2012 NFL Free Agents: Matt Flynn and QBs Not Worth Big Money

With such a focus on passing in today's NFL, there has never been a greater premium placed on quarterbacks. The best way to get a franchise signal caller is through the draft, but not every team has the luxury of a high pick. Because of that, franchises often overpay for mediocre quarterbacks in free agency.

Drew Brees and Alex Smith are both technically on the market, but it would be an absolute shock if the New Orleans Saints and San Francisco 49ers respectively didn't retain them. That leaves a number of unproven or untested gunslingers left out there for teams without a defined starter.

Here are three free-agent quarterbacks who don't deserve the big contracts they may very well receive.

Matt Flynn

Prior to this past season Green Bay Packers' quarterback Matt Flynn had played quite sparingly. With Aaron Rodgers ahead of him on the depth chart, few opportunities presented themselves. He did impress in a narrow loss to the New England Patriots in 2010 when Rodgers was out with a concussion, but aside from that Flynn had mostly been a clipboard holder.

Flynn got his big chance in Week 17 this season, however, as Rodgers sat with the Packers locked into the No. 1 seed in the NFC. Flynn didn't simply play well in the game, he was historically good as he threw for 480 yards and six touchdowns in a win over the Detroit Lions. It may seem silly for a team to bank on one big performance, but it has been done with quarterbacks before, namely when the Buffalo Bills traded for Rob Johnson. Flynn may have some tools, but unless he is surrounded with the weapons he had in Green Bay, he will be set up for failure with a big-money contract.

Kyle Orton

Kyle Orton began to establish himself as a solid starting quarterback in the league as a member of the Denver Broncos with consecutive seasons of at least 3,600 passing yards and 20 touchdowns. After a rough start to his 2011 season, however, he lost his starting job to Tim Tebow and was ultimately waived. The Kansas City Chiefs picked him up and gave him a few starts at the end of the season. He threw just one touchdown in three starts, but did give the Packers their only regular-season loss.

Since Orton has a history of success, it is likely that some team will be willing to make him their starter. Kansas City is a possibility, but with Matt Cassel returning from injury there may not be room for him. Orton is a decent stop-gap option and an elite backup, so giving him decent money on a one-year deal is fine, but he isn't the type of quarterback that can lead a team to the postseason and win. Because of that, he shouldn't get a long-term contract.

Jason Campbell

Jason Campbell is far from an elite NFL quarterback, but he provided a calm presence under center for the Oakland Raiders prior to being lost for the remainder of the season with a broken collarbone in Week 6. Campbell was having a solid year with 1,170 yards and six touchdowns, but it doesn't look like he has a future in Oakland as the Raiders traded for former Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer at the deadline last year.

Some team may take a chance on Campbell, but he is far from a long-term solution. He has only stayed healthy for an entire season twice in his career and has thrown for more than 13 touchdowns in a season just once. In the perfect situation with a great running game and offensive line Campbell might be able to have some success, but he will never be more than a low-level starter in the league.