2012 NFL Free Agency: Power Ranking the Top 10 Quarterbacks Available

It's almost a given these days that if a team doesn't have a solid quarterback, there's a pretty good chance it's not going anywhere.

This notion is exemplified by the fact that there are only 11 active quarterbacks who have played in the Super Bowl. Just six of those 11 have rings. 

Also, if one looks at all the teams that have been represented at Super Bowls since 2007, there is a common trend of elite quarterbacks playing for both the AFC and NFC champions. It's not a coincidence that with the way the league has changed in becoming more passer friendly, Peyton Manning, Eli Manning, Tom Brady, Kurt Warner, Ben Roethlisberger, Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees are the guys playing in the Super Bowl. 

With free agency approaching, teams will be looking to add depth at the quarterback position. There aren't that many big names available this offseason, but having a decent backup is important if a team's starter gets hurt. It could make the difference whether a team makes the playoffs or not. Just ask the Indianapolis Colts.

And if there are big names on the market this season, they're probably going to stay with their original team. 

The gap between No. 1 and No. 10 is pretty massive, but these 10 quarterbacks will be sought after and each will be expected to have a different role, from elite starter to washed-up backup, with the respective team he signs with. 

1. Drew Brees

After shattering an NFL record for most passing yards in a season with 5,476 yards and notching 46 touchdowns and a 110.6 passer rating, it's hard to argue that Drew Brees isn't a top-three quarterback in the NFL. 

The value he brings to the New Orleans Saints is immeasurable and it'll be hard seeing the superstar quarterback wearing a different jersey this season. Despite not coming to terms with a contract yet, the Saints will at worst place a franchise tag on him to make sure he returns for another year. Don't expect it to get that ugly with Brees and the Saints, though.

The Saints should make Brees their long-term answer and make him the highest paid quarterback in the league. 

2. Alex Smith

Alex Smith is in for a big payday after he had his best season yet, leading the San Francisco 49ers to the NFC Championship Game. If it weren't for a muffed kick by Kyle Williams in overtime, there's a good chance Smith could have been playing in the Super Bowl.

That being said, Smith is nothing close to being an elite quarterback. He only threw 17 touchdowns and had a passer rating hovering around 90. These aren't gaudy numbers and there is no doubt the Niners defense was the main reason why they went so deep in the playoffs.

One thing that Smith doesn't do is turn the ball over. He only threw five interceptions last season, while throwing the ball 445 times, a career high.

The 49ers have a tough decision to make. With Peyton Manning available, do they make a move for an elite quarterback to become front-runners for the Super Bowl, or do they reward Smith with a nice, fat contract after his coming-out season?

3. Matt Flynn

In hindsight, Week 17 for the Green Bay Packers turned out to be a pretty bad one for the storied franchise. Despite winning the game, they let Aaron Rodgers rest and they paid the price in the NFC Divisional Round against the New York Giants. Rodgers was rusty and had an uncharacteristically bad game.

Meanwhile, Matt Flynn came and shattered almost every single Green Bay Packer quarterback record in his only start in the Green and Gold. That start alone meant the Packers were going to have to bid farewell to their trusty backup.

Flynn's unbelievable performance caught the eyes of everyone in the NFL world. There is no doubt that because of the fact he seized the opportunity he received, teams all over the league will give him a look.

It'll be interesting to see if former Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin, who is now the head coach of the Miami Dolphins, recruits him to South Beach, where the quarterback situation has been a mess ever since Dan Marino retired.

4. Donovan McNabb

Cue Toby Keith's "I Ain't As Good As I Once Was" hit country song.

Donovan McNabb was benched this past season by the Minnesota Vikings in favor of rookie Christian Ponder. In six games, McNabb threw four touchdowns and two interceptions along with a 82.9 passer rating.

Realistically, McNabb will be signed and become a backup for a team. He's definitely not a bad choice, either. His experience and veteran leadership could become an asset for a young, developing quarterback.

He has a vast amount of knowledge regarding the game of football and sharing that with a young, up-and-coming gunslinger, while having the chance to take over if things don't go according to plan, is not a bad option at this point. 

5. Jason Campbell

Jason Campbell had an injury-riddled season with the Oakland Raiders in 2011. He did help the Raiders go 4-2 during his six starts, though, throwing six touchdowns and four interceptions.

At the end of the day, we all know what Campbell is. He's consistently had a passer rating in the mid-80s throughout his career. He's going to make plenty of mistakes, and perhaps his days as a starter are numbered after failing to develop into an above-average quarterback.

This season may be his last shot to prove himself as a starter. 

6. Dan Orlovsky

Based on what Dan Orlovsky did three seasons ago in Detroit and this season in Indianapolis, he's definitely not bound to be an NFL starter.

However, his numbers this year in Indy weren't all that terrible and he could become a decent backup somewhere. Orlovsky had six touchdowns and four interceptions along with an 82.4 passer rating and 63.2 completion percentage in eight games with the Colts.

Keep in mind that the Colts were an absolutely atrocious team and he was able to win two games for the team as a starter. That alone should secure a backup job for Orlovsky. 

7. Kyle Orton

The more Tim Tebow won, the faster Kyle Orton's value dropped this season.

Tebow's wins pretty much exemplified that Orton was unable to win with the same exact team. People often criticize Tebow's mechanics, but he had more success running the Denver Broncos than Orton did.

Orton was able to save some face late in the season when he played for the Kansas City Chiefs. His team was the only club to defeat the Green Bay Packers this regular season. In that game, Orton threw for 299 yards and had a passer rating of 104.

He was then able to get revenge on his old team in Week 17 with an ugly 7-3 victory over the Broncos.

These two wins may help Orton get a job as a backup. He may also find himself in a situation where he'll have to compete for a starting job. 

8. Jake Delhomme

Perhaps the Houston Texans should've started seasoned veteran Jake Delhomme in the playoffs rather than T.J. Yates.

Delhomme, after all, had a stunning performance in Week 17 when he threw for 211 yards, a touchdown, no interceptions and had a passer rating of 99. 

Delhomme may be 37, but he can still play and be a nice backup somewhere next season. If he doesn't help on the field, his experience and knowledge will help the team on the sidelines. It's not a bad investment. 

The undrafted Delhomme has fought through so much adversity throughout his career. It wouldn't be a misnomer to call him the Jeremy Lin of the NFL in the early 2000s. He came out of nowhere and led the Carolina Panthers to the Super Bowl. 

That kind of attitude is what teams can use from a quarterback and it would be a shame if Delhomme can't find a place to play.

9. Rex Grossman

Rex Grossman may have a Super Bowl appearance, but that year he was aided by his defense. He threw 20 interceptions, had a 73.6 passer rating and a completion percentage of 54.6.

Since then, not much has changed. This year with the Washington Redskins, he had a passer rating of 72 and threw another 20 interceptions. 

Not many teams will express interest in Grossman this offseason and if they do, it's going to be for a backup position. After his dismal season with the Redskins, it would be a huge surprise to see him start in Week 1 for a team. 

10. Chad Henne

After failing to win a game this season and suffering a season-ending injury, Chad Henne will be lucky to find a starting job next season.

He's never thrown more touchdowns than interceptions in a season and his passer rating is well below 80. 

That said, many teams wouldn't mind to have him as their backup. He's had some success in the league and that should be enough to land him a job somewhere.