David Garrard: San Francisco 49ers and 5 Teams Who'd Love to Have Him

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With the shocking release of Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback David Garrard, there are more than a few teams, like the San Francisco 49ers, who would love to pick him up. 

Garrard, 33, is a veteran quarterback with playoff experience and would be an instant upgrade on more than a few teams.

Garrard threw for 2,734 yards, 23 touchdowns and 15 interceptions in 2010. He also ran for 279 yards and five touchdowns.  

Let's take a look at six possible destinations for Garrard. 

6) Oakland Raiders

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Jason Campbell is the starter in Oakland, yet you don't see anyone saying that Campbell can take the Raiders to the playoffs. 

Throughout Cambell's career, he has been consistently average. 2011 may be a bit different for Campbell as he will have Hue Jackson as his offensive coordinator for the second season in a row.

Campbell, 29, has never thrown for more than 3,700 yards or 20 touchdowns, and Garrard would be a solid replacement in Oakland.

Campbell certainly is questionable as a starter, and Kyle Boller is even more questionable as a backup. Boller has had only two seasons where he has thrown for more touchdowns than interceptions. That is in seven seasons. 

The Raiders took Terrelle Pryor in the supplemental draft, and Garrard would be a mentor to both Campbell and Pryor. 

5) Buffalo Bills

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Ryan Fitzpatrick actually had a pretty good 2010 season throwing for 3,000 yards, 23 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. All were career highs for the 28-year-old quarterback. 

Tyler Thigpen is the backup for the Bills, although he is largely unproven. 

Even though Fitzpatrick had a solid season in 2010, the Bills finished 4-12. 

Stevie Johnson is emerging as an elite receiver, and C.J. Spiller has breakout running back written all over him. 

The Bills may be less enticed than other teams to grab Garrard because they have Fitzpatrick at the helm. 

4) Seattle Seahawks

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Tarvaris Jackson is arguably the least proven start in the NFL as he has never thrown for more than 2,000 yards or 10 touchdowns. 

Seattle is giving Jackson the keys to the car, and there are few believers in the 28-year-old quarterback. 

Just last season the Seahawks won the NFC West. Can the Seahawks win the NFC West with Tarvaris Jackson? No. 

David Garrard would be a perfect fit in Seattle as the Seahawks have no proven quarterbacks. Garrard has playoff experience and the Seahawks may be a quarterback away from another playoff run. 

3) Carolina Panthers

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Speaking of teams that have uproven quarterbacks, the Carolina Panthers are rolling with Cam Newton as their starter. 

Newton was great in college as he won the Heisman Trophy and a national championship at Auburn.

Jimmy Clausen is backing up Newton, and he too is very unexperienced. 

The NFL is a completely different game, and Newton will get eaten alive. Carolina has an awesome running game in DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart. 

Wide receiver Steve Smith is coming to the end of his career and should be begging the front office to bring in David Garrard. 

With Newton at quarterback, the Panthers will be in for a long season. If the Panthers can bring in Garrard, they will be able to at least compete and be reputable. 

2) Cleveland Browns

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The Cleveland Browns are placing a lot of faith in the 25-year-old Colt McCoy in 2011 by naming him the starting quarterback. 

In 2010, McCoy threw for 1,576 yards, six touchdowns and nine interceptions. McCoy was below average in his rookie campaign but did win a few football games. 

Seneca Wallace is McCoy's backup and simply isn't good enough to be a starting quarterback in the NFL.

The Browns finished 5-11 last season and could easily be a .500 team with the addition of David Garrard. Colt McCoy is the quarterback of the future in Cleveland, and he has looked good this preseason, but Garrard simply is an upgrade. 

1) San Francisco 49ers

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Alex Smith has been given way to many chances in San Francisco, and the 49ers were already looking to add another backup quarterback. 

Smith threw for 2,370 yards, 14 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions in 2010. Smith has never led the 49ers to the playoffs, and Garrard would be an instant improvement that could lead this team to the playoffs. 

The 49ers could bring in Garrard and give Alex Smith a shot to try to prove himself one more time. Garrard could sit the bench the first two weeks or so and learn the offense. 

Colin Kaepernick desperately needs to sit behind a quarterback that is at least somewhat accomplished in the NFL. 

I can't see Kaepernick learning much from Alex Smith who has consistently been a loser in the NFL.