NFL Free Agents 2012: Which Teams Should Target Matt Flynn over a Rookie QB?

26-year-old Matt Flynn was a seventh-round pick of the Green Bay Packers in 2008. When the 2012 season starts, he'll be 27 years old, approximately four-to-five years older than the rookies of the 2012 NFL draft class—aside from Oklahoma State's Brandon Weeden, of course.

With the exception of the 28-year-old Weeden, the rookie class will be a group of young, inexperienced signal-callers with limited pro-style experience.

Andrew Luck played in a pro-style system throughout his career, but there is still an expected learning curve. That doesn't matter to the Indianapolis Colts, who are expected to take him No. 1 overall, but that learning curve should matter to the rest of the teams looking at any of the quarterbacks after Luck.

And in doing so, they should consider the one quarterback on the free agent market who has as much appeal as a potential first-round rookie.

Matt Flynn has been Aaron Rodgers' backup since his rookie season of 2008. He's thrown nine touchdowns and only two interceptions with an average of 365.5 yards per game and 67.7 percent completion percentage. The Packers averaged 36 points in the two games with a 1-1 record.

With so many teams potentially interested in making a—in most cases necessary—quarterback change, Flynn is going to have no shortage of suitors.

The real question is, which teams need to target him rather than a rookie quarterback?

Cleveland Browns

Football czar Mike Holmgren pulled off a similar move with Matt Hasselbeck in Seattle and it certainly wouldn't be shocking to see him do it again.

The Browns have some talent—still need plenty more—but there are legitimate question marks about Colt McCoy's ability to lead this football team as a franchise quarterback.

Cleveland has two picks in the first round of this draft and can do a lot of things. One of their rumored interests would be a mistake, though.

Reports indicate the Browns are entertaining the idea of drafting Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III at No. 4 overall.

Instead, what they could do is sign Flynn and let him compete with McCoy while using the No. 4 and No. 22 picks on a running back and wide receiver.

They Browns are more likely to compete with the latter scenario than developing RG3.

Seattle Seahawks

Tarvaris Jackson has been serviceable, but he's too inconsistent to be counted on as a long-term solution.

The Seahawks are actually putting things together nicely under Pete Carroll and there are only a few more holes left for them to fill. They have a tough decision to make on Marshawn Lynch at running back, but their biggest need still falls on the quarterback position.

Flynn could come in and help this team compete for the NFC West rather quickly.

Their defense is fast and opportunistic and they have a coach who instills belief and excitement in everything they're doing.

Their first-round draft selection is too late (11 or 12 depending on coin flip) to land a top QB anyway without reaching for the No. 3 signal-caller.

Miami Dolphins

Much like the Seahawks, the Dolphins are missing only a few pieces—none more important than quarterback, though.

When they opened the year at 0-7, there was a lot of excitement about their "Suck for Luck" campaign. That quickly disappeared, but Brandon Marshall and Reggie Bush are in the prime of their careers and need a legit signal-caller under center.

At No. 8 or 9, they'll be just out of position to add one of top QBs in the draft and would need to reach for a QB.

They can avoid that by targeting Flynn instead and using their first-round pick to bolster their defense.

Like the Seahawks and Browns, a ready-to-play QB can help them compete immediately rather than waiting for a rookie to develop.