Whether Brock Osweiler belongs alongside free-agent quarterback flops Neil O'Donnell, Scott Mitchell and Matt Flynn will be irrelevant for NFL decision-makers.
Desperation will continue to drive decisions as teams seek solvency at the position. It's why the New England Patriots will have suitors for Jimmy Garoppolo after two career starts. It's why veteran starters deemed expendable in one place will find plush red carpets rolled out for them elsewhere.
Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers and Ben Roethlisberger aren't hitting the market. My top-10 list for the best QBs who could switch teams in 2017 is filled with consolation prizes of varying appeal, from Tony Romo to Colin Kaepernick and a couple longer shots who might not be on your radar.
1. Jimmy Garoppolo, New England Patriots
Signed through: 2017 | Chances for change: Medium
Garoppolo completed 42 of 59 passes for 496 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions in the two games he started this season. His rookie deal runs through 2017 and the Patriots could decide to keep him as Tom Brady's successor. But if they think Brady will play 2-3 more seasons, which seems plausible, they would need to make a decision on Garropolo.
"They will fleece somebody into a bunch of picks," a personnel director predicted. "If they think they have three years with Brady, which is what I'm thinking, why wouldn't you? You are not going to be able to pay Garoppolo unless you do a short-term bridge deal and the kid buys into it. I think they will franchise him [in 2017] and then move him."
Garoppolo appears in the No. 1 spot on this list with some conditions. He faced a big adjustment from his college offense to the system in New England. Keeping him in a similar system and with familiar coaching would increase the odds for success. Will Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels have a head coaching job somewhere soon? Could former Patriots assistant Bill O'Brien be back in the market for a quarterback after the 2017 season?
"People think Cleveland will give up too much for Garoppolo after blowing it by not taking Carson Wentz, who was the perfect AFC North quarterback," a veteran agent said. "If I am the Jets or Browns, Garoppolo will be hard to trade for with one year left on his deal. All Jimmy has to do is wait 16 games and he is sitting pretty. He'll get $20 million a year then."
2. AJ McCarron, Cincinnati Bengals
Signed through: 2017 | Chances for change: Low
The Bengals typically are not wheelers and dealers. McCarron played well enough in limited exposure to make a positive impression. McCarron has completed 102 of 160 passes (63.8 percent) with seven touchdowns, three picks and a 53.0 Total QBR score.
"I think he will stay there," a personnel director said. "That is Cincinnati. They are not a big trade team. I think they like him and someone would have to blow their socks off with a pick."
An agent predicted McCarron would follow the same path Kirk Cousins followed in Washington, biding his time behind a drafted starter.
"We do not know what Andy Dalton will be a couple years from now," this agent said. "The Bengals could franchise-tag McCarron in the fifth year if they wanted."
3. Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys
Signed through: 2019 | Chance for change: Medium-high
No quarterback on this list comes close to matching Romo for credentials, but it's tough ranking Romo at the top given the mitigating factors.
Romo turns 37 in April. He has not played more than four games in a season since 2014. He has a $14 million salary for 2017. The Cowboys could save money under the cap by trading or releasing Romo, but they would still be on the hook for millions.
"There will be a market for him," a personnel director said. "No one will take on that contract -- that would shock me. If the Cowboys trade him, you have to rework the deal or Jerry will just cut him outright."
Will Romo even want to play elsewhere? He would be a poor fit for a rebuilding team. The Denver Broncos like Trevor Siemian and drafted Paxton Lynch. Could Houston be in play even with Osweiler still on the books for the 2017 season?
"Can you flush all that money, say we were wrong and then come back with Romo?" a personnel director asked.
4. Mike Glennon, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Signed through: 2016 | Chances for change: High
Glennon put up decent numbers in 18 starts and will hit the market this offseason, meaning the acquiring team would not have to trade for him. That pushes him up the list. He turns 27 in December.
"The two most intriguing guys are Garoppolo and Glennon because they are the Brock Osweilers of the class," an agent said. "How do you hand the keys to an unproven guy after what happened with Osweiler in Houston?"
Because you're desperate, that's how. An agent said he thought Arizona would pursue Glennon this offseason depending upon how the Cardinals feel about Carson Palmer at that time.
"Glennon would give them some youth and he can put the ball downfield a little bit," this agent said. "The difference between Glennon and some of these other guys is that Glennon is available."
Glennon completed 58.3 percent of his passes with 28 touchdowns, 15 interceptions and a 57.5 Total QBR score in his 18 starts. The Buccaneers went only 5-13 in those games. They allowed 19.6 points per game in the five victories and 29.5 points per game in the losses. Tampa Bay ranked 28th in points scored and 27th in points allowed over the span encompassing Glennon's starts.
5. Colin Kaepernick, San Francisco 49ers
Signed through: 2016 | Chances for change: High
Kaepernick looked like a rising star when the 49ers were loaded with talent throughout their roster. His stock has plummeted as the 49ers' roster has fallen apart around him. The 49ers benched him during their blowout loss at Chicago on Sunday. It wasn't even the biggest Kaepernick story of the season, but it could improve the likelihood he reaches the market.
