brett Favre last season he was less than impressive. Three touchdowns and four interceptions did the Vikings no favors, and neither did the turf toe that ended his season.

Matt Leinart

The former Heisman Trophy winner didn't get a single snap last season with the Texans and hasn't completed more than 60 passes in a season since his rookie year in 2006 with the Cardinals. He's certainly not battle-tested, but at least he's well rested.

Published Jul 26, 2011

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