Offseason Solutions for NFL's Most Quarterback-Needy Teams

The most important position in the NFL—and all sports, for that matter—is quarterback. If a team doesn't have a quarterback, there's little to no chance that organization will find success. It's what makes having a viable franchise quarterback so critical.

There are currently seven NFL teams that find themselves in dire need of fixing their quarterback situation. Naturally, none of those squads qualified for the postseason last year, so this is an area of utmost importance for all of them.

For some of the teams, the answer is simple. There are two top quarterback targets in the draft—Florida State's Jameis Winston and Oregon's Marcus Mariota—and both could provide an immediate solution. For other franchises, the answer is more complicated, as they might not have a high enough pick to secure either Winston or Mariota.

In this column, we've detailed what each of these seven clubs needs to do to fix their quarterback situation—whether via trades, free agency or the draft.

Here are the offseason solutions for the NFL's most quarterback-needy teams.

Buffalo Bills: Retain EJ Manuel, Sign Jake Locker, Draft a QB

Elise Amendola/Associated Press

The Buffalo Bills have one of the least palatable situations at quarterback in the entire NFL.

Gone is last year's leading passer, Kyle Orton, as he opted to retire rather than return for an 11th season. The man currently sitting at the top of the depth chart, EJ Manuel, has been a colossal bust through two seasons and was benched after only four starts last year. And the team's new head coach, Rex Ryan, isn't exactly Bill Walsh in terms of developing a franchise passer.

With all of these unsavory ingredients in play, it's safe to say that it's a bad brew in Buffalo as it concerns the quarterback position.

So how can the Bills fix their issues at the league's most important position? Let's first discuss what they should not do: Sign free-agent quarterback Mark Sanchez.

Sanchez, who is set to become a free agent after starting eight games for the Philadelphia Eagles last year, played under Ryan in New York. After leading the Jets to the AFC Championship Game in each of his first two seasons (2009-2010), Sanchez crashed and burned, losing confidence and turning the ball over as if he were earning contract escalators for doing so.

Signing Sanchez would be such an insane move that Bills owner Terry Pegula would have to consider dismissing Ryan for even suggesting it. Ryan would be better off treating Sanchez like Lord Voldemort and never even uttering his name aloud.

While Manuel has been a disappointment, it's too early to give up on him completely. He deserves a shot to compete for the starting job. The Bills should bring in a free-agent passer (think Tennessee's Jake Locker, whose agility could make him a fit in new coordinator Greg Roman's offense) and draft a signal-caller in the mid-rounds of the draft to round out the position.

An alternative could be to try to swing a deal for mercurial Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler, but that could be a recipe for disaster. With Ryan looking to employ his "ground and pound" philosophy in Western New York, a gunslinger like Cutler isn't needed. The Bills can try to get by in 2015 on the strength of a strong defense and run game and hope the quarterback isn't the albatross holding them back.

New York Jets: Draft Oregon's Marcus Mariota

Eric Gay/Associated Press

Following four consecutive seasons in which they missed the postseason—and receiving especially dreary quarterback play in the process—the New York Jets pulled the plug on the Rex Ryan era, ushering in a new regime to help bring Gang Green back to the tournament.

Former Arizona Cardinals defensive coordinator Todd Bowles is the new head coach, Mike Maccagnan is the new general manager and their primary directive is clear: Acquire a franchise quarterback capable of turning the Jets into a perennial contender.

Fortunately for the Jets, they should have a shot to select one of the draft's top two quarterbacks—either Florida State's Jameis Winston or Oregon's Marcus Mariota—with the sixth overall pick in April. And that's the solution they should look to employ.

There's just no way the Jets can trot out Geno Smith as the starter in 2015. The second-year passer is 11-18 as the starter in two seasons and has thrown 25 touchdown passes against 34 (34!) interceptions. He's already lost the confidence of the Jets fanbase, and once that happens, it usually spells doom for the quarterback.

To his credit, Smith appears to know that 2015 is likely his last viable shot to be "the guy" for the Jets, and he's been trying to learn new coordinator Chan Gailey's offense, as he told Dan Martin of the New York Post: “I don’t know what the ins-and-outs of his offense is, but I can’t wait to get back into it and learn it and develop timing with the guys. I’ll try and learn as much as I can without actually having the playbook.”

That's all well and good, but Bowles and Maccagnan would be crazy to depend on Smith to lead them in year one.

