A Free Agent QB Wish List

Now that the JaMarcus Russell experiment has clearly failed miserably (apparently, even Al's quietly supporting the notion), a lot of commentary has been produced about what kind of move the Raiders could decide to make in the draft. It's highly likely the Raiders will be making a pick in the top ten this year, and many have speculated that Notre Dame standout Jimmy Clausen or Oklahoma's Sam Bradford could be top candidates for consideration. The clear alternative would be giving one of our other current QB's a shot at full-season starter. Gradkowski's given this team a breath of life, to be certain, but I don't see him as a long-term solution to bring back the glory days.

With this in mind, I've created a list of field general free agents to be, though it's very likely some of them won't make it to the open market.

1. Kyle Orton - Without a doubt, Orton would be the most desirable free agent quarterback on the market. However, it's very unlikely, given the success he's had in Denver, that he will be allowed to walk away or even test the free agency waters. Couple this with the fact that Orton was probably terrified of free agency only a year ago, and it seems highly likely that he'll stay a Bronco for years to come. It's also worth mentioning that he's hardly a prototype player in Al Davis' strong-armed system. He's a smart, check-down passer, not a long ball type.


2. Tarvaris Jackson - Many would argue that the quarterback in the #3 spot here would be a better choice, but I would love to see what Tarvaris Jackson could do in a new system. Not that the Oakland system would be the very best for him, but a new coach with a new offensive coordinator could build around a mobile passer and really make some interesting things happen. He's shown a lot of spunk coming off the bench, which means he's committed and hard-working, something we can't say about our current not-so-mobile passer. Unfortunately, he'll only become a restricted free agent if a new Collective Bargaining Agreement isn't reached. Even if it isn't reached, the Vikings will likely do what they can to keep him locked up.

3. Jason Campbell - He's taken a lot of heat in D.C., but there's no denying that he's been better than what we've been looking at for the past five seasons or so. He had a career game against the New Orleans Saints defense that has been a turnover machine this season, which is a sure sign that he's got the right stuff, when used correctly. Let's face it, the offense of the Redskins was a mess this season, and they can't really know what they have until they get it resolved. Should they decide to look another way (early suggestions point to Bradford), I wouldn't be all that disappointed to see Oakland give him a chance at competing for the starting role.

4. David Carr - Most members of the Nation would probably rather not consider this scenario, but in reality it could be a great fit. He's had a great deal of success as a backup in New York (as much as a rarely used backup can enjoy) and he's got that strong arm that Al loves. It's almost unfair to judge him from his years in Houston, as in those days he was setting sack records all the time. Sometimes it didn't look like they were using an offensive line. This would be a great pickup by the Raiders if they can get him for a reasonable price. Worst case scenario, we get a reliable backup.

Now that the possible free agents are out of the way, there's a few potential cast-off's that could also be interesting fits in Oakland.

1. Sage Rosenfels - If Brett Favre somehow manages to get another season in, and Tarvaris Jackson stays put, they are going to have so much money tied up in the QB position that they will simply have to make a cut somewhere. That cut could end up being Rosenfels. Expected to take the starting role prior to the Favre saga, Sage showed some great stuff in his backup role with Houston, and could really bring a great mental presence (not to mention some leadership) to a team that's needed some for years. If I had to pick one of any of these QBs, free agents or not, this may very well end up being my pick. He's got a lot of good years left in him and some unseen potential.

2. Michael Vick - Well, the heat's blown over, no one's pissed anymore and it wouldn't seem quite so typical for the Raiders to take a chance on him. The Eagles sure as hell have no good use for him, so why not send him off into the sunset to clear some cap space? They got him for dirt cheap this season, but if they pick up his option he gets a bit more pricey. I've always felt a mobile passer like Vick or Vince Young would be a great look for Oakland. This would be a bit of a risky move, however, as we still haven't gotten a great look at whether this guy still has the goods or not.

In case you're still looking for an answer, here's the rest of the expected free agent QBs to come, along with the team they currently are signed with and their ages.

Charlie Batch, Pittsburgh Steelers (35)
Kyle Boller, St. Louis Rams (29)
Brodie Croyle, Kansas City Chiefs (27)
Daunte Culpepper, Detroit Lions (33)
Rex Grossman, Houston Texans (30)
Joey Harrington, New Orleans Saints (31)
Jon Kitna, Dallas Cowboys (37)
Matt Moore, Carolina Panthers (26) – Restricted FA
Chris Redman, Atlanta Falcons (33)
Brett Ratliff, Cleveland Browns (25) – Exclusive Rights FA
Troy Smith, Baltimore Ravens (26) – Restricted FA