With Norv Turner’s hiring by the San Diego Chargers, all of the head coaching vacancies have been filled this offseason. Now is the time for National Football League fans to start paying attention to the starting quarterback vacancies. After all, starting quarterback is probably the fourth most important position anyone can hold in a franchise, after the owner, the general manager and the head coach.

This offseason’s starting quarterback vacancies should especially concern Atlanta Falcons fans, because we have the second best quarterback available in free agency. I'm talking about Matt Schaub. Just because he backs up Michael Vick in Atlanta doesn’t mean he couldn’t start on most teams. He absolutely could.

There is a deal on the table for Matt Schaub right now. The deal would involve a three-way trade with the Oakland Raiders and the Green Bay Packers. Schaub would go to Oakland, who would send Randy Moss to Green Bay, who would, in turn, send their first round pick — No. 16 overall — back to Atlanta. Here's why the Falcons need to make that trade.

Last year, the Falcons held on to Matt despite rumors that he was heading to the Minnesota Vikings for their first round draft choice. The Vikings ended up signing quarterback Brad Johnson while drafting Tavaris Jackson as their backup. The Atlanta Falcons simply made the conscious decision not to trade Schaub for a first round pick.

The Falcons might have faced more pressure from teams like the Miami Dolphins and the New Orleans Saints, but in the end the Saints found Drew Brees, and the Dolphins found Daunte Culpepper. Everyone was happy — or at least not complaining — and Matt Schaub remained in Atlanta.

For the full story, see the Feb. 24-26 edition of The union-Recorder