What QB Would You Build Your Franchise Around?

There is a lot of talk here on the B/R about who the best Quarterback really is.

There are people that look at just stats. There are people that look at just wins. The reality is, every person that makes one of these lists, is going to find a way to get his favorite QB at the top.

I am going to do things a little different than everyone else.

Imagine this...

The NFL has decided to void every contract of every player playing today.  Every player has no ties to any franchise, and there is going to be a fantasy draft, a la Madden Franchise mode.

Here is the order that the starting QB's in the NFL would be drafted, from 20 to 1.

20. Brady Quinn.  Showed he may be decent, also showed he may be fragile. Once he became a starter, he lasted three games before being placed on IR.

19.  Jeff Garcia.  Former Tampa Bay QB.  Was good at one time, would never call him better than that.  Getting older, losing a step.  No way I would draft him for anything but someone to carry the clipboard.

18. Kerry Collins.  Knows how to win games.  One of the best game managers in the league.  Age (36) kills him on this list.

17. Kurt Warner.  No question he is a fantastic QB.  The HoF argument could be here.  Regardless, if you were starting a new franchise, would you really want a QB that only had two years left?

16. Trent Edwards.  I know Buffalo has not been very good.  Edwards has done a decent job with little to work with.  Young and has potential to be great.

15.  Tony Romo.  Young and strong.  He has all the weapons in the world.  Top WR's, great RB's.  Still hasn't gotten it done. 

I would still take him over guys that haven't proven themselves, like J'Marcus Russell or one of the rookies coming in.  I just would dread to try to build around him.

14. Joe Flacco.  Joe Cool did a great job for the Ravens last year.  Won more playoff games than any rookie ever.  Also had a great D.  Didn't make a lot of mistakes.

Has the potential to be great.  Another year, he could be in the top 10.

13.  Matt Ryan.  Did a great job as a rookie coming in to a horrible team.  Like Flacco, could jump to the top of this list with a good sophomore campaign.

12.  Matt Cassell.  Did a great job at taking over for Tom Brady.  The trade to the Chiefs could be the beginning or the end of Cassel's career.

If they give him the weapons, he can be every bit as good as Brady.  If they don't he will be more like Ryan Leaf.

11.  Aaron Rogers.  Having to sit behind Brett Favre for the first three years of his career, he is really younger than 25. 

10.  Carson Palmer.  One playoff appearance in his career hurts him.  Could be fantastic, might not be.  We will never know as long as he is in Cincinnati.

9.  Jay Cutler.  Rocket arm.  Very strong and young.  Lead your team to the playoffs, and you could jump into the top three of this list.

8.  Eli Manning.  When he has weapons, can be deadly.  Could build a winner around him, if you give him some big and strong targets.

7.  Drew Brees.  If he were three years younger he would be No. 1. Has a cannon arm, can read a defense like a high schooler can read Dr. Seuss.  Put him on a team with a decent defense, could be Super Bowl MVP.

6. Phillip Rivers.  Has shown the ability to lead his team.  Tough as nails, (Playing 2007 playoff game with torn ACL). Some would put him over some of the people rated higher on this list.  Has to at least make the Super Bowl to be any higher in my opinion.

5.  Donovan McNabb.  Resilient.  Very good QB.  Only knock is his age to start all over.

4.  Chad Pennington.  Pennington did a great job learning the Dolphins offense coming from the Jets.  He is young and one of the most accurate QB's playing today.

I know he hasn't made the playoffs, but has had a lot less to work with than Rivers.

3.  Peyton Manning.  Manning has, maybe, a good 4 years left.  The biggest issue is, how would he adapt to having a new line and how quick would he develop the timing he needs with his receivers?

2.  Tom Brady.  Tom Brady is one of the best QB's to ever play the game.  He will be enshrined into Canton five years from his retirement.  He has done great with lesser WR's than most, and has continually been a winner.

Brady will also be 32 when next season starts.  Or he would be No. 1.

1.  Big Ben Roethlisberger.  Am I saying that Ben is better than Brady and Manning?  No. But if a team had to build from scratch, Ben would be the best selection.Ben is younger than Both Manning and Brady.  If it took your line to mesh, Ben can handle the line breakdowns. 

Manning and Brady fans, before you tell me how crazy I am, ask your self this honest question, would you rather have your QB for four years, or Ben for 10?