Before this past season, many doubted that Byron Leftwich would ever start or even see playing time for any NFL team. But after starting a couple games in ‘08 for Steelers’ injured quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, a small portion of optimism was served up to myself and other football fans.
ESPN recently announced that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Leftwich have agreed to a 2-year, $7.5 million deal. Leftwich will rake in $2-million this year, $2-million in 2010 and a $3.5 million roster bonus that must be paid by the start of free agency in 2010.
Leftwich was chosen sixth overall in the 2003 NFL draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars. Other quarterbacks in his class were (and their current contracts):
- Byron Leftwich - (6th overall, Jaguars) - 2-year, $7.5 million (signed: 2009, Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
- Carson Palmer - (1st overall, Bengals) - 6-year, $118.75 million extension through 2014 (signed: 2005)
- Kyle Boller - (16th overall, Ravens) - 1-year, $1.5 million (signed: 2009, St. Louis Rams)
- Rex Grossman - (22nd overall, Bears) - Free Agent (signed: 2009)
- Dave Ragone - (88th overall, Texans) - Free Agent (signed: 2009)
- Chris Simms - (97th overall, Buccaneers) - 2-year, $6 million (signed: 2009, Denver Broncos)
- Seneca Wallace - (110th overall, Seahawks) - 4-year, $6.2 million (signed: 2007)
- Brian St. Pierre - (163rd overall, Steelers) - 1-year, $1 million (signed: 2009, Arizona Cardinals)
- Drew Henson - (192nd overall, Texans) - 2009: $535,000, 2010: Free agent (Detroit Lions)
- Brooks Bollinger - (200th overall, Jets) - 2009: Free agent (Dallas Cowboys)
- Kliff Kingsbury - (201st overall, Patriots) - 2009: Free agent (Buffalo Bills)
- Gibran Hamdan - (232nd overall, Redskins) - Undisclosed contract (Signed: 2009, Buffalo Bills)
- Ken Dorsey - (241st overall, 49ers) - 2009: Free agent (Cleveland Browns)
Leftwich should be a good addition for Tampa. He is a strong armed quarterback with fair accuracy and a huge body.
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