The-Hogs.net - Washington Football Discussion, Redskins to Commanders Era

The 2011 quarterback market will get interesting when the lockout ends and transactions are allowed. Vince Young and Donovan McNabb will breathe life into unrestricted free agency, while Kevin Kolb, Kyle Orton, and possibly Carson Palmer will become attractive trade targets.

Until then, we can only speculate about the future. The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals is in no hurry to rule on the validity of its temporary stay of the lockout injunction. In the meantime, Chris Wesseling and I will be rolling out position-by-position market analysis.

These will be the most thorough position breakdowns on the internet. We'll touch on every sort of availability, from free agents of all kinds to trade targets and candidates for release.

Let's start with quarterbacks certain to be available after the transactions freeze.

Surefire Quarterback Free Agents

7. Rex Grossman, Redskins

Scouting Report: Grossman has plenty of athleticism and arm strength, but is one of the worst decision-making quarterbacks of our generation. Wildly erratic, the former first-round pick has completed 54.2 percent of his career passes and never topped the 56.0 mark in an individual season. Grossman recorded a 29 on the Wonderlic before the 2003 draft, but his play can be more indicative of a single-digit score. His performances are incredibly unpredictable. One week, Grossman will look like a serviceable NFL starter. He will cost his team a game in the next.

Availability: The Shanahans were itching to play Grossman over Donovan McNabb last year, and play-caller Kyle has an obvious affinity for the onetime Super Bowl starter. The Bengals have also been linked to Grossman, but Washington offers his best path to play time, in addition to coaching staff support. He could conceivably end up battling John Beck for the starting job.

Prediction: Redskins on a one-year, $1.5 million contract.

Release Candidates

1. Vince Young, Titans

Scouting Report: Young's ability to move an offense and win games is not in doubt. He's 30-17 lifetime, only 28 years old, and has rare mobility at the position. Young is a game-breaking athlete with a 20:10 TD-to-INT ratio as a passer over the last two seasons, superb 7.55 YPA, and yards-per-carry average of over 5.0. Mental toughness is not V.Y.'s strong suit, however, and he let his team down last year by admonishing Jeff Fisher in the locker room after a Week 11 loss. This led to a permanent benching, and arguably his coach's ouster in Tennessee. Perhaps a change of scenery is the answer for Young. The Titans have already drafted his replacement.

Availability: Young is due $12.75 million in 2011, and the rest of the NFL is aware of his situation. He will be cut before a $4.25 million roster bonus comes due. At that point, V.Y. will be the top unrestricted free agent quarterback available on the open market. Redskins coach Mike Shanahan has shown an affinity for rehab projects, and his team has a glaring quarterback need.


Prediction: Released, signs with Redskins.




3. Donovan McNabb, Redskins

Scouting Report: McNabb entered the league in 1999 as an elite running quarterback, developed under Andy Reid into a six-time Pro Bowl passer, and bottomed out on the bench in Washington last season. Now going on 35, it's reasonable to wonder if McNabb has much left. Never an especially accurate thrower, McNabb's completion rates have dipped in four straight years, and his conditioning became an issue under Mike Shanahan in D.C. McNabb is likely to enter the 2011 quarterback market without many suitors. He's never been outside a West Coast offense, is in obvious physical decline, and will be viewed as no more than a one-year stopgap.

Availability: The phony six-year contract McNabb signed last November contains a $10 million option bonus for 2011 that won't be paid by the Redskins or any other team. He will be released into unrestricted free agency once transactions are allowed. While the Vikings are rumored to have interest, we suspect they moved on from that idea after drafting Christian Ponder with the 12th overall pick. McNabb must latch on with a team running the West Coast offense.

Prediction: Released, signs with Bengals.

CanesSkins26 wrote:1niksder....if a team traded for Mcnabb, how much would they be on the hook for for 2011?

1niksder wrote:

CanesSkins26 wrote:1niksder....if a team traded for Mcnabb, how much would they be on the hook for for 2011?

$1.75 million Base, $10 million option bonus due after week 1 of the 2011 season, and $750,000 in per-game roster bonuses. To get the whole $750k I believe he has to be on the roster of one of the Super Bowl participants. If he doesn't go to any post season games, he'll make $12,387,500 in 2011. In 2012 he'll be due $25,000 less ($11.5 million base ).

McNabb is also eligible for a $250,000 workout bonus if the lockout ends an he shows up.

In other words any team trading for him will want McNabb to sign a new deal

Kilmer72 wrote:I still think this guy is the answer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_B_yKbNSX0

Chop his mistakes down some and give him protection!!!!!

