9 QBs That Could Be On The Move

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With the NFL offseason fast approaching, the coaching carousel is pretty much completed and now it's time for the second most exciting player movement- the NFL QB carousel.  Every year plenty of new starters arise and this year we've seen plenty of rookies or new starters change the fortunes of a franchise.  With that in mind, and considering the new coaches scattered across the league, here's a quick look at 9 QBs who are at least somewhat newsworthy, arranged in order from most lukewarm to most exciting, who could be on the move in the coming months.

9. Derek Anderson, Free Agent (Panthers) - Likely to Move

Possible Destinations: Cleveland Browns

Derek Anderson has had one good season in his entire career.  In 2007, he was the Cleveland Browns starter and had a solid season under offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinki.  Coach Chud is now the head coach in Cleveland, and given the lack of a competent starter it wouldn’t be surprising at all to see Anderson back in orange next season, although he is unlikely to be the starter.

8. Matt Cassel, Chiefs (expected to be released) – Definitely Going to Move

Possible Destinations: New England Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers

Matt Cassel’s career as a starter appears to be over, and there will be rumblings about a return to holding the clipboard in New England.  But I think the most likely landing spot is Pittsburgh, for a few reasons.  First, Ryan Mallett is pretty much set as the #2 QB in New England, so Cassel might not make the roster.  Also, Charlie Batch and Byron Leftwitch are free agents, so Pittsburgh will be in the market for a suitable backup to the mercilessly oft- pounded ben Roethlisberger.  And lastly, Cassel’s best season as a starter was NOT 2008 with the Patriots, but in 2010 with the Chiefs under head coach Todd Haley, who just so happens to be the offensive coordinator in Pittsburgh.

7. Tarvaris Jackson, Free Agent (Bills) – Definitely Going to Move 

Possible Destinations:  New York Jets, wherever Brad Childress winds up.

Tarvaris Time has seen better moments, but he should find a job somewhere this offseason.  The Jets are moving to a West-Coast Offense and T-Jack has plenty of experience in that regard.  He was also new Jets GM John Idzik’s favorite’s in Seattle.  Then there’s also the possibility that his #1 fan- former Vikings coach Brad Childress- will land a QB coach or OC position somewhere and bring T-Jack with him.

6. Ryan Nassib, NFL Draft Prospect (Syracuse) – Definitely Going to Move

Possible Destinations:  Several, but most likely Buffalo Bills

Ryan Nassib is an intriguing prospect out of Syracuse.  His college coach, Doug Marrone, just took the Bills head coaching gig, and Nassib has a very good chance to wind up being the 8^th pick in the 2013 draft.  It’s an eerily similar situation to the Ryan Tannehill-Mike Sherman connection from Texas A&M to the Miami Dolphins with the 8^th pick last year.  Both Tanehill and Nassib were/will be considered reaches at that point in the draft, but familiarity with the coach and the QB-dependent nature of the NFL means Ryan Nassib’s stock has skyrocketed.

5. Tim Tebow, Jets (likely to be released)- Definitely Going to Move

Possible Destinations- New England Patriots, Jacksonville Jaguars, Philadelphia Eagles

Tim Tebow will be taking his holiness elsewhere after failing to take off with the Jets.  One possible landing spot is in New England, where Bill Belichick has also been a fan and loves sticking it to the Jets, and OC Josh McDaniels drafted Tebow when he was with the Broncos.  He would likely serve a variety of roles in New England.  The Jacksonville Jaguars have denied interest in Tebow but could be blowing smoke- the hometown kid would sell tickets, which is surprisingly difficult for the lowly Jags to do in the ever-popular NFL.  And the most intriguing possibility is in Philadelphia, where Chip Kelly could see Tebow as the QB for his spread, read/option based system.

4. Nick Foles, Eagles- Possibly Going to Move 

Possible Destinations- Kansas City Chiefs, New York Jets

Nick Foles showed flashes of competence as a rookie for the Eagles this past season, but unless Chip Kelly is going to abandon his mobile-QB staple in his offense, Foles will be taking snaps elsewhere in 2013.  One possible destination is in KC, where Andy Reid is the new coach with an obvious connection to Foles.  The other is in NY where new Jets OC Marty Mornhinweg (the Eagles OC last year) is instilling his WCO.

3. Matt Flynn, Seahawks (possible to be traded)- Not likely to Move

Possible Destinations- New York Jets, Jacksonville Jaguars

Matt Flynn is another WCO QB to be linked to the Jets, as well as John Idzik from his time in Seattle.  The other destination could be Jacksonville, where new coach Gus Bradley was the Defensive Coordinator is Seattle and saw plenty of Flynn in practice last season.  If he was impressed, maybe he’ll go after him this offseason.  However, I think Flynn likely stays in Seattle because Russell Wilson isn’t counting much towards the cap and they can afford a pricey but effective backup, with no real incentive to move him unless they’re blown away by a trade offer.

2. Michael Vick, Eagles (possible to be released) – Possibly Going to Move

Possible Destinations- Kansas City Chiefs, Cleveland Browns, Arizona Cardinals

Mike Vick is an enigma and could be great or terrible in short spans for whichever team he winds up with if Chip Kelly decides he isn’t the guy for his system or he simply refuses to take a pay cut and the Eagles release him anyway.  The Chiefs are a possible landing spot due to Andy Reid, and the Browns may be in the mix after Chudzinski’s success with a mobile QB in Cam Newton in Carolina.  The Arizona Cardinals are the dark horse here and I think he will ultimately wind up in the desert, where new coach Bruce Arians is a Virginia Tech alum and Larry Fitzgerald would probably love anyone that isn’t John Skelton or Ryan Lindley.

1. Alex Smith, 49ers (possible to be traded) – Likely to Move

Possible Destinations- New York Jets, Cleveland Browns, Jacksonville Jaguars

I believe Alex Smith is the hottest available QB this offseason, because he’s put together a year and a half of solid, winning football before taking a backseat to Collin Kaepernick.  The Jets and Browns will obviously be looking for new QBs, but Jacksonville could be the prime landing spot for the former 1^st overall pick in the draft.  New Jags GM David Caldwell is a former prominent member of the 49ers front office and could see Smith as his QB to build around.