2017 Free Agent Quarterback Supply- “The Highly Qualified”

Author – Bryan Trulen

 

The Free Agent Quarterback market is extremely robust. A number of qualified to highly qualified (by NFL standards) quarterbacks will be in supply for a finite number of potential job openings around the league. Let’s take a look at the high end market landscape as we enter free agency

Highly Qualified – Just because a quarterback finds himself in this category does not mean he will automatically be given an opportunity to come in and start somewhere. More often than not this type of category is filled with quarterbacks with moderate to extensive starting experience but over time the warts of their respective game have been identified and exposed.

 

1. Tony Romo – Romo will turn 37 in April and is coming off an injury riddled 2015 and 2016. He has limited game experience during this time although looked like a bona fide MVP Quarterback just three years ago during the 2014 season. If his motivation is still alive and burning and If he can manage to stay healthy for a full season, Romo clearly becomes in theory the no-brainer top free agent option in 2017 much like Peyton Manning in 2012. Jacksonville, Denver and Houston are places where he could go to and immediately make a big difference. And a dark horse would be the Los Angeles Rams- where a partnership with Sean McVay could have the potential to pay off big if things go as well as they did in 2014 for Romo. 

 

1. Mike Glennon – Glennon took the starting job away from Josh Freeman as a rookie in 2013 as he threw for 19 TD’s and 7 INT and basically beat the Seahawks in Seattle all by himself. Glennon was a victim of bad luck in 2014 as new HC Lovie Smith dismissed Glennon as a legitimate option from day 1 without doing homework on him and brought in Josh McCown to Tampa to be the guy. Glennon obviously took a step back during 2014 but still showed flashes of Matt Ryan esque qualities as a passer when he did play. The argument can be made that Glennon is an equal or even better quarterback than Jameis Winston in many areas but did not hold the cache as the #1 overall draft pick. Do not be surprised if Glennon ends up being the face of a franchise such as Chicago, New York or San Francisco for years to come.

 

3. Brian Hoyer – Hoyer, who is entering his 9th year in the league has clearly made his         stake as the 2nd best quarterback behind Matt Stafford to come out of the 2009 draft class. Hoyer is about as refined of a natural passer as there is in the league in terms of how he blends elements such as touch, throwing in rhythm, anticipation and is a very decisive thrower to all areas of the field. Simply put, Hoyer plays the position like a point gaurd who sees the entire court clearly and knows his physical limitations. At his core, Hoyer is a distributor who is essentially a less pliable version of Matt Ryan. Hoyer may not have a ton of time left but do not be surprised if a team such as the 49ers, Jets or even Chicago (his current team) bring him in or back as their un-questioned starter in 2017.