CanesSkins26 wrote:

1niksder wrote:

CanesSkins26 wrote:1niksder....if a team traded for Mcnabb, how much would they be on the hook for for 2011?

$1.75 million Base, $10 million option bonus due after week 1 of the 2011 season, and $750,000 in per-game roster bonuses. To get the whole $750k I believe he has to be on the roster of one of the Super Bowl participants. If he doesn't go to any post season games, he'll make $12,387,500 in 2011. In 2012 he'll be due $25,000 less ($11.5 million base ).

McNabb is also eligible for a $250,000 workout bonus if the lockout ends an he shows up.

In other words any team trading for him will want McNabb to sign a new deal

$12.3 million? Hmmm...maybe that article isn't that far off about McNabb being released. Considering he is owed that much money he has a lot more bargaining power in this than I thought. With that contract McNabb essentially has veto power over where he goes. I can't imagine there are any teams that would trade for him unless he first agrees to redo the contract.

CanesSkins26 wrote:

1niksder wrote:

CanesSkins26 wrote:1niksder....if a team traded for Mcnabb, how much would they be on the hook for for 2011?

$1.75 million Base, $10 million option bonus due after week 1 of the 2011 season, and $750,000 in per-game roster bonuses. To get the whole $750k I believe he has to be on the roster of one of the Super Bowl participants. If he doesn't go to any post season games, he'll make $12,387,500 in 2011. In 2012 he'll be due $25,000 less ($11.5 million base ).

McNabb is also eligible for a $250,000 workout bonus if the lockout ends an he shows up.

In other words any team trading for him will want McNabb to sign a new deal

$12.3 million? Hmmm...maybe that article isn't that far off about McNabb being released. Considering he is owed that much money he has a lot more bargaining power in this than I thought. With that contract McNabb essentially has veto power over where he goes. I can't imagine there are any teams that would trade for him unless he first agrees to redo the contract.

1niksder wrote:

CanesSkins26 wrote:

1niksder wrote:

CanesSkins26 wrote:1niksder....if a team traded for Mcnabb, how much would they be on the hook for for 2011?

$1.75 million Base, $10 million option bonus due after week 1 of the 2011 season, and $750,000 in per-game roster bonuses. To get the whole $750k I believe he has to be on the roster of one of the Super Bowl participants. If he doesn't go to any post season games, he'll make $12,387,500 in 2011. In 2012 he'll be due $25,000 less ($11.5 million base ).

McNabb is also eligible for a $250,000 workout bonus if the lockout ends an he shows up.

In other words any team trading for him will want McNabb to sign a new deal

$12.3 million? Hmmm...maybe that article isn't that far off about McNabb being released. Considering he is owed that much money he has a lot more bargaining power in this than I thought. With that contract McNabb essentially has veto power over where he goes. I can't imagine there are any teams that would trade for him unless he first agrees to redo the contract.

As of now he is only due $2.3 million for 2011 the $10 million isn't due until the start of week 2. I haven't figured out the reason his option bonus is scheduled so late unless it's only payable by Wahington

On Nov. 15, quarterback Donovan McNabb signed a contract extension that contains a $3.5 million signing bonus, but nothing is guaranteed beyond the 2010 season.

In salary and bonuses this season, McNabb will be paid $14.7 million. The Redskins hold a $10 million contract option for 2011 that they can exercise until the first game of that season, or they could release McNabb and owe him nothing.

If McNabb is on the roster next season - which seems highly doubtful at this point - he would earn about $16.25 million. But considering Friday's developments, McNabb may consider asking the Redskins to release him from his contract.

He would probably have to give back a portion or all of the $3.5 million bonus for the Redskins to consider releasing him. But it may be worth it to McNabb, especially since Coach Mike Shanahan informed him the team would explore options in the draft at the position.

If McNabb is on Washington's roster in 2012 - which seems like a long shot at this point - his base salary of $11.5 million would become guaranteed on the first day of the NFL's cap year, which begins in March. McNabb will turn 36 during that season.

CanesSkins26 wrote:This is from Jason Reid. Not sure all of that makes sense.

On Nov. 15, quarterback Donovan McNabb signed a contract extension that contains a $3.5 million signing bonus, but nothing is guaranteed beyond the 2010 season.

In salary and bonuses this season, McNabb will be paid $14.7 million. The Redskins hold a $10 million contract option for 2011 that they can exercise until the first game of that season, or they could release McNabb and owe him nothing.

If McNabb is on the roster next season - which seems highly doubtful at this point - he would earn about $16.25 million. But considering Friday's developments, McNabb may consider asking the Redskins to release him from his contract.

