2011 NFL Predictions: Projecting The Starting QBs for All 32 NFL Teams
Quarterback is the most important and influential position in football. Quarterbacks touch the ball more than anyone else, read defenses, change plays and often hold their teams' fates in their hands.
The NFL has plenty of quarterback questions this season. Several big names such as Donovan McNabb and Vince Young have uncertain futures. Others, like Kevin Kolb and Tavaris Jackson, are hoping to finally get their chance at a solidified starting role.
Here are predictions for all of the NFL teams' starting quarterbacks. Of course, they need to be categorized. So starters are broken down by Sure Thing, Most Likely, Shaky and Who Knows.
Sure Thing: New England Patriots, Tom Brady
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At the end of hte day, this is Gisele's decision. If she would rather Tom Brady take the season off to focus on his modeling career, he would. After all, we all saw his hair last season, which was Gisele's decision.
Brady is one of the two or three best quarterbacks in the game. It's hard to find anyone that can do more with less. The Patriots revolve around Brady offensively.
Sure Thing: Indianapolis Colts, Peyton Manning
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Was it even fair to classify Peyton Manning as a free agent? Was there any way that the Colts didn't get him signed to a new contract?
It's a battle back and forth between Manning and Tom Brady to be the highest paid quarterback in the game. Both franchises know the value of the their quarterbacks and are will to pay top dollar to make sure they each spend their entire career with their respective teams.
Manning, much like Brady, has proven he is able to do a lot with a little around him as the Colts struggled with injuries in their receiving corps in 2010.
Sure Thing: Green Bay Packers, Aaron Rodgers
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Aaron Rodgers made his championship belt celebration officially appropriate by leading the Packers to a Super Bowl win. He's put most Brett Favre comparisons behind him. He's clearly one of the best the NFL has to offer.
Rodgers gets a new challenge now in defending his Super Bowl championship. It's not all up to him, but he'll do his part. If James Starks and Ryan Grant can prove a formidable running duo, Rodgers might now have to carry so much of the load.
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Sure Thing: New Orleans Saints, Drew Brees
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There are few athletes currently playing that have earned the level of admiration from a city that Drew Brees has from New Orleans. The Big Easy loves No. 9. And why not? He brought the franchise its first Super Bowl championship.
Brees had to overcome interception problems in 2010 and was surprisingly thwarted from the playoffs by the Seattle Seahawks and Marshawn Lynch's superhuman, bulldozer touchdown run.
Sure Thing: Pittsburgh Steelers, Ben Roethlisberger
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Ben Roethlisberger earned a reputation of a winner while earning two Super Bowl rings. But isn't he overrated? Roethlisberger has had the help of an elite defense every season and a solid running game for most of his career.
In three Super Bowl appearances, Big Ben has delivered two duds for performances. He's a smart game manager that can deliver a monster game on occasion.
Roethlisberger is the perfect fit for the Steelers' ball control style. As long as he stays out of trouble, his job is secure.
Sure Thing: Atlanta Falcons, Matt Ryan
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Matt Ryan is laying the foundation for a spectacular career. He's lifted the Falcons out of the shadows of the Michael Vick saga and into Super Bowl contention.
The Falcons seemed like a Super Bowl favorite this season before they were derailed by Green Bay's train of destiny. Ryan is one of the calmest quarterbacks in the league even in his third season.
It's hard to not see a Super Bowl win in his future.
Sure Thing: San Diego Chargers, Phillip Rivers
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If you can make a town and a team forget about Drew Brees, you're doing something right. Phillip Rivers has one of the biggest arms in the NFL and knows how to use it.
But why can't he and the Chargers get going until halfway through the season? The Chargers' slow starting ways finally caught up to them this season when they missed the playoffs. If Rivers can ever get his team rolling early enough, it could finally break through with a long postseason run.
Sure Thing: Houston Texans, Matt Schaub
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In three seasons playing behind Michael Vick in Atlanta, Matt Schaub was lauded as the best backup in the league, ready for his own starting gig. He's proven everyone right with his prolific time in Houston.
The Texans are no longer an expansion franchise scavenging for wins at the bottom of the feeding pool. They've seemed primed for a few seasons now to challenge for the AFC crown.
Schaub isn't in the elite level of quarterbacks, but he's not far off.
Sure Thing: New York Giants, Eli Manning
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Not everyone believes in Eli Manning, but the New York Giants do. He has produced some magical moments and performances although he lacks the consistent precision of his older brother, Peyton.
Eli has grown into a star quarterback worthy of his starting role. His job has never been in jeopardy. New York could do a lot worse than its Super Bowl-winning captain.
Most Likely: Philadelphia Eagles, Michael Vick
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Michael Vick returned to being a starting NFL quarterback with an incendiary performance in 2010. He showed an unforeseen comfort in the pocket and still provided flashes of the Vick that can burn most corners in the league.
The Eagles used their franchise tag on him, signaling long term plans, but they still have Kevin Kolb on the roster. Andy Reid was sold on Kolb before he went down with injury and left the door open for Vick.
It's Vick's job to lose, but that doesn't mean that it can't be lost.
