2012 NFL Free Agents: Which QBs Will Teams Be Targeting?

The 2011 NFL season proved just how important the passing game is in today's day in age. We saw three quarterbacks reach 5,000 yards and three QBs reach 40 touchdowns.

That's unheard of. 

More than ever, if teams want to win, they need to find themselves a solid, if not elite, quarterback. 

Luckily for teams that struggled through the air (ahem, Seahawks, Dolphins, Redskins), there are some very good options in free agency this year. 

Especially if they don't land Andrew Luck or Robert Griffin III

A Nice Summer Brees

New Orleans saints QB Drew Brees had quite possibly the best offensive season ever for a quarterback, as he threw for 5,476 yards (a new single-season record), 46 touchdowns and just 14 interceptions.

Teams will be chomping at the bit to get a chance to sign Brees when he technically becomes a free agent in March, but there is little-to-no chance they will ever get that shot. 

Simply put, the Saints would be crazy to let their franchise quarterback walk. He'll make max money, but if Michael Vick is worth it, then so is Brees. 

Expect the Saints to give him Peyton Manning-type money. That will make it tough to sign guys like Carl Nicks and Marques Colston, but that really doesn't matter. 

Brees could probably just play quarterback, guard and wide receiver if he needed to.

System Quarterback?

Alex Smith proved last week against the Saints that he can really let it loose and throw the ball down the field.

But can he do that with consistency like the elite QBs can?

He's been successful this season—his first real successful season in the NFL—because the 49ers rely on defense and Smith just manages the game, but that's not going to work for most teams.

To be fair, he's done a standout job at doing what he's been asked, throwing just five interceptions for a QB rating of 90.7, ninth best in the league. 

And to further back up Smith, he's led his team to the NFC Conference Championship Game, and a lot of quarterbacks never do that in their career.

But the question remains: Can he do it without an elite defense? Would he be able to put forth this type of season with just a "good" defense?

Smith is going to get a lot of money, but unless he stays in the Niners' system, it's unlikely he ends up being worth it.

One-Hit Wonder?

Not a whole lot of people were talking about Green Bay QB Matt Flynn until Week 17 of the season. He filled in for Aaron Rodgers and threw for 480 yards and six touchdowns against a solid Lions defense.

Wow.

That one day of work for Flynn pretty much made him millions of dollars. With Aaron Rodgers in town, there is no reason for the Packers to keep Flynn around at his new asking price.

Look for the Seahawks, Redskins or Dolphins to make a risky move for the mostly unproven Flynn in the offseason.