As Andrew Brandt of The MMQB.com pointed out yesterday (via Twitter), it may sometimes seem as if teams are overpaying to keep their own quarterbacks, but that’s due in large part to the fact that capable starting QBs rarely reach free agency. This year’s class of free agents is more proof of that.
When I examined 2015’s free agent market for quarterbacks on Monday, I identified Mark Sanchez, Brian Hoyer, Michael Vick, and Jake Locker as a few of the top players available, with longtime backups like Matt Moore and Ryan Mallett also in the mix. While most of those guys may be better suited as No. 2 options, I expect nearly all of them will get a chance to compete for a starting role in 2015, given how many QB-needy teams are out there.
Later in the week, Josh McCown joined this year’s group of FA quarterbacks, having been released by the Buccaneers. Last winter, McCown received the biggest contract for a free agent QB changing teams, signing a two-year, $10MM deal with Tampa Bay. This time around, he once again looks like one of the top options available, despite a disappointing 2014 campaign. Since he was cut early, McCown will also get a chance to sign anywhere before other free-agents-to-be are eligible to speak to other teams.
But if you were running a team and wanted to add the best veteran quarterback on the market, would you make a move for McCown, or would you want to wait for someone else? Who is the top prospective free agent signal-caller for 2015?