San Francicso 49ers: Under The Radar QB Options

There have been plenty of ideas on who the Niners should go get to be their quarterback for next year and their QB of the future.

There has been a lot of talk of trading for Kevin Kolb or Carson Palmer or waiting for Donovan McNabb to be cut and signing him.

Also, it has been suggested that they sign Matt Leinart (who likely would have been the 49ers pick had he not returned to college for another year) or Marc Bulger.

Here are a few names that have gone under the radar throughout most of these talks.

Dennis Dixon, RFA

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PITTSBURGH - SEPTEMBER 12: Dennis Dixon #10 of the Pittsburgh Steelers drops back to pass against the Atlanta Falcons during the NFL season opener game on September 12, 2010 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Ima

Dixon does have a lot of potential and athleticism and is still young, but seems to struggle to put everything together. The Steelers have kept both Charlie Batch and Byron Leftwich close to the team and this makes me think they they do not have a lot of confidence in him.

Maybe a change of scenery and a chance to compete for a starting job could help him maximize his talents.

Mike Kafka, Philadelphia Eagles

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CINCINNATI - AUGUST 20: Mike Kafka #3 of the Philadelphia Eagles runs with the ball during the NFL preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on August 20, 2010 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

If the Eagles aren't willing to deal Kevin Kolb, maybe they would deal Mike Kafka, their third string QB.

The downside is there is no body of work in the NFL to judge him on, so it would be about the same risk as drafting a rookie QB.

The upside is that he has had a year in the NFL working under Andy Reid and Marty Mornhinweg who run a west coast offense.

Caleb Hanie, RFA

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CHICAGO, IL - JANUARY 23: Caleb Hanie #12 of the Chicago Bears looks to pass against the Green Bay Packers in the second half in the NFC Championship Game at Soldier Field on January 23, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

He is a little bit of an unknown as well, but in the NFC championship game he almost led a comeback. He is however a RFA and the Bears may be inclined to keep him with Jay Cutler's popularity among the Chicago fans at an all time low.

Tyler Thigpen, FA

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MIAMI - NOVEMBER 14: Quarterback Tyler Thigpen #16 of the Miami Dolphins passes against the Tennessee Titans at Sun Life Stadium on November 14, 2010 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Marc Serota/Getty Images)

Like Dixon, Thigpen is a very athletic QB. In 2008, he played in 14 games, starting 11, and threw for 2,608 yards with 18 TDs and 12 INTs. Also he ran for and additional 386 yards and three touchdowns. After that season Tony Gonzalez campaigned for him, but was traded and the Chiefs acquired Matt Cassel from the Patriots.

He is still young at 26 and could be a nice option for a reasonable price.

(May be a RFA, under old CBA would be an RFA in an uncapped year and an UFA in a capped year.)

Brian Hoyer, New England Patriots

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FOXBORO, MA - JANUARY 02: Brian Hoyer #8 of the New England Patriots passes the ball in the third quarter against the Miami Dolphins on January 2, 2011 at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Like most of these players there is a small sample size to judge Hoyer on, but New England seems to like him as a QB so I am sold.

This is the same system that produced Tom Brady and Matt Cassel.

I don't know what it would take to acquire Brian Hoyer, but for a third round pick I would take a player who has studied two years under Brady over a rookie.