2012 NFL Free Agents: Analyzing the 3 Best Targets at Quarterback

With Super Bowl XLVI now in the rearview mirror and the 2011-12 NFL season officially over, it's now time for all 32 teams (OK, one still has a parade to go to) to get down to the business of preparing for 2012-13.

That work will begin when scouts across the league once again descend on the city of Indianapolis for February's NFL Scouting Combine, after which, on March 13, an annual rite of insanity in the NFL begins: free agency.

There will be hundreds of players hitting the open market that day, including a number of signal-callers, but here's a quick look at the three that will likely generate the most interest across the NFL.

You know, unless you-know-who gets released by the Colts.

Matt Flynn, Green Bay Packers

The fourth-year veteran may not have the resume of some of the other names on this list, but he does possess that mythical quality that makes NFL executives crazy enough to hand Kevin Kolb $63 million: the potential to be their franchise QB of the future.

In a perfect world, the Packers would franchise tag and trade Flynn for picks, a la what the Philadelphia Eagles did with Kolb, but that's not going to happen.

After putting on one hell of an audition with 480 yards and six touchdown passes in Green Bay's regular season finale against the Detroit Lions, Flynn has the tongues of any number of general managers wagging, and he's been linked to several teams, including the Dolphins, Redskins and Browns.

Jason Campbell, Oakland Raiders

Kyle Orton of the Kansas City Chiefs is getting a lot more publicity as a free-agent option this offseason, but if I were a GM looking for help at the position, I might cast my glance a bit farther west.

Oakland Raiders quarterback Jason Campbell was playing some of the better football of his seven-year career before a broken collarbone cut his 2010 season short after six games, completing over 60 percent of his passes while leading the Silver and Black to a surprising 4-2 start.

Then, Campbell got hurt, the Raiders traded for Carson Palmer and that was that.

Campbell reportedly wants the chance to start next season. That's not going to happen in Oakland, and in the humble opinion of this writer, Campbell has significantly more upside than our next entrant.

Kyle Orton, Kansas City Chiefs

Ah, my man Neckbeard.

No offense to Kyle Orton, who has carved out a nice NFL career for himself over seven seasons, including 59 starts, but in Orton, you know what you're getting.

You're getting a serviceable NFL quarterback with a so-so arm and decision-making skills whose QB rating on third down or in the red zone drops so fast you'd think it was Rick Santorum's presidential candidacy.

Orton's a veteran presence and a fairly "smart" signal-caller, so I could see bringing him on board as backup, mentor or "bridge" type, but most recent reports seem to indicate that at least one NFL team is viewing Orton as a Plan B type.

Well, actually, more like Plan G, or maybe J.