Matt Flynn: Seattle Seahawks Backup Must Pursue Chance to Start in Offseason

Matt Flynn is one of the most skilled backup quarterbacks in the NFL, but he needs to use the 2013 offseason to find a franchise he can start for.

The 27-year-old signed a three-year, $19.5 million contract last spring—fair money, considering his limited production over five seasons in the league, which were mostly spent behind Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay and now Russell Wilson in Seattle.

While the signal-caller is making plenty for a No. 2 on the depth chart, he likely has aspirations to become an elite player in this league—or at least a starter for some stretch of his career.

Flynn has shown flashes of brilliance during his limited opportunities, with his most notable performance coming back on New Year's Day 2012. The youngster completed 31 of 44 pass attempts for 480 yards, six touchdowns and one interception.

He helped the Packers to victory over their NFC North rivals—the Detroit Lions—and became one of the hottest QBs on the market when free agency opened up a few months later.

That’s not the only time Flynn proved he was a top-notch quarterback, either. He helped his LSU Tigers to a BCS National Championship in 2007 as a fifth-year senior—patiently waiting to earn his chance and succeeding when it finally came.

Flynn has to be hoping his NFL experience will have stark similarities to his collegiate career, in that it took him years to earn a starting nod—but success came almost immediately.

Fortunately for the Tyler, Texas native, there are a number of franchises around the league slated to be seeking a starting QB this offseason. “Black Monday” saw seven coaches and a number of GMs relieved of their positions on losing teams, opening plenty of doors for Flynn to catch on with a new regime—if the Seattle Seahawks are receptive to a trade.

These next few months are critical for Flynn and clearly his greatest chance to become a legitimate No. 1 quarterback in the NFL. He needs to convince the Seahawks to make him available for cheap and just hope for the best.