He would probably have to give back a portion or all of the $3.5 million bonus for the Redskins to consider releasing him. But it may be worth it to McNabb, especially since Coach Mike Shanahan informed him the team would explore options in the draft at the position.

If McNabb is on Washington's roster in 2012 - which seems like a long shot at this point - his base salary of $11.5 million would become guaranteed on the first day of the NFL's cap year, which begins in March. McNabb will turn 36 during that season.

Red_One43 wrote:

Kilmer72 wrote:I still think this guy is the answer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_B_yKbNSX0

Chop his mistakes down some and give him protection!!!!!

Yes, in those highlights he had plenty of time to throw. Grossman can fill in well only if he has a very good O-line. If Grossman or Beck is the QB, that O-line better be shored up in free agency.

Kilmer72 wrote:

Red_One43 wrote:

Kilmer72 wrote:I still think this guy is the answer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_B_yKbNSX0

Chop his mistakes down some and give him protection!!!!!

Yes, in those highlights he had plenty of time to throw. Grossman can fill in well only if he has a very good O-line. If Grossman or Beck is the QB, that O-line better be shored up in free agency.

Agreed...

He showed me something in that Dallas game I haven't seen, in a Redskin quarterback, in a long long time. When he has some time he can actually lead a receiver. He also has that come from behind mentality that we have lacked. Too bad we lost that game. It was almost heroic.

If we can shore up the Oline; I have this feeling that no matter who is back there, we now have a running game. On paper, now that we have more speed and youth, we are looking much better than last year. I wont get my hopes up anymore. The let down is too punishing but I always have my fingers crossed.

DarthMonk wrote:Grossman has made some of the worst decisions I have ever seen a QB make. Decision making is way more important than arm strength or even accuracy. I have seen him repeatedly chuck and duck while simply throwing a ball up for grabs when a sack would have been far superior.

No thanks.

DarthMonk

Red_One43 wrote:

DarthMonk wrote:Grossman has made some of the worst decisions I have ever seen a QB make. Decision making is way more important than arm strength or even accuracy. I have seen him repeatedly chuck and duck while simply throwing a ball up for grabs when a sack would have been far superior.

No thanks.

DarthMonk

I think that Shanny saw some of your observations and that is one of the reasons that Grossman was not signed right after the season.

I also think that your observations are the same reason why Shanny is touting Beck.

Clearly Grossman doesn't have IT, but Grossman proved that he knows the offense enough so that Shanny doesn't have to chop up the playbook.

Would you at least sign Grossman to compete for a job this year?

Red_One43 wrote:

DarthMonk wrote:Grossman has made some of the worst decisions I have ever seen a QB make. Decision making is way more important than arm strength or even accuracy. I have seen him repeatedly chuck and duck while simply throwing a ball up for grabs when a sack would have been far superior.

No thanks.

DarthMonk

I think that Shanny saw some of your observations and that is one of the reasons that Grossman was not signed right after the season.

I also think that your observations are the same reason why Shanny is touting Beck.

Clearly Grossman doesn't have IT, but Grossman proved that he knows the offense enough so that Shanny doesn't have to chop up the playbook.

Would you at least sign Grossman to compete for a job this year?

Red_One43 wrote:

DarthMonk wrote:Grossman has made some of the worst decisions I have ever seen a QB make. Decision making is way more important than arm strength or even accuracy. I have seen him repeatedly chuck and duck while simply throwing a ball up for grabs when a sack would have been far superior.

No thanks.

DarthMonk

I think that Shanny saw some of your observations and that is one of the reasons that Grossman was not signed right after the season.

I also think that your observations are the same reason why Shanny is touting Beck.

Clearly Grossman doesn't have IT, but Grossman proved that he knows the offense enough so that Shanny doesn't have to chop up the playbook.

Would you at least sign Grossman to compete for a job this year?

DarthMonk wrote:I see him as a physically talented backup whom you can't trust with the keys. He's probably too old a dog to learn the new trick of staying out of bad plays when nothing is there.

I say let him go.

DarthMonk

Red_One43 wrote:

DarthMonk wrote:Grossman has made some of the worst decisions I have ever seen a QB make. Decision making is way more important than arm strength or even accuracy. I have seen him repeatedly chuck and duck while simply throwing a ball up for grabs when a sack would have been far superior.

No thanks.

DarthMonk

I think that Shanny saw some of your observations and that is one of the reasons that Grossman was not signed right after the season.

I also think that your observations are the same reason why Shanny is touting Beck.

Clearly Grossman doesn't have IT, but Grossman proved that he knows the offense enough so that Shanny doesn't have to chop up the playbook.

Would you at least sign Grossman to compete for a job this year?