Slim Pickens was an actor probably most remembered for a role in the 1970’s comedy farce “Blazing Saddles.”  Outside of that role, not sure too many could name much of what he did in the acting game over many years.  Slim pickn’s is what the NFL has in this year’s free-agent crop of quarterbacks.  Some have had a decent season that most can recall, but not much of anything else of note in their careers.  And the rest of the free-agent QB list have had anonymous careers, much like the aforementioned actor.

Most seasons seem to have a top name that a lowly team might ask to start for them the next season.  The Tampa Bay Buccaneers tasked Josh McCown with that uphill battle this past year and as the Bucs prepare to draft first in late April, it’s no wonder that McCown is back on the street looking to extend his career just a little bit longer.  Unfortunately, the state of quarterbacks across the league is in such a sorry state that McCown has a handful of suitors.  His play for the Buccaneers was disappointing by his and everyone else’s standard as well.  He made “rookie” mistakes, even though his is now over 35 years old.

During the recent NFL Combine, NFL Network continued to show the helmet logos of teams in need of QB help.  The Browns, Jets and Bills were on that list.  How poor the management choices have been, as each of those teams have just taken QB’s high in the draft.  Most notoriously, Johnny Manziel’s career looks to be on the brink in just one year and less than two games of action!

I’m not sure a team has turned away from a first round quarterback faster than the Browns on Manziel.

E.J. Manuel and Blaine Gabbert are close seconds, as the Bills are again in the running for a top QB and Gabbert is already done with the Jags and 49ers.  The Bills would be closer to the top of the draft if recently retired journeyman Kyle Orton hadn’t come in and “saved” the season.  Michael Vick didn’t elevate his or Geno Smith’s game last season and the new Jets’ regime is looking for a new signal caller once again.

The rest of the free-agent list really is much like the Academy Awards were Sunday night, with a host of relatively unknowns presenting themselves for hire.  Mark Sanchez is the biggest name back on the market after filling in for the Eagles for a significant portion of the year and although many critics gave him quite the kudos, I think football people saw what Chip Kelly’s opportunistic offense could do for a lot of signal-callers and his play tailed off significantly as the season wore on.

Shaun Hill may still gather some significant interest. Two former first-rounders in Jake Locker and Christian Ponder were taken ahead of their value and while the Vikings got good first year production by Teddy Bridgewater, the jury is still out, while the Titans will be looking to the draft for Locker’s replacement. Matt Moore, Matt Flynn and Brian Hoyer are the most experienced backups, but I can’t see any of the teams in need looking for these players to fill a starter’s role in 2015.

While he isn’t super flashy or star-studded, my top free-agent QB to help a team next year is Colt McCoy.  He is still thought to be a candidate to return to Jay Gruden’s Washington Redskins and I thought he carried himself quite well when he got his chance.  He was the first to say he was making too many mistakes, but he is one of those guys that other players like and like to play with and play for.  Ryan Mallett may have been that top guy on the market, but it is expected that the Texans will be bringing him back, as they have been playing QB roulette recently and need to find some stability at the position and probably haven’t seen enough of him to make a great determination of his real ability.

Overall, the 2015 free-agent class just doesn’t bring any star power or much interest to affecting the draft in a couple months or the NFL next season.