Kaepernick has the ability to void his recently reworked contract after the season -- and an NFL.com report over the weekend suggested he'll do just that. His high-profile political stances and commentary could eliminate some teams from the equation, especially now that Kaepernick is no longer universally seen as an ascending talent.
"Whew, who wants that headache?" a personnel evaluator asked. "Low market."
On the other hand, Kaepenrick had completed 59.3 percent of his passes with eight touchdowns, two picks and a 65.6 Total QBR score during a four-game stretch heading into Sunday. He turned 29 recently and has a 31-29 starting record, counting playoffs.
6. Robert Griffin III, Cleveland Browns
Signed through: 2017 | Chances for change: Medium-high
Griffin is getting healthy and could use the final few games to build his case for factoring in Cleveland or elsewhere. At 26 and given his pedigree, he could conceivably develop into a long-term starter -- unlike most of the players listed lower here.
The Browns will have plenty of cap room to carry Griffin's $6 million salary and $1.5 million roster bonus next season, but moving on from Griffin would be painless if they acquired another quarterback this offseason. Griffin is not necessarily in the mentor category at this point.
"I could see the Browns cutting him and someone picking him up as a backup," a personnel evaluator said.
Perceptions could change quickly, particularly if Griffin were to help the Browns win a game or two, something they have yet to do this season.
7. Jay Cutler, Chicago Bears
Signed through: 2020 | Chances for change: Medium-high
Cutler's contract carries no guaranteed money past this season, clearing the way for the Bears to cut ties if they feel strongly about making a change.
"There will be a medium market for him," a personnel evaluator said. "I'm still not sold that Chicago is going to get rid of him. What are your options? You go get Glennon? You go all in on Garoppolo? I'm sure Bill Belichick will take the third pick in the draft."
Cutler is never going to be the leader who pulls together a locker room through the force of his personality. However, he has always won when the Bears were good on defense. Chicago went 27-13 with Cutler starting from 2010-12, when Lovie Smith's defense was in top form. The Bears have gone 17-29 with Cutler starting since then even though Cutler's QBR score and passer rating have improved. The defensive collapse in Chicago has dragged him down.
"A great defense, strong run game and a great offensive head coach would give Cutler a chance to win," a personnel director said. "Unfortunately, there are not many places like that."
Injuries are increasingly a concern for Cutler as well. He presumably will not become more durable with age. Cutler turns 34 in April.
8. Ryan Fitzpatrick, New York Jets
Signed through: 2017 (voids after '16) | Chances for change: High
Divorce appears imminent for the Jets and Fitzpatrick. Theirs is a marriage of convenience for the season's remainder.
"He will change teams, but will not start," a personnel director predicted.
Fitzpatrick exceeded outside expectations in 2015 when the Jets were healthier at receiver and along their offensive line, and when their defense ranked among the NFL's top 10 in key categories. He has fallen off a statistical cliff with much less help from his supporting cast, and after a contract dispute kept him from reporting to the team on time.
No one will mistake Fitzpatrick for a top QB, but the teams that couldn't wait to dump him in recent seasons -- first Tennessee, then Houston -- did not immediately improve at the positon. There are no guarantees for the Jets, either.
"You can compete with him if you manage him right," a former general manager said.
9. Nick Foles, Kansas City Chiefs
Signed through: 2017 | Chances for change: Medium
Foles' salary jumps from $1.25 million this season to $10.4 million next season. That doesn't necessarily mean the Chiefs will release him. Foles is a great fit in Kansas City based on Andy Reid's history with him. If Foles stays, he could provide insurance in case Alex Smith suffers another concussion or declines unexpectedly.
In other words, Foles probably has more value to the Chiefs than he would have elsewhere. It's tough to envision another team anointing him as its starter, although Foles does have a 20-16 record as a starter in the regular season. Foles had 27 touchdowns with two interceptions during the 2013 season. He has 29 touchdowns with 27 picks over the rest of his career.
10. Brian Hoyer, Chicago Bears
Signed through: 2016 | Chances for change: Medium-high
Hoyer improbably posted a 10-6 starting record with the Cleveland Browns from 2013-14, but his individual stats were middling. Hoyer produced more efficiently during a nine-start run with the Texans. He tossed 19 touchdowns with seven interceptions and a 56.1 Total QBR score while winning five of those nine regular-season starts. But his leading role in a 30-0 postseason defeat to Kansas City set in motion a series of events with regrettable consequences for all involved.
Hoyer was out. Osweiler was in. Less than a year later, both still could be looking for the right match. They are not alone.
The Cousins wild card
Cousins has no contract for the 2017 season, but it's a longshot he'll get away. The Redskins will either sign him to a long-term contract or use the franchise tag to keep him. Another team would have the ability to sign Cousins as a franchise player, but the price in salary and draft-choice compensation appears prohibitive.
Other names: Blaine Gabbert, Case Keenum, Ryan Mallett, EJ Manuel, Mark Sanchez, Matt Schaub, Geno Smith, Josh McCown, Colt McCoy, Tyrod Taylor, Kirk Cousins, Shaun Hill, Landry Jones, Luke McCown, Chase Daniel.