NFL Free Agency: Where Will Seattle Seahawks QB Matt Hasselbeck Land in 2011?

It may only be the first round of the playoffs, but it is never to early to start talking about free agency, which features quite an exciting group of players this season, including Matt Hasselbeck.

Hasselbeck has been the starter for the Seattle Seahawks since 2001 and was integral to their Super Bowl run back in 2005.

It is true that Hasselbeck has been an average quarterback at best during his career and has been in a bit of a decline as of late, but he is still a better option than a handful of quarterbacks in the league.

He is also a great veteran who would be very good at teaching a rookie or a young quarterback the ropes if need be.

If relegated to a backup role, he would be one of the best backup quarterbacks in the NFL and would be helpful to teams in many ways.

So, here are the Top 10 options for Matt Hasselbeck's new team at the start of the 2011 season.

10. Cleveland Browns

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CLEVELAND, OH - JANUARY 02: Quarterback Colt McCoy #12 of the Cleveland Browns fumbles the ball after being hit by defensive end Brett Keisel #99 of the Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns Stadium on January 2, 2011 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Mat

Cleveland has two quarterbacks that the fan base isn't very fond of, and a third that still has a lot to learn in the NFL.

The people of Cleveland were never very fond of the acquisition of Jake Delhomme and Seneca Wallace, and their performance this season didn't do much to bolster their support.

Colt McCoy has shown promise, but he still has a long way to go to be an everyday starting quarterback.

Matt Hasselbeck would give them a veteran that is more reliable than either Delhomme or Wallace, which would give McCoy time to progress as a quarterback and give the team time to get into a stride.

9. Miami Dolphins

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FOXBORO, MA - JANUARY 02: Vince Wilfork #75 of the New England Patriots pressures Chad Henne #7 of the Miami Dolphins on January 2, 2011 at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

The jury is still out when it comes to Chad Henne.

He had a decent season this year, with a 61 percent completion percentage and over 3,000 yards, but he is still quite a sloppy quarterback, throwing 19 interceptions against only 15 touchdowns.

Hasselbeck would provide either a backup to be put in when Henne gets shaky or a fill-in starter for a season, so Henne can get a year behind a veteran to learn.

8. Cincinnati Bengals

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BALTIMORE, MD - JANUARY 2: Carson Palmer #9 of the Cincinnati Bengals passes against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on January 2, 2011 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Ravens lead the Bengals 6-0 at the half. (Photo by Larry French/Getty Images)

The NFL scholars and the fans around Cincinnati are growing weary of Carson Palmer.

He has not been the same ever since he had Tommy John surgery a few seasons ago, and due to internal problems, he has not really been called out on it.

If Hasselbeck is willing to take a job as a high-paid backup, this would give the Bengals a person to threaten Carson Palmer with.

They would finally have a reliable backup to put in if he has a string of miserable quarters in a row or even 10 losses in a row, as they had this season, with a backup coming in for only three passes in that stretch.

Did I mention that said backup was Palmer's younger brother Jordan? He's not exactly a threat to usurp his brother's starting spot.

7. San Francisco 49ers

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SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JANUARY 2: Alex Smith #11 of the San Francisco 49ers passes against the Arizona Cardinals during an NFL game at Candlestick Park on January 2, 2011 in San Francisco, California.(Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

The San Francisco 49ers have just gotten rid of one of the most indecisive coaches in recent history, but with the quarterbacks he had, it was easy to be indecisive.

Alex Smith was decent this season, Troy Smith showed flashes of brilliance and David Carr ended up injured.

With Hasselbeck, they would have a guy that would be the main backup, with no wishy-washy thoughts in between.

6. Carolina Panthers

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ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 02: Quarterback Jimmy Clausen #2 of the Carolina Panthers looks on from the sidelines during the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Georgia Dome on January 2, 2011 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

With the Panthers unable to get Andrew Luck, due to his remaining in school, they are stuck with the terrific duo of Jimmy Clausen and Matt Moore.

