Mtjhoyas wrote:So, I'm going out on a limb and saying that reality is probably right in the middle of this debate. That being, Flynn has been a good backup QB, with pretty underwhelming physical skills (I didn't say bad) by starting QB standards, who probably has the ceiling of a low end starting QB. Does this make him terrible? No. Does this make him the GOAT? No.
So, really the question is, how do you think other teams view Flynn? I think if some of you take the time to look at what the Chiefs are looking at, you might get a more grounded version of what Flynn truly is. This time last year, would you want to give GB a 2nd rounder for Flynn? My honest answer is no. I wouldn't mind taking a shot with a 5th rounder.
You're my new favorite poster, I think.
I think Flynn is likely one of the better backup QBs available, and that he would make a decent though uninspiring starting QB for some team. I think he would be about on par with Alex Smith, though with less experience (which is why I decided to respond to the Alex Smith red zone comment with some evidence for Flynn in the red zone). I see the two as not all that different as far as talent level goes.
That doesn't mean he's horrible, but he's probably not worth what he and Alex Smith are getting paid, and he's definitely not worth it if he's just going to hold a clipboard for us. So I think it makes sense to move him if the team can get something out of it (and the prospect of getting a mid-round pick and freeing up a few million in cap room is definitely something).
That said, I see the absolute most we could get for him as being a 2nd round pick. Yes, teams have paid more for unproven guys they hope to turn to starters, but the fact of the matter is that the track record for FA/traded QBs like that isn't stellar. For every Hasselbeck, there's a Scott Mitchell, Kevin Kolb, Jay Fiedler, and Rob Johnson (or even Charlie Whitehurst). That is going to come into play when a QB-needy team starts saying, "Okay, who can we get and how much are we willing to spend?" The only reason I think a 2nd round pick is even within the realm of possibility is because sometimes, GMs are desperate.
I think it's almost a lock that Matt Flynn will be playing for someone else in 2013 (at least I hope he's playing and not just holding a clipboard in different colors). I think it's incredibly likely that the Seahawks will get some trade value for him, so he won't be cut. I also think it's very likely that the trade value will be in the high 4th to high 5th range (maybe even something conditional where if he plays X% of snaps, the pick goes from a 4th to a 3rd or something like that).