Matt Flynn To The Jaguars? Not So Fast
By Luke Sims
Dec 9, 2012; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Flynn (15) throws a pass against the Arizona Cardinals at CenturyLink Field. The Seahawks defeated the Cardinals 58-0. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports
Hold on Seattle Seahawks fans, you aren’t unloading your high-priced backup quarterback on the Jacksonville Jaguars so quickly. As good as Matt Flynn has been in his (very) limited time on the field, he is a high-priced backup who had his imminent starting job taken away from him by a third-round rookie last offseason. Russell Wilson is good, really good, but to think that teams will part with something as high as a second or third round pick for Flynn after he was outplayed by an undersized quarterback may be a little wishful.
Flynn’s market value was never higher than following the 2011 season when he posted ridiculous numbers against the Detroit Lions in one game. He leveraged that into a 3-year, $19 million deal with $10 million guaranteed. That’s all well and good for Flynn and the Seahawks, when they thought he would be their starter, but for a team that is completely overhauling their roster, like the Jaguars, that’s a chunk of change they may turn their nose up at. Flynn’s value is not nearly as high as it was a year ago now that he has spent a season warming the bench.
Unless the Jaguars can get Flynn to restructure his deal, a trade for him seems unlikely. The Jaguars do have the cap room to take Flynn and be fine signing drafted players and college free agents later, but he would still be an expensive option since there is no guarantee he beats out Blaine Gabbert or Chad Henne, and there is even less guarantee that he will do a better job starting. Zain Gowani did a brilliant rundown on whether Flynn would fit with and help the Jaguars, check it out for more.
But it isn’t just Flynn’s inflated contract that will deter the Jaguars.
Trading for Flynn would cost the Jaguars the opportunity of bringing in their own young, cheap player in the draft and possibly having that player start – maybe even at quarterback. General manager Dave Caldwell has been adement about building through the draft and finding value free agents. Flynn is not a free agent, takes away a pick in the draft, and is more expensive than he is worth. None of those are things that make him a viable option for the Jaguars at this point in their rebuild. If Flynn does command the value of a second or third round pick, the Jaguars may be better off finding a player who can fill a need immediately for the team. If his value slips to a fifth or something more similar, maybe the Jags start to think about it.
There has been contact and the Jaguars are interested, but nothing is off the table for the Jags at this point. Unfortunately I don’t see the team moving on Flynn this season, especially since acquiring him is an uncertain thing and could potentially limit the extent of a foundation that could be laid while the team overhauls the roster. The Jaguars are reportedly interested, but how far will their interest carry them?
– Luke N. Sims
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