Most Likely: Kansas City Cheifs, Matt Cassel
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How about the ride that Matt Cassel has been on? Three seasons ago, he was backing up Tom Brady and was suddenly thrust into a starting role. This after not earning a starting role in college.
Now Cassel is under contract for tens of millions of dollars and starting for the Kansas City Chiefs. With the way that Brodie Croyle looked in relief while Cassel was injured last season, Cassel should be more than safe.
Most Likely: New York Jets, Mark Sanchez
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There are games in which Mark Sanchez looks like the stud that his GQ photo shoot from his rookie year indicates. Then there are games when he looks lost.
Sanchez deserves his starting spot. He's a growing leader that has the skills to be one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL.
In the meantime, he's a reliable quarterback with time to become more.
Most Likely: Dallas Cowboys, Tony Romo
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Tony Romo is a Pro Bowl caliber quarterback when healthy. It looks like Dez Bryant is going to be deadly target for Romo to throw to at wide receiver. He should be back to his stat-heaping self in 2011.
For all of the punchlines, Jon Kitna actually looked pretty good in 2010 in relief of an injured Romo. Of course, he didn't look good enough to take Romo's job from him. But if Romo starts to look shaky and the Cowboys start as miserably as they did in 2010, coach Jason Garrett might be best served making a change.
Most Likely: Sam Bradford, St. Louis Rams
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There weren't many games in 2010 in which Sam Bradford looked like a rookie. It's refreshing to see a quarterback live up to his billing straight out of college. The challenge now is to avoid a sophomore slump and get the Rams to the playoffs.
Bradford could use significant upgrades at wide receiver. Danny Amendola is solid player, but won't be leading an NFL franchise in receptions. Brandon Gibson would make a nice No. 3 receiver, not a No. 1. St. Louis should do what it can to land either A.J. Green or Julio Jones in the draft.
Most Likely: Baltimore Ravens, Joe Flacco
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It's hard to see Joe Flacco ever becoming more than a skilled game manager. The window is closing quickly for Baltimore to capitalize with Flacco and its tremendous yet aging defense.
The Ravens rightfully believe in him as their best option. He has monster arm that they might want to find more ways to exploit. Flacco has throw for 300 yards or more only four times in his three-year career.
Ray Lewis and Ed Reed can't play forever. At some point, the Baltimore offense is going to have to elevate to the level of the defense.
Most Likely: Chicago Bears, Jay Cutler
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Everything about Jay Cutler gets questioned: his toughness, his attitude and his worthiness as an NFL starting quarterback.
Those things are not questioned by the Chicago Bears—at least not publicly.
Cutler has the physical tools to lead the Bears. He grasped Mike Martz's offense in his first season learning it, but Cutler needs to be careful not to pile up reasons for Bears fans to call for his head.
Most Likely: Jacksonville Jaguars, David Garrard
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David Garrard is not the long term answer and Jacksonville knows it. I wouldn't be surprised if they looked for his eventual replacement in this year's draft.
For now, however, Garrard still has the ability to lead the Jags to an AFC South title if the team upgrades in others places. Wide receiver comes to mind.
This proclamation may no longer be true in 2012, but it stands for the upcoming season.
Most Likely: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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Many fans were left scratching their heads when Josh Freeman was picked 17th overall in 2009 by the Buccaneers. He's starting to prove that Tampa Bay new what they was doing.
Freeman is part of an exciting youth movement at quarterback afoot in the NFL. The NFC South is one of the most contested divisions in football, and Freeman had Tampa Bay in the thick of it right to the end.
Tampa Bay football is back, and Freeman has a lot to do with it.
Most Likely: Detroit Lions, Matthew Stafford
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If the Detroit Lions can find a way to keep Matthew Stafford on the field, they'll start contending for the NFC North crown. He is that good.
Detroit has built up the roster in two seasons under coach Jim Schwartz. But it's for naught if Drew Stanton is running the offense.
If Stafford can stay healthy, the job is obviously his, but health hasn't been a strong suit of his in the pros.
Shaky: Denver Broncos, Tim Tebow
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It might take an entire career of success for Tim Tebow to make believers out of many NFL fans. For now, he's focused on making new Denver head coach John Fox a believer.
Tebow played admirably through the end of 2011 as the Broncos starter, but Kyle Orton had some big numbers rolling before he went out with injury.
If Tebow truly is the man of the future in Denver, he needs to get the reps now.
Shaky: Cleveland Browns, Colt McCoy
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Colt McCoy showed signs of being an NFL caliber quarterback in replacement duty for Cleveland in 2010. However, when Jake Delhomme was healthy, he was starting.
This quarterback battle will come down to the off-season and may go back and forth during the season.
With time to learn the pro game, McCoy should be greatly improved. Considering that Delhomme wasn't much better as it was, McCoy should earn the job.
Shaky: Oakland Raiders, Jason Campbell
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Would Al Davis trade his way back into the first round to get another Auburn quarterback, Cam Newton, to replace Jason Campbell? I wouldn't put it past Davis, especially considering that Newton will be a workout warrior at the NFL Combine.
