Two Surprise QBs to start after Free Agency Adam Graybill, Fantasy Football Guest Writer Jul 24, 2011 | More
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I’m right in the middle of the Vince Young argument. While I completely disagree with sentiment that Young is one of ‘the best’ free agents on the market, I have to say that it is complete insanity to say he is not a starting quarterback in the NFL. Give him a fresh start somewhere and I see him being a playoff caliber quarterback for years to come. Giving him a second-string job waiting a couple years behind a player like Michael Vick would be a mistake. It would be wasting a very athletic quarterback’s talents when he’s young and in his prime. Strike while the iron’s hot!!!

Let Young land in a spot like Miami where he has Brandon Marshall and a serviceable offensive line. The Minnesota argument is one I personally disagree with. Christian Ponder needs a veteran who is the mentor type, and while I like Young’s talents, I can certainly admit he is not that. I would have (prior to the draft) mentioned San Francisco to be another good landing spot for Young, with Michael Crabtree and Vernon Davis, not to mention the benefits of a strong running game with Frank Gore. Colin Kaepernick isn’t half the player Young was in college. Vince Young should be a starting quarterback in this league.

Donovan McNabb should be the starting quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals this season. Head coach Ken Whisenhunt should seriously be considering McNabb as a viable option for helming his offense in the upcoming 2011 season. With a career-low 15 touchdowns and 15 interceptions, McNabb’s stock is way down. Did he really drop off the map in only a single season when he has been a playoff quarterback for the past decade? The Washington Redskins have so little talent that McNabb was asked to carry the team on his shoulders. He’s a quarterback, not a miracle worker. Santana Moss should not be a No. 1 receiver in the NFL, and not to mention the running game in D.C. was abysmal. Can you count the running backs used in Washington last year? If I recall they even had a washed up Larry Johnson in the lineup at one point during the season. Clinton Portis has worn glass armor most of his career, and opposing defenses are throwing rocks. Ryan Torain was a small bright spot until his health also came into question late in the season.

With all that in mind, and considering McNabb was running for his life half the season, he still managed to throw for more than 3,000 yards. He had a head coach that didn’t want to give him a chance, and he played in a new system. The coaching staff just didn’t allow for a successful situation.

Now, I know there’s a lot of talk about Kevin Kolb being traded to Arizona. And while he is a younger prospect who also has the Andy Reid endorsement, I just don’t see the need to take a risk on a player who has started less than 10 games in the NFL. Especially when the Philadelphia Eagles are asking for a first-round draft pick for Kolb’s services. If I were in the Cardinals front office, I’d think twice before throwing away my first rounder on a risk just because they want to win their division this year. Even if a veteran quarterback like McNabb couldn’t beat out the likes of Alex Smith, Sam Bradford, or Matt Hasselbeck this season. That way, the Cardinals get to hold on to their first-round draft pick when there are so many good quarterbacks coming out of college in 2012. Come on Arizona, be smart and give McNabb a shot this season with a team who has receivers and a running game. Even if he lets you down that first rounder you would have spent on Kolb will come in handy in the 2012 draft with Andrew Luck, Matt Barkley, Landry Jones and Nick Foles all lined up to be projected first-round picks.