Is Flynn more valuable as a backup or a trade chip?

By Brady Henderson

Last week, Seahawks general manager John Schneider publically confirmed that the team is open to trading backup quarterback Matt Flynn, no surprise given Russell Wilson’s ascension into the starting role and the number of teams who will be looking for help at the position.

“I’d be lying to you if I told you that we wouldn’t be listening to people,” Schneider told 710 ESPN Seattle.

But how many of those teams would be willing to trade with the Seahawks for Seattle’s backup quarterback? That’s a pertinent question in light of a recent tweet from Jason Cole of Yahoo! Sports suggesting the Seahawks might have a hard time finding a trade partner because several teams expect them to cut Flynn.

Cole elaborated on that tweet when he joined “Bob and Groz” on Wednesday. He said he doesn’t necessarily think the Seahawks will cut Flynn, only that he’s heard from other teams who say they think that will happen.

Keeping Flynn as a backup or dealing him to a quarterback-needy team would be the Seahawks’ other options. Cole thinks the Jets – whose new general manager, John Idzik, previously worked in Seattle’s front office – would be among the teams most interested in Flynn.

“Nobody’s going to pay a huge amount for him, but somebody may pay something for him,” Cole said. “The question for the Seahawks is, is that enough compared to what you need to have at backup quarterback when you’re a contending team?”

Bob Stelton and Dave Grosby share their thoughts on that question in the video below.

You can listen to Wednesday’s podcast here .