Free Agency Options Chiefs should consider: QBs
It’s no secret the Kansas City Chiefs are in desperate need of a new quarterback who can lead this team. The question is which available quarterbacks should the Chiefs go after? In this series we’ve been focused entirely on Free Agents. For the purpose of this post we’ll focus on QBs expected to be available via trade or free agency.
Nov.25, 2012; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins quarterback Matt Moore (8) during the first half against the Seattle Seahawks at Sun Life Stadium. The Dolphins won 24-21. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Let’s skip the ridiculousness and just assume that Matt Cassel and Brady Quinn will not be Chiefs next year. This leaves Ricky Stanzi who some feel is capable, but hasn’t proven this yet. The Chiefs are therefore looking for a new starting quarterback as well as a capable backup.
Here are the most likely options:
- Alex Smith, 49ers
- Nick Foles, Eagles
- Matt Moore, MIA (FA)
- Vince Young, Unsigned (FA)
I wrote an extensive article on Alex Smith, you can view it here. For the purpose of comparisons, let’s use His ‘rookie’ year.
Alex Smith has played for seven years in San Francisco. He is 28 years old. In that time San Francisco has gone through several head coaches and it hasn’t been until the last few years under Harbaugh that things have stabilized. Smith is due a $7.5 million salary from the 49ers and will be guaranteed if he is not traded or released by April 1st. Smith’s first year in 2005 was similar to Foles. He played 9 games, 165 pass attempts, 1 TD, 11 INT, and a QB rating of 40.8. Smith’s career QB rating is 79.1 with 81 TD and 63 INT.
Nick Foles is 24-years old and entering his 2nd year. He played with the Philadelphia Eagles and Head Coach Andy Reid and Offensive Coordinator Doug Pederson so that should give him a definite advantage. He has three years left on his Rookie contract. In 2012 he played in 7 games with 161 pass attempts, 6 TD, 5 INT, and a QB rating of 79.1.
Matt Moore is in his fifth year in the league, playing three years for the Carolina Panthers and the last two for the Miami Dolphins. He is 28 years old. In 2007, his first year in Carolina, he played in 9 games, had 111 pass attempts, 3 TD, 5 INT, and a QB rating of 67. Moore’s career QB rating is 80.5 with 33 TD and 26 INT.
Vince Young has played six years in the league and is currently unsigned. He is 29 years old. He played five years for the Tennessee Titans, and in 2011 played for the Eagles. In Young’s first year in Tennessee he played 15 games, had 357 pass attempts, 12 TD, 13INT, and a QB rating of 66.7. Young’s career QB rating is 74.4 with 46 TD and 51 INT.
Since Foles and Young played on the same team in subsequent years that makes for a good comparison. Young played in 6 games, had 114 pass attempts, 4 TD, 9 INT, and 60.8 rating. Foles played in 7 games, had 161 pass attempts, 6 TD, 5 INT, and 79.1 rating.
After reviewing the numbers, I think Matt Moore and Nick Foles are both better options than Alex Smith. However, if Alex Smith gets cut, which he almost certainly will, he’d make a great backup. There is currently a large vacuum of starting quarterbacks in the NFL, but I really hope the Chiefs can land two quality guys and let them compete. Moore or Foles as a starter, with Smith or Young as backup would be a good start for our Chiefs. Even if all of this occurs, I still think the Chiefs should take a quarterback with the #1 pick; more on that in another article.