Instead, the Jets should focus their efforts on drafting Mariota with the sixth overall pick. Mariota flashed all the tools needed for success on the collegiate level and appears level-headed enough to succeed in New York. It's time for the Jets to hit the reset button at quarterback—and Mariota should be the solution.

Cleveland Browns: Trade for Buccaneers QB Mike Glennon

David Richard/Associated Press

There's just no way to sugarcoat this, Browns fans: Your team is a downright dumpster fire. 

Don't believe us? Just read this damning piece from CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora, who details total buffoonery emanating from the team's decision-makers, most notably owner Jimmy Haslam, who a team source told La Canfora was "Jerry Jones without the football knowledge." That's so scary a statement that it sounds like it'd be a sweet Halloween costume.

Does it look like the team made a catastrophic mistake in selecting Johnny Manziel with the 22nd overall pick of last year's draft? Yes. Manziel authored a disastrous rookie campaign littered with on-field incompetence and off-field issues, and recently entered rehab to get his life in order. At this point, the Browns would be foolish to commit to Manziel as their Week 1 starter—and by foolish, we mean categorically insane.

Last year's primary starter, Brian Hoyer, will be a free agent, but he suffered through a disastrous late-season stretch (one touchdown pass against eight interceptions over four starts) that saw him demoted in favor of Manziel. Bringing Hoyer back as the starter would be an extremely tough sell to an exceedingly jaded fanbase.

Jibing with La Canfora's column on Haslam's meddling is a nugget of information from Bleacher Report's Jason Cole, who says the Browns are considering trading up in the draft to acquire Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota.

Cleveland holds the 12th and 19th selections in the first round—plus an additional fourth-rounder (both extra picks came as a result of last year's Sammy Watkins trade to Buffalo)—so theoretically, they have the firepower to pull off a move of that magnitude.

But with the team having already burned a first-round pick on Manziel last year, can they really justify exhausting another first-round pick on a quarterback? We understand that anything is possible with Haslam in charge, but that would be a foolish decision.

Instead, the Browns should look to acquire Tampa Bay's Mike Glennon. Glennon has flashed impressive skills in his two seasons, tossing 29 touchdown passes against only 15 interceptions in 18 starts. 

The idea of the Browns trading for Glennon was floated out by ESPN NFL insider Chris Mortensen in a radio interview with SiriusXM Mad Dog Sports Radio's Adam Schein, and it does make sense. It would allow the Browns to use both of their first-round picks to fill other holes, all while bringing in a passer who could potentially be "the guy" for a winning club.

The Browns would be able to let Glennon compete with Manziel, and the best man would be named the starter. Is it a perfect solution? No. But it's better than starting all over with Mariota.

Houston Texans: Sign Brian Hoyer, Re-Sign Ryan Mallett, Let Tom Savage Compete

AJ Mast/Associated Press

After year one of the coach Bill O'Brien era in Houston, there are positive vibes surrounding the Texans.

After all, the Texans rebounded from a disastrous 2-14 campaign in 2013 to go 9-7 in 2014—buoyed, of course, by all-world defensive lineman J.J. Watt. The Texans entered Week 17 with a shot to make the playoffs, which is more than anyone could have realistically expected them to do at the season's onset.

Now, imagine if the Texans had actually employed a true franchise quarterback last year—they could have been a legitimate threat to the New England Patriots, Denver Broncos and Indianapolis Colts in the AFC. But alas, the pu pu platter of Ryan Fitzpatrick, Ryan Mallett and Tom Savage wasn't enough to move the meter and usher the Texans into the tournament.

Last year, the Texans passed on taking a quarterback until the fourth round, where they nabbed Savage. They eschewed options like Teddy Bridgewater and Derek Carr in the process, and the only way to prevent those decisions from being cataclysmic failures is to get the position right heading into 2015.

Fitzpatrick has another year on his deal, but he's not a winning option. Is he good enough to be on an NFL roster? Certainly. And he actually represents an outstanding backup option. But if Ryan Fitzpatrick is your starting quarterback, you had better reserve time at the golf course for the January and February months in advance.

Houston isn't far off from being a contender, so only a slight upgrade at the quarterback position is needed. O'Brien and general manager Rick Smith should re-sign Mallett—who flashed impressive physical tools in two starts before injury ended his season—and bring in Browns free-agent passer Brian Hoyer, whom O'Brien coached in New England.

While Hoyer is far from a franchise option, he proved last year in Cleveland that he's capable of winning games, and his supporting cast in Houston would dwarf what he had with the Browns. And the team could also let Savage compete and see where the chips fall.

