Let?s take a look at (possible) acquirable QB?sIf you are on the Hot Seat and the season has not started off as well as you would have liked, if you are overall unhappy with your QB depth or if you have a veteran QB who will be retiring soon and are looking for a project QB who will you turn to?
I have listed some of my choices below. Again, these are my personal choices so you do not have to agree with me. I have also not listed teams which I think have no interest in trading their starting and/or bacup QB?s.
A cheap project QB: John Navarre | 77 Ovr | 25 years old | Year Pro 1 | Buffalo Bills
http://smashmouth-football.net/player.php?id=2453&sub=sal&skin=lpI drafted Navvarre towards the bottom half of the 7th round in the 2004 draft. He had an amazing skew. He has great size at 6?6? and 246 #, good AWR at 74, passable THP at 87 but poor THA at 84. I will admit I may be higher on this guy than anyone else just due to where I drafted him at. I was really sorry to see him go but the Bills front office wanted him to be part of the Steve McNair and Rex Grossman trade. If I did not have a 24 year old QB I an trying to progress I would make an offer for Navvarre. Trading for him will be tricky though as he needs to start in order to progress that THA. Personally, I would invest in 1 point in THP to get him to 88. If he does not start he will lose out on significant progression making his potential future as a starting QB dim at best. Nararre has three years left on this rookie contract and will make just $300 K this season, $390 K next season and $520 K in 2007. A team will take some lumps and bruises with Navarre for a year but I really think a GM with 3+ seasons on this contract could make something out of Navvarre.
A potential disappointing yet still full of promise young QB: BJ Symons | 81 Ovr | 25 years old | Year Pro 1 | NY Jets
http://smashmouth-football.net/player.php?id=2447&skin=lpAt a young 31 years of age, I think the Jets future will be with QB Jake Plummner. The Jets are at the top of the division with a 2 wins and 1 loss record and Plummer has a QB R of 91+. Symons was drafted with the 25th pick in the 1st round of the 2004 draft. Some people said the pick was a reach but no one can say they don?t like Symons 95 THP. His AWR is a bit low at 69 but his THA is manageable at 86. This is a QB a GM should be able to groom into something especially with his ?pocket? tendency however I think a move for him would need to be made this year or at the very latest this offseason. Symons has three years left on his rookie deal and is set to earn $660 K this year, $860 K next year and $1.13 M in 2007. Symons will come with a salary cap hit of $2.79 M so this may add to the difficulty of obtaining him from one of the best GM?s in our leagues, Kevin Mullendore. I would imagine the cost for Symons would be a late 1st round pick or a 2nd round pick and something. Perhaps Symons could be blended in some type of package deal involving multiple players and/or picks.
The best QB on the trade block: Kurt Warner | 98 Ovr | 34 years old | Year Pro 7 | Cleveland Browns
http://smashmouth-football.net/player.php?id=1252&skin=lpA veteran such as Warner does not come up for trade very often and yet Warner is looking to be added to his third SFL team thus far in our early season. Originally traded from St Louis in the Drew Brees deal Warner has not been happy in Cleveland. Warner has never had more than 9 interceptions in any SFL season but he has 4 through 3 games this year. He struggled in weeks 1 and 2 but put together an amazing week 3 performance. Warner boasts 99 AWR, 93 THP and 99 THA and is a pocket QB. He has six years remaining on his contract and the salary after the bonus has been removed is really, really manageable. He is set to earn $3.6 M this season followed by $4.69 M, $6.08 M, $7.9 M, $10.28 M and $13.25 M. While Warner is 34 years old he is only year pro 7 so he should have plenty of strong seasons ahead of him. The price will be at least a 1st round pick though.
I truly do not know what to expect out of this guy: QB Aaron Rodgers | 78 Ovr | 21 years old | Rookie | Cleveland Browns
http://smashmouth-football.net/player.php?id=2812&skin=lpBoy, Rodgers is a tricky QB to ponder. He has low AWR of 66 but again, he is a rookie. His THP is already serviceable at 88 and he has good THA for a rookie at 87. Count me in as one of the guys who think Rodgers could be a starter in this league sooner rather than later. Like others those, the key is to get playing time. Cleveland GM Tom Collins could be planning on starting Rodgers if he trades Warner, I truly do not know. If he has no long term plans for Rodgers though, the price on him would be very reasonable I would think. Could a 2nd round pick get him or maybe two 3rds? Rodgers is on a super cheap rookie contract which will pay him $390 K this season followed by $510 K, $660 K and $840 K in his final year.
A retiring backup QB for a playoff hopeful team: Tommy Maddox | 87 Ovr | 34 years old | Year Pro 13 | Pittsburg Steelers
http://smashmouth-football.net/player.php?id=1500&sub=sal&skin=lpThe Steelers are not on the hot seat but could be after this season (I believe). Lots of GM?s, myself included think Maddox should be starting in Pittsburg but he is not. I see no reason to keep a vet such as Maddox who will probably retire due to being a 13 year pro sitting on the bench during what looks to be a rough season. Maddox?s 81 AWR is going to hurt his value but he does have 99 THA and his THP of 86 could be acceptable in a pinch. I see no reason why he could not fetch a mid round pick such as a 4th or perhaps a couple 5th round picks. He is on the last year of his contract and will make a reasonable $2.19 M for the rest of the year.
