Free agency primer: top available QBs

Like Carr, Matt Leinart was drafted early, but was never able to do anything with his team. With Terrell Pryor and Carson Palmer expected to battle for the starting QB job in Oakland, Leinart may find himself elsewhere yet again in 2013.Jason Campbell has had a different offensive system in virtually every one of his pro seasons and has hardly had much chance to settle down in one of them. Last year, he served as a veteran backup to Jay Cutler, but when he got his opportunity to start, he was battered behind a porous offensive line. David Carr was the first ever draft pick of the expansion Houston Texans, but he was never able to take them anywhere. He has spent most of his career backing up Eli Manning, but since Manning has not missed a game in his career, Carr hasn't gotten much playing time. He is believed to want to test the market this year.View the list »
Drew Stanton originally signed last season with the New York Jets to back up Mark Sanchez. However, the Jets later traded for Tim Tebow, which prompted Stanton himself to ask to be traded, and he ended up in Indianapolis. Stanton was productive a couple seasons ago filling in for Matthew Stafford in Detroit and is a capable player.

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Although the free agent crop of quarterbacks this offseason is quite unremarkable (and, in fact, the most highly coveted, Joe Flacco, has long been off the table), teams will always been in need of experienced, veteran signal callers as backups, and there are a number of them this season.

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Today, the Miami Dolphins announced that they have re-signed Matt Moore, who was one of the better available quarterbacks on the market. Do not also forget that the Kansas City Chiefs have traded for Alex Smith. Though he was not a free agent, he was expected to be a major movable piece this offseason.

With those three quarterbacks gone, what is left to pick through? Are there any potential starting-caliber prospects on the market? With a weak quarterback draft class, it is not impossible that one of these players gets a chance to start somewhere next season, if they are not playing backup.

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  • Drew Stanton originally signed last season with the New York Jets to back up Mark Sanchez. However, the Jets later traded for Tim Tebow, which prompted Stanton himself to ask to be traded, and he ended up in Indianapolis. Stanton was productive a couple seasons ago filling in for Matthew Stafford in Detroit and is a capable player.
  • David Carr was the first ever draft pick of the expansion Houston Texans, but he was never able to take them anywhere. He has spent most of his career backing up Eli Manning, but since Manning has not missed a game in his career, Carr hasn't gotten much playing time. He is believed to want to test the market this year.
  • Jason Campbell has had a different offensive system in virtually every one of his pro seasons and has hardly had much chance to settle down in one of them. Last year, he served as a veteran backup to Jay Cutler, but when he got his opportunity to start, he was battered behind a porous offensive line. 
  • Like Carr, Matt Leinart was drafted early, but was never able to do anything with his team. With Terrell Pryor and Carson Palmer expected to battle for the starting QB job in Oakland, Leinart may find himself elsewhere yet again in 2013.
  • It seems like no matter what the Steelers do, they can never get rid of Charlie Batch, who has had a successful career being the third and fourth quarterback behind Ben Roethlisberger who eventually has to start due to injuries to the primary backup (Tommy Maddox, Byron Leftwich, Dennis Dixon...). He has a winning record in Pittsburgh, however, including an inspiring win in Baltimore last season, so he may yet leave to see another year in the black and gold.
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, Newark Football Examiner

Having grown up in New Jersey, Matt has naturally been around Giants and Jets football his entire life. But at a young age, he also found an affinity for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and as he got older, his fondness for the game itself grew beyond rooting for certain teams. Although the NFL season...

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