NFL Free Agency 2011: Grading the Best QBs on the Free Agent Market

The offseason is quickly approaching as the Pro Bowl and Super Bowl will close out the 2010-2011 NFL season.

Thirty NFL teams are already preparing to make drastic changes to their rosters in hoping of achieving the ultimate goal: a 2011-2012 Super Bowl championship.

Most teams will first and foremost look at their quarterback situation, which is the most important position in the game.

Let’s grade the top 10 free agent quarterbacks.

Troy Smith

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

GREEN BAY, WI - DECEMBER 05: Troy Smith #1 of the San Francisco 49ers throws a pass against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on December 5, 2010 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers defeated the 49ers 34-16. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

I was a fan of Smith in college and I still am, but at this point in his career, he is just not starting material.

Smith, however, is one of the better backups in the league.

In the right system, Smith could be a potential star filling in for an injured player.

If the Philadelphia Eagles decide to re-sign Michael Vick and send Kevin Kolb packing, Smith would be the ideal backup for Andy Reid, serving as Michael Vick-lite.

Smith has great mobility and does have winning intangibles in him.

Grade: B-

Kerry Collins

Jamie Squire/Getty Images

KANSAS CITY, MO - DECEMBER 26: Quarterback Kerry Collins #5 of the Tennessee Titans warms-up prior to the start of the game against the Kansas City Chiefs on December 26, 2010 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty I

Collins would be a fantastic backup to have but could also still start for some teams in the league. As long as Collins is just asked to manage the game, he could easily lead a team to the playoffs.

Collins doesn’t have great mobility so the team would need a solid offensive line, but Collins still has fine accuracy and arm strength.

Most likely, Tennessee will re-sign Collins, but a team on the brink of a championship could very well look into the veteran.

Grade: B

Caleb Hanie

Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

CHICAGO, IL - JANUARY 23: Quarterback Caleb Hanie #12 of the Chicago Bears looks on while taking on the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship Game at Soldier Field on January 23, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

Restricted free agent Caleb Hanie wouldn’t have even made the list if it hadn’t been for his fourth quarter “heroics” in the loss to the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship.

Hanie led two scoring drives in that fourth quarter, better than anything starter Jay Cutler or second-stringer Todd Collins was able to do.

After the game, Hanie was the talk of the town after Cutler’s injury status.

Still, Hanie threw the ultimate game-clinching interception, to defensive tackle B.J. Raji of all people, for a touchdown.

Hanie was trying to do everything he could to will the Bears back from the dead, and he did a fine job.

I’m not sold on Hanie being a starter just yet, but he deserves a backup role, that’s for sure.

Grade: C+

Bruce Gradkowski

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

OAKLAND, CA - NOVEMBER 28: Bruce Gradkowski #5 of the Oakland Raiders in action against the Miami Dolphins at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on November 28, 2010 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Gradkowski has seen success in Oakland but most likely won’t return.

Gradkowski isn’t best suited for a starting role, but he’s the type of player who can come off the bench and perform well or play on a short week’s notice if a starter is deemed unavailable.

That is the best type of backup quarterback to have.

Gradkowski is still young and still has more to learn about the position to become a better quarterback, but Gradkowski is one of the better backup candidates on the market.

Grade: B-

Marc Bulger

Larry French/Getty Images

BALTIMORE - AUGUST 28: Marc Bulger #9 of the Baltimore Ravens passes against the New York Giants in a preseason game at M&T Bank Stadium on August 28, 2010 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Ravens defeated the Giants 24-10. (Photo by Larry French/Getty Images)

There have been rumors of teams bringing in Marc Bulger.

Other than as a mentor, I don’t know why a team would really want Bulger.

At this point in time, Bulger is done. He doesn’t have what it takes to compete at a high level anymore.

Bulger has terrible mobility and is rather fragile right now.

If I were a team, I’d be looking elsewhere for a backup.

Stranger things have happened though…

Grade: D-

Rex Grossman

Win McNamee/Getty Images

LANDOVER, MD - JANUARY 02: Quarterback Rex Grossman #8 of the Washington Redskins throws a pass in the fourth quarter of a game against the New York Giants at FedEx Field on January 2, 2011 in Landover, Maryland. The Giants won the game 17-14. (Photo by

Rex Grossman was an afterthought in the league until the last three weeks of the season when Mike Shanahan inserted him into the starting lineup after benching Donovan McNabb.

Grossman performed well, making many doubters eat their words.

Grossman has experience and has been to the Super Bowl before.

He’s worth taking a chance on as a backup, but, most likely, the only place he would start is back in Washington with Shanahan.

Grade: B-

Matt Moore

Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

CHARLOTTE, NC - NOVEMBER 07: Matt Moore #3 of the Carolina Panthers sits on the bench against the New Orleans Saints during their game at Bank of America Stadium on November 7, 2010 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

At times, Matt Moore looks like a capable starting quarterback when he is throwing to superstar Steve Smith.

Most of the time, though, Moore doesn’t.

The good thing is that Moore is still young and has a lot to learn. He’s shown some winning tangibles in the past, so a quality coach could be exactly what Moore is looking for.

Grade: C

Alex Smith

Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JANUARY 02: Alex Smith #11 of the San Francisco 49ers runs against the Arizona Cardinals during an NFL game at Candlestick Park on January 2, 2011 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

Alex Smith is a bust. He should never have went No. 1 to the 49ers. I said it then and I will reiterate it every chance I get.

Smith has been knocked around in this league resulting in several injuries. He has never been consistent, although part of that is due to never having a consistent offensive scheme around him.

Still, I would not want Smith as my starting quarterback.

I don’t even know how much I would trust him in a backup role.

Grade: C-

Matt Hasselbeck

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

CHICAGO, IL - JANUARY 16: Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck #8 of the Seattle Seahawks reacts while taking on the Chicago Bears in the 2011 NFC divisional playoff game at Soldier Field on January 16, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty

Matt Hasselbeck has been injured frequently over the past few years.

At times, Hasselbeck looks great. Prime example: the Wild Card upset of the New Orleans Saints.

At other times, Hasselbeck does not. Lately, that’s the Hasselbeck we see.

Hasselbeck has always been a fine quarterback, but I think his time in the sun is over.

He would serve a team very well as a backup quarterback, but I wouldn’t want to send him out there to start opening weekend.

Grade: B-

Michael Vick

Chris Trotman/Getty Images

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 09: Michael Vick #7 of the Philadelphia Eagles reacts against the Green Bay Packers during the 2011 NFC wild card playoff game at Lincoln Financial Field on January 9, 2011 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Chris Trotma

What do we really have to say about Michael Vick after this season?

Simply put, he was phenomenal.

Vick had the best season of his career and was a popular candidate for MVP throughout the season.

Vick still has a rocket arm and incredible agility and speed. Now, though, Vick has fantastic pocket awareness, pocket vision and accuracy.

Vick is the complete package.

Grade: A+