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NFL Free Agency: Assessing the quarterback marketplace

By George Stockburger

NEW ORLEANS, LA - NOVEMBER 19: Drew Brees #9 of the New Orleans Saints talks after the game with Kirk Cousins #8 of the Washington Redskins at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on November 19, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Saints defeated the Redskins 34-31. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - NOVEMBER 19: Drew Brees #9 of the New Orleans Saints talks after the game with Kirk Cousins #8 of the Washington Redskins at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on November 19, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Saints defeated the Redskins 34-31. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /
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NFL Free Agency is a mixed bag at the quarterback position

NFL free agency can not officially begin until the league year starts on March 14, but the speculation surrounding the quarterbacks available on the open market will never stop.

At least three to five quarterbacks on the free agent market are set to earn more than $20 million per season, regardless of whether that’s their actual value. Jimmy Garoppolo, Drew Brees, Case Keenum, Kirk Cousins, and Sam Bradford are the leaders in the NFL free agency clubhouse this offseason. Teams signing them could be one looking for either a franchise quarterback or a stop-gap.

Brees and Garoppolo are likely to sign extensions with their current teams. New Orleans and Brees have too much history together to depart, and the 49ers gave up a second-round pick to New England for Garoppolo.

Keenum and Bradford each left their mark on Vikings history, for both good and bad. Bradford cost the Vikings a first round pick after Teddy Bridgewater went down in training camp. He performed well when healthy, but that wasn’t often. Keenum took the Vikings to the NFC Championship and received MVP consideration, but his floor is about as high as his ceiling.
Keenum and Bradford each left their mark on Vikings history, for both good and bad. Bradford cost the Vikings a first round pick after Teddy Bridgewater went down in training camp. He performed well when healthy, but that wasn’t often. Keenum took the Vikings to the NFC Championship and received MVP consideration, but his floor is about as high as his ceiling. /

Cousins will likely receive the largest contract in NFL history despite never winning a playoff game or having a career winning percentage above .500 with the Redskins. How much of that can and should you place on Cousins? It’s tough to say based on their recent record in terms of contention in the Jay Gruden era.

After those top five players go off the board the class gets even more interesting. Teams will have to evaluate Teddy Bridgewater, Jay Cutler, Josh McCown, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Brock Osweiler, and Blaine Gabbert to determine if they’re backups or starters next season.

Bridgewater’s issues are much different than McCown’s or Cutler’s. Having attempted just two passes since the conclusion of the 2015 season thanks to a leg injury in 2016, Bridgewater will have to earn his first major contract and prove he’s healthy and not injury prone.

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Beyond those players, there will be career backups and shots in the dark available for teams to bring into training camp as an extra arm. Geno Smith, Tom Savage, Matt Barkley, E.J. Manuel, Scott Tolzien, Joe Webb, Chase Daniel, Brandon Weeden, Mark Sanchez, and Chad Henne will be those names to watch. Some of those players will be stronger coaches than players in the meeting room and on the sideline. Sanchez, Daniel, Henne, and Tolzien fall under that category as mentors for young quarterbacks.

Teams looking for a quarterback are just as abundant as the stars on the market this offseason. Here’s a list of teams potentially looking at the NFL free agency quarterback market: Saints, Jets,  Saints, Broncos, Vikings, Cardinals, 49ers, Jaguars, Dolphins, and Browns are options for these free agents to slide, while the Ravens, Bills, Bengals, Giants, Chargers, Redskins, and Steelers are looking towards the future.

Next: Greatest Trade for Every Team in History

Mix these free agents in with potential trade candidates (Nick Foles) with the highly-anticipated quarterback class it’ll be one of the most exciting offseasons in recent memory.

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