On the Panthers, Hasselbeck would be the starter, as they are already ready to give up on Jimmy Clausen as a guy that can go with no experience as a backup and Matt Moore, who is hapless.

Hasselbeck would give them time to re-group and avoid making a huge reach in this draft for a quarterback that is going to be hit-or-miss, like Jake Locker or Ryan Mallett.

It would allow them to be a decent team for the coming season and see what happens with the draft a year from now or see how well Clausen develops.

5. Minnesota Vikings

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DETROIT, MI - DECEMBER 13: Tavaris Jackson #7 of the Minnesota Vikings looks for a open receiver while playing the New York Giants at Ford Field on December 13, 2010 in Detroit, Michigan. New York won the game 21-3. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

The Vikings just lost one old guy, so why not grab another to take his place while they decide what to do with their team.

They have viable options in Tavaris Jackson and Joe Webb, but neither look to be able to take a team to the playoffs, while Hasselbeck still seems able to.

Hasselbeck will bring a veteran presence to the team without any of the baggage that came along with Brett Favre.

4. Arizona Cardinals

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GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 05: Quarterback Derek Anderson #3 of the Arizona Cardinals throws a pass during the NFL game against the St. Louis Rams at the University of Phoenix Stadium on December 5, 2010 in Glendale, Arizona. The Rams defeated the Cardinals

The Cardinals are nearly a lost cause, but at least, Hasselbeck could make their receivers a bit happier.

With the likes of Derek Anderson, John Skelton and Max Hall creating a trio of quarterbacks on their team, they are going nowhere fast, and it's aggravating to their offense—that was once magnificent.

Hasselbeck would be a huge improvement over any of the three listed above, and with none of them looking like the future of their franchise, it wouldn't be a bad idea to go with Hasselbeck.

It would also rejuvenate Larry Fitzgerald, who looked like he was going to cry all season long after going from Kurt Warner as a quarterback to Derek Anderson.

3. Seattle Seahawks

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TAMPA, FL - DECEMBER 26: Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck #8 of the Seattle Seahawks jogs during warmups before the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on December 26, 2010 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by J. Meric/Getty Images)

Hasselbeck has been the starting quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks since 2001, except for a game here and there and most of the 2008 season.

He peaked at the perfect time in 2005 which propelled the Seahawks to the Super Bowl and was a good quarterback for them until 2008, when he took a decline.

Hasselbeck rebounded enough in the past two seasons to continue to be a decent starting quarterback and could still do it for a few more years at least.

If they want to go with Charlie Whitehurst, then they shouldn't resign him, but if they are uncertain, then he should be their guy until they have a definite plan for the future.

2. ESPN

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TAMPA, FL - FEBRUARY 01: (L-R) The ESPN pregame show with host Mike Tirico and analysts Trent Dilfer, Steve Young and Ron Jaworski before Super Bowl XLIII on February 1, 2009 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images

The slide says ESPN, but it might as well be Fox NFL Sunday/NFL Live/NFL on CBS/NBC Sunday Night Football.

Hasselbeck is the perfect television guy. He was a decent quarterback for the majority of his career and can provide the on-the-field insight a-la Trent Dilfer.

Countless other washed-up quarterbacks have joined an NFL preview/analysis show and have done a great job extending their career in sports. Why couldn't Hasselbeck do it?

1. Tennessee Titans

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KANSAS CITY, MO - DECEMBER 26: Quarterback Kerry Collins #5 of the Tennessee Titans warms-up prior to the start of the game against the Kansas City Chiefs on December 26, 2010 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty I

Jeff Fisher is coming back for the Tennessee Titans, which means Vince Young will not be coming back to play quarterback for the Titans.

Their only other option at quarterback right now is Kerry Collins, who is going to turn 39 next season, and Rusty Smith...who is Rusty Smith.

Collins did decent this year when playing, but he went 4-7 as their quarterback this season.

Hasselbeck would be the perfect bridge between the present and the future, as they could sign him on for longer than Collins, who has a year of decent play left in him at best.

It would give them plenty of time to figure out a game plan for the future and scout their future quarterback while their team at least stays afloat.