Campbell's job may be threatened more greatly by Bruce Gradkowski. Gradkowski has been serviceable in his time in the NFL. He hasn't been great, but serviceable.
Oakland has enough talent to expect to compete for the NFC West. If Campbell isn't getting it done, Gradkowski may get his chance.
Shaky: Seattle Seahawks, Matt Hasselbeck
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Matt Hasselbeck had an up-and-down year in 2010. He heard backup Charlie Whitehurst's name chanted at times by Seattle fans hoping for a change. Then he lit up the New Orleans for four touchdowns in the playoffs.
Whitehurst looked solid in a win over St. Louis that put the Seahawks into the postseason. Hasselbeck doesn't have firm footing in the starter's spot.
Shaky: Buffalo Bills, Ryan Fitzpatrick
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This one is simple: if Ryan Fitzpatrick grows out his beard again, he will be able to summon its power and remain the Bills' starting quarterback. But if his wife wins out and he does not regrow that chin sweater, he'll have to fend off his backup.
That backup could be a rookie. Maybe it will be Cam Newton or Blaine Gabbert. Both are expected to be drafted high. Will Buffalo look to one of them to take hold of its future?
Who Knows?: Carolina Panthers, Jimmy Clausen
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Carolina Panthers fans were hoping that the answer here would be Andrew Luck. But he's back at Stanford, leaving Carolina with Matt Moore, Jimmy Clausen and the top overall pick in the draft and no quarterback worthy of it.
Clausen looked very much like a rookie in his time as the Panthers' quarterback in 2010. That's fine, since he was a rookie, but there isn't much evidence that he will look any better any time soon.
Moore could swoop in and take his old job back, whatever good that would do. Carolina won't go after Kevin Kolb or Vince Young after using a second-round pick on Clausen.
Who Knows?: Tennessee Titans, Kerry Collins
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Good for Kerry Collins that he has his career still going at 38-years-old. Bad for Tennessee that he is their best option at quarterback.
Whatever the cause, the Titans' divorce from Vince Young was messy. Young hopes to find a new home, and Collins hopes to give the Titans enough to again become a playoff team.
Tennessee, at eighth overall, may be too low to get Cam Newton or Blaine Gabbert. They may find help in the second round in search of a starting quarterback.
Who Knows?: Cincinnati Bengals, Carson Palmer
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Carson Palmer will be back. He doesn't want his career to end like this, slinking out of the locker room pouting. Cincinnati is doing what it can to get him back. Draft A.J. Green out of Georgia fourth overall would help.
With Terrell Owens gone, Palmer should feel more comfortable running the offense. The Bengals were best when it was clear that Chad Johnson (Ochocinco?) was the primary target, with T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Chris Henry as compliments.
Jerome Simpson showed up late in the year. He, Green and Johnson could form a strong trio.
Who Knows?: Arizona Cardinals, Cam Newton
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The closer the draft gets, the hotter Cam Newton's name gets. He's risen into the top 10 of the draft and maybe into the top five.
Arizona needs a new quarterback after Derek Anderson, Max Hall and John Skelton put on a collective display of how not to do it. It was like watching those old crash test dummy commercials about wearing your seat belt.
How was Larry Fitzgerald able to keep it together? He still had a great season with his quarterbacks at times seeming like they were trying to prevent it.
Who Knows?: Washington Redskins, Ryan Mallett
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Once considered a first round draft prospect, Ryan Mallett has slid into the second round of most mock drafts. While his arm strength and accuracy go unquestioned, some scouts wonder about his mental toughness.
Washington coach Mike Shanahan has mentioned that he may look for a quarterback in the draft and loves big arms. On that level, he and Mallett would be a great match.
If the Redskins can nab Mallett in the second round—and Shanahan's relationship with Donovan McNabb is as fractured as it has been reported—then Mallett could be starting pretty soon.
Who Knows?: Miami Dolphins, Chad Henne
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Chad Henne hasn't wowed many people in his time as starting quarterback for the Miami Dolphins, but he hasn't been bad enough to yet lose his job.
At 15th overall in the draft, Miami is likely out of the running for Cam Newton or Blaine Gabbert and too high to reach for Jake Locker.
The true area of concern for Miami was its weak running game. The Dolphins could help Henne out by doing better than 21st in the NFL in rushing yards.
Who Knows?: Minnesota Vikings, Tavaris Jackson
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Brett Favre is done. I think. Well, he might be back. All I can do is echo his own retirement pattern.
I think he really is done this time. That 2010 season was awful. From the injuries to the texting fiasco, there weren't many bright spots.
Tavaris Jackson gets the reigns to the Vikings offense back. Unless Favre un-retires orr Joe Webb proves to be the better option. We won't know the answer to this question for some time.
Who Knows?: San Franciso 49ers, Blaine Gabbert
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Blaine Gabbert becoming the starting quarterback for the 49ers is dependent on Jim Harbaugh disliking what he has in Alex Smith and Troy Smith so much that he is desperate enough to reach for Gabbert seventh overall.
It's also dependent on Gabbert proving many people wrong who believe that he is unprepared for the pro game right now. The Smith bummers don't instill much confidence.
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