Theoretically, Savage should be better in year two, and O'Brien could coach up Hoyer and Mallett. It's feasible that one of those three options could turn up aces, and if that's the case, the Texans could easily be a playoff team in 2015.

Tennessee Titans: Roll with Zach Mettenberger

James Kenney/Associated Press

The Tennessee Titans are coming off a 2-14 season, don't have a clear-cut franchise quarterback on the roster and own the second overall pick in a draft that features two passers (Florida State's Jameis Winston and Oregon's Marcus Mariota) that stand above the rest.

So with that said, it stands to reason that coach Ken Whisenhunt and general manager Ruston Webster should consider grabbing Winston or Mariota with the second overall pick, right?

Wrong. The bottom line is that the Titans have far too many holes in the roster to spend that pick on a quarterback—especially when there's a pretty decent option already on the roster.

Enter second-year passer Zach Mettenberger, who flashed impressive skills in his greenhorn campaign, tossing eight touchdown passes against seven interceptions while showing off the Howitzer attached to his right shoulder. Mettenberger can make all the throws and has an air of confidence about him that's present in all the great quarterbacks.

Would it be a horrible decision if the Titans fell in love with either Winston or Mariota and nabbed one in the draft? No. But with a roster in dire need of playmakers, it stands to reason that rolling with Mettenberger in 2015—and using the second overall pick elsewhere—would be the wisest course of action.

Let Whisenhunt, an offensive guru, coach up Mettenberger this offseason and get him ready to start, all while filling out other holes on the roster.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Draft Florida State's Jameis Winston

Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press

Sometimes, the solution for fixing the hardest position in sports to get right is an easy one.

For the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, it's simple: Use the No. 1 overall pick in April's draft to select Florida State's Jameis Winston.

Buccaneers coach Lovie Smith and general manager Jason Licht would be insane to bring back Josh McCown as "the guy." Last year, McCown went 1-10 as the team's starter and threw 10 touchdown passes against 14 interceptions. At age 35, we know who we is: a relatively ineffective journeyman.

Mike Glennon is more of an intriguing option, but it's fairly clear that Smith and Licht don't see him as the franchise's savior. If they did, why would they trot out the older (and worse) McCown for the vast majority of last year?

Despite Glennon's relative success playing for a bad team—29 touchdown passes against only 15 interceptions in 18 starts over two seasons—it's unlikely that the Buccaneers will trot him out as the unquestioned starter.

And with the Bucs coming off a 2-14 season, it just makes sense to hit the reset button and start over with an incoming rookie. And Winston is just that guy.

While Winston obviously brings his share of off-field baggage to the draft process, he's the most pro-ready of any of the passers available and could find immediate success as a neophyte. Bleacher Report's Matt Miller projected Winston to the Bucs with the No. 1 overall pick in his latest mock draft.

If the Bucs aren't going to play Glennon, they should trade him and exhaust those resources elsewhere. Then they can bring back McCown as a mentor and backup and roll Winston out as the starter.

St. Louis Rams: Draft a QB Early to Compete with Sam Bradford

David Richard/Associated Press

One of the easiest first guesses of last year's NFL offseason revolved around the St. Louis Rams' decision to bring back Sam Bradford as their starting quarterback.

Bradford was coming off a torn ACL and his record as the starter was 18-30-1, so it was a bit of a surprise when coach Jeff Fisher and general manager Les Snead opted not to select a quarterback with either the second or 13th overall selections in last year's draft.

The decision to roll with Bradford blew up in their face when he tore his other ACL in the preseason, forcing him to miss the entirety of the 2014 campaign. In a related story, the Rams finished 6-10 despite possessing a powerful defense.

With the Rams now entering year four of the Fisher-Snead era—and Fisher/Snead having earned a grand total of zero postseason visits—2015 is a critical year for the franchise. And if they bring back Bradford and name him "the guy" with no viable competition, Fisher and Snead should be fitted for straitjackets.

The Rams hold the 10th overall pick in the draft, and probably won't get the opportunity to select either Florida State's Jameis Winston or Oregon's Marcus Mariota. But we like the idea floated out by Bleacher Report's Matt Miller, who projected UCLA's Brett Hundley to the Rams with their second-round selection (41st overall) in his latest mock draft.

Whether it's Hundley (who appears to be the consensus third quarterback off the board behind Winston and Mariota) or another passer, the Rams must nab a passer in the early rounds of the draft to compete with—and potentially replace—Bradford.