NFL News and Rumors: Washington Redskins' 5 Possible QB Starters

As soon as head coach Mike Shanahan benched Donovan McNabb for backup quarterback Rex Grossman, Redskins fans and personnel alike knew that move could only mean one thing: McNabb is on his way out of Washington.

Since season's end, questions have swirled about who Shanahan will choose to replace the former Eagle, who most recently worked out for the Arizona Cardinals. If the Redskins can't find a trade partner for McNabb, they'll likely release him, meaning they'll need to either sign a free agent quarterback or promote someone internally. If the Redskins choose the latter, it appears as though they'll name John Beck their starter for the season.

Either way, McNabb is likely out of the nation's capital.

Keeping that in mind, here are five possible starters for the Washington Redskins' 2011 season.

John Beck

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - AUGUST 27: John Beck #3 of the Washington Redskins in action against the New York Jets during their preseason game on August 27, 2010 at the New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images

John Beck is the Redskins' apparent first choice for quarterback, at least for now.

When Beck arrived in Washington, following a training-camp trade with the Baltimore Ravens last August, he immediately impressed Shanahan. In an interview with The Washington Post, Shanahan went on the record about Beck, saying "...He has not disappointed me since he’s been here."

During his days of college ball at BYU, Beck demonstrated that he had a strong, accurate arm and good knowledge of the game. Despite his horrid performance during the Senior Bowl, the Miami Dolphins took a chance on Beck and drafted him in the second round of the 2007 draft.

Beck started four games for the Dolphins that year, finishing with one touchdown pass and three interceptions. After the 2007 season, he never appeared in another game for either the Dolphins or the Ravens.

Starting Beck would be a huge risk for the Redskins, but they appear willing to take it.

Rex Grossman

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LANDOVER, MD - JANUARY 02: Quarterback Rex Grossman #8 of the Washington Redskins throws a pass in the fourth quarter of a game against the New York Giants at FedEx Field on January 2, 2011 in Landover, Maryland. The Giants won the game 17-14. (Photo by

Just last Wednesday, Rex Grossman told members of the media that, entering the 2011 season, he believes he is the team's starting quarterback. Although he is not under contract for next year, Grossman told ESPN 980 radio that he thinks the Redskins will re-sign him.

Grossman, who started the team's final three games after the demise of McNabb, is more familiar with the team's offense, as this is his third season working under Kyle Shanahan's system. In his three starts after McNabb was yanked, he threw four touchdowns against Dallas, led the team to a victory against the playoff-contending Jaguars and gave the Giants a run for their money as well.

It's tough to imagine another team offering Grossman a starting job, other than the Redskins of course, and he is a cheaper option than some of the other free-agent quarterbacks on the market.

Bringing Grossman back to Washington may be a better option for the Redskins.

Vince Young

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MIAMI - NOVEMBER 14: Quarterback Vince Young #10 of the Tennessee Titans throws against the Miami Dolphins at Sun Life Stadium on November 14, 2010 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Marc Serota/Getty Images)

On May 6th, journalist Omar Kelly, a reporter with the South Florida Sun Sentinel, reported that the Redskins were the front-runner for Vince Young's services; something that maybe isn't as far fetched as it initially sounds.

Although the Titans cut him because of his maturity issues and frequent clashes with then-coach Jeff Fisher, Young made the Titans winners. Tennessee was 30-17 with Young as their quarterback and 15-18 without him.

Although taking a chance on Young could jeopardize the team's 2011 season, Redskins fans know that Dan Snyder is never one to allow time for his team to develop. Snyder likes winning and would prefer to do so without wasting a season for development. Thus, the team will likely take a long, hard look at acquiring him.

Matt Hasselbeck

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CHICAGO, IL - JANUARY 16: Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck #8 of the Seattle Seahawks looks to pass against the Chicago Bears in the 2011 NFC divisional playoff game at Soldier Field on January 16, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Although Hasselbeck is nowhere near the player he once was, the Redskins will likely take a long look into signing him as the team's starting quarterback this season.

Over the past two seasons, Hasselbeck has thrown 29 touchdowns and 34 interceptions, as well as posting a 12-23 record with the Seahawks since 2008. Regardless, Hasselbeck seems to be the cream of the crop of this year's free-agent class.

Hasselbeck has smooth footwork and is extremely good at identifying the defense pre-snap. He is also one of the best quarterbacks in all of the NFL at selling pump fakes. One of Hasselbeck's weaknesses, however, is his unwillingness to throw the ball away when under pressure, hence his high number of interceptions in recent seasons.

Still, if the Redskins were able to land a talented veteran quarterback such as Hasselbeck, they'd likely consider their offseason more of a success than if they were to enter the season with the untested Beck.

Marc Bulger

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DETROIT , MI - NOVEMBER 01: Marc Bulger #10 of the St. Louis Rams throws a second quarter pass while playing the Detroit Lions on November 1, 2009 at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Marc Bulger, who is currently serving as a backup quarterback for the Baltimore Ravens, is a smart veteran player and another option for the Redskins at the quarterback position.

Some of Bulger's strong points include his quick release, which is one of the fastest of all NFL quarterbacks, and his drop-back footwork. He has also been one of the more consistent short passers.

But a major setback for Bulger is his lack of arm strength and undersized stature; something the Redskins will definitely address if their other options for quarterback don't pan out. Although he is not the same player that he was for St. Louis during his prime, Bulger is still a very good option for the quarterback-less Redskins.