A pro bowl caliber QB ready to lead a team to the playoffs: Drew Bledsoe | 91 Ovr | 33 years old | Year Pro 12 | Denver Broncos
http://smashmouth-football.net/player.php?id=109&skin=lpBledsoe has it all, 94 AWR, 94 THP and 95 THA. He is paid like it too though as he makes $9.89 M this season and is set to earn $12.85 M next season. I believe I heard Olivier announce during his reintroduction to the NAFL/SFL that he is willing to trade Bledsoe. Bledsoe, much like Steve McNair is going to hopefully do in Buffallo could come in and save a hot seat GM. If I were Paul Criswell of the Bucs or Rock Hewko of the Seahawks I am wasting no time contacting the Broncos about Bledsoe?s services.
An established starter who could help any team: Aaron Brooks | 86 Ovr | 29 years old | Year Pro 6 | Oakland Raiders
http://smashmouth-football.net/player.php?id=1370&skin=lpIf I had the firepower (aka picks) I would be making a run at Brooks. GM Garth traded for 35 year old QB Jeff Garcia this off season and seems to be all in with him. Garcia is interesting because he is only year pro 6. I do not know how this will factor into a possible retirement. Brooks is making $4.26 M this season, the final year of his contract. I would think if Garth had confidence in Brooks he would not have brought in Garcia. Brooks has 81 AWR, 93 THP and 88 THA and at 29 years old has many seasons of starting in front of him or he could be the best backup QB in the league.
A veteran who can keep you competitive: Elvis Grbac | 81 Ovr | 35 years old | Year Pro 12 | Atlanta Falcons
http://smashmouth-football.net/player.php?id=1845&sub=sal&skin=lpWhile Grbac is 35 year old he probably has 1 more season left since he is year pro 12 however is in playing a 1 year contract in Atlanta. He would make $1.1 M if a team traded for him. Trent Green is performing at a near MVP level so there is a chance Grbac is available for a mid round pick or a couple late round picks. Grbac has 79 AWR, 87 THP and 88 TAHA.
The team with perhaps the best QB depth in the league: The Panthers are in a great QB situation. I am not really sure who the starter and not even sure if it matters as both QB?s are smart, top notch veterans in Kerry Collins and Mark Brunell.
Kerry Collins | 92 Ovr | 33 years old | Year Pro 10 |
http://smashmouth-football.net/player.php?id=800&skin=lpKerry Collins is a 33 year old veteran who in under contract for the next 5 years. He is making $4.11 M this season followed by seasons of $5.16 M, $6.49 M, $8.15 M and $10.26 M in the final year of his contract even though he will retire way before the contract is over. Collins has 93 AWR, 92 THP and 94 THA. Something tells me GM Breck Sr would trade Collins before he would trade Mark Brunell due to Brunell?s cap hit.
Mark Brunell | 97 Ovr | 35 years old | Year Pro 11
http://smashmouth-football.net/player.php?id=845&skin=lpBrunell is 35 but due to his year pro he may still have a year left after this one. He has 99 AWR, 99 THA but just 86 THP. The 86 THP has served him well as he has been great in the first three years of the SFL. He has thrown 98 TD?s compared to just 31 interceptions and obtained a QB Rating of 96.5. Brunell has 3 years remaining on his contract and would cost another team $5.23 M this season, $6.8 M next season and $8.84 in year 3 after the Panthers eat $7.59 M in bonuses which is what makes trading Brunell very difficult.
Get something for one of these guys while you can: The Tampa Bay Bucs and GM Paul Criswell has a pair of QB?s that I think would be good backups but less than average starting QB?s. If I were the Bucs I?d trade at least one for a mid round pick or possible help at other positions such as CB or OL.
Marc Bulger | Ovr 84 | 28 years old | Year Pro 5
http://smashmouth-football.net/player.php?id=1214&skin=lpBulger has 74 AWR, 90 THP and 90 THA. If his AWR were in the mid 80?s I think he could be a starter in the SFL but he has a way to go before e gets there and he is closer to 30 years old than 25. He is set to earn $3.02 M this year, $3.31 M and $4.08 M in the third and final year of his contract which means he?s a high quality backup who s getting paid like a starter. I am confident though he could be attractive to a few teams who want to secure their QB depth charts a bit more.
David Carr | Ovr 82 | 26 years old | Year Pro 3
http://smashmouth-football.net/player.php?id=1530&skin=lpCarr has been around. He has played for the Cardinals, Browns and now the Bucs. Perhaps one of the reasons he has been around so many teams is that he was stuck between a decent back and project starting QB. Now though at the age of 26 I think he is clearly a decent backup as he has 72 AWR, 88 THP and 01 THA. He is making a very low salary of $520 K this year and $580 K next year. Rather than having two similar QB?s on a Hot Seat team I would trade at least one. I am not sure of Carr?s value but I would think he would garner interest if a mid round pick were the asking price.
Nice veteran for peanuts: Kelly Holcomb | Ovr 75 | 32 years old | Year Pro 10 | Detroit Lions
http://smashmouth-football.net/player.php?id=226&skin=lpHolcomb may be available for peanuts (a late round pick?) due to the emergence of rookie backup QB Jason Campbell. Holcomb may not be reliable enough to win games but I think he could keep a team competitive. He has 75 AWR, 85 THP and 82 THA. These are far from impressive but for the cost it might be worth a change to take a flyer on Holcomb if a veteran backup QB is something on a GM?s wish list.
