We’ve made the case for, and against, Peyton Manning. We’ve done it for Kyle Orton. And now it’s Matt Flynn’s turn. He’ll likely be an unrestricted free agent.
Why it makes sense: Several scouts and evaluators have changed their opinion of him since he was coming out of college. One talent evaluator said he did a cursory report on him after his senior year, figuring he wouldn’t have to worry about him. Now? This same evaluator likes him. Other scouts say he’d be a good choice for the Redskins, allowing them to upgrade other areas through the draft. He’s tough; he’s athletic. Flynn also wouldn’t cost as much as a Peyton Manning or maybe even Kyle Orton. While he was working with talented wideouts in Green Bay – when he got to play, that is – Flynn at times did a nice job putting the ball where only his guys could get it. As one scout said, he’d likely do that for any wideout. Yes, he had touchdown passes vs. Detroit that started off as short throws and turned into long runs. Any quarterback with a good team gets those same scores (it’s why the Redskins want more playmakers). You don’t need to throw 40-yard bombs for scores every play to be a good quarterback. You need to execute the offense and know where to go with the ball. He did run play-action with the Packers. Keep in mind, too, that at LSU he only started one year – and played with a high ankle sprain. He sat behind future No. 1 overall pick JaMarcus Russell. He’s a punchline now; in college he was a stud. Maybe Flynn is a late bloomer.
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Why it doesn’t: One simple reason: Don’t think they like him. At least not better than what they have or than what else is potentially available. Multiple league sources say, and have said several times, the Redskins’ internal scouting report on Flynn was not good. He’s not considered an elite talent, nor does he have a strong arm. If he’s viewed as another Kevin Kolb – or worse – then keep this in mind: They liked John Beck more than Kolb coming out of college (they were in the same draft class). Beck, of course, is under contract. Flynn has thrown just 132 passes in four years. He had a six-touchdown game vs. Detroit, but how much was that a product of his talent or by those around him? (And does that matter?) But a coach that needs to win now will want to find a more proven option.
Chance it happens: Slim. It’s hard to imagine at this point the Redskins pursuing him. They could change their minds, I suppose, but it would be surprising if Flynn ends up in Washington. NFL sources have said for a month or so that the Redskins would look elsewhere.
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