NFL Quarterback Outlook

Buffalo Bills

Quarterbacks: Ryan Fitzpatrick, Brian Brohm, Levi Brown (R)

Outlook: Grim. The Bills, maybe more than any team in the NFL, need a quarterback. The team has been looking for a franchise signal caller since Doug Flutie was running around in the late 90′s.

Prediction: As it stands, the Bills will have a top five pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. Stanford’s Andrew Luck will most likely be the 1st overall pick if he chooses to leave college early. Following next after Luck are Washington’s Jake Locker and Arkansas’ Ryan Mallet. Buffalo would be best served with Jake Locker.

Cincinnati Bengals

Quarterbacks: Carson Palmer, Jordan Palmer, Dan LeFevour (R)

Outlook: The Bengals' season has been disappointing, and that is largely because of the poor play of Carson Palmer, who has never looked the same after an elbow injury in 2008.

Prediction: Put the Bengals on your list of teams who need to add a young quarterback to groom. LeFevour has some developmental value, but in a draft rich in the late rounds, expect Cincinnati to pick up another young passer.

Cleveland Browns

Quarterbacks: Colt McCoy (R), Jake Delhomme, Seneca Wallace, Brett Ratliff

Outlook: The Browns entered the season with two veteran quarterbacks, but ankle injuries have sent both Delhomme and Wallace to the bench. In comes McCoy, who in his first NFL start looked solid, making him likely to be the Browns quarterback of the future.

Prediction: Expect Cleveland to hold tight with McCoy, but they could add a late-round developmental prospect. Mike Holmgren comes from the Bill Walsh school of drafting, which is to add at least one quarterback every year via the draft or free agency who you can develop.

Indianapolis Colts

Quarterbacks: Peyton Manning, Curtis Painter

Outlook: Manning will go down as one of the greatest quarterbacks ever, and the Colts are lucky to have him. However, he is now 35 and at some point you have to worry about injury and diminishing skills. Painter has not shown any reason to believe he can be the Colts next star at quarterback.

Prediction: The Colts have needs on the offensive line and on defense, but could they pull the trigger on Manning’s successor in the 2011 Draft? Why not? Should a quarterback fall to the end of Round 1, where Indianapolis is sure to be picking, the Colts could easily pick up their next quarterback.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Quarterbacks: David Garrard, Trent Edwards

Outlook: Outside of Buffalo, Jacksonville has the least talent of any team. David Garrard cannot be the consistent passer the team needs, and Trent Edwards looks like a career backup at this point.

Prediction: Jacksonville may be 3-3 right now, but don’t expect that record to hold over the season. Jacksonville may pick in the top 12—finding themselves with Christian Ponder (FSU) or Ryan Mallett (Arkansas) in the first round.

Oakland Raiders

Quarterbacks: Bruce Gradkowski, Jason Campbell, Kyle Boller

Outlook: The Raiders have big names at quarterback, but no one is standing out as a long-term solution. Perhaps the problems are caused by the lack of talent on the offensive line and at wide receiver.  Regardless, Oakland needs an upgrade.

Prediction: You cannot blame Oakland if they are gun-shy about drafting a first round quarterback after the JaMarcus Russell debacle. Thankfully the Raiders do not have a first-round pick in the ’11 Draft (given to New England for Richard Seymour). Oakland could look to pick up a Round 2 quarterback who can be developed in to a starter. Florida State’s Christian Ponder may be available at the top of Round 2, as will Nevada’s Colin Kaepernick and Delaware’s Pat Devlin. A name to keep an eye on: Andy Dalton of TCU.

Minnesota Vikings

Quarterbacks: Brett Favre, Tavaris Jackson, Joe Webb (R)

Outlook: 2010 has to be Brett Favre’s last season, right? Jackson has been up and down in limited time as a starter, but with so much talent around him it would be hard to fail.

Prediction: I thought Minnesota should have drafted Colt McCoy last year and groom him behind Favre, but they didn’t ask for my opinion. This season I’d prescribe the same thing: Draft a quarterback who can benefit from sitting a year or two behind Jackson. TCU’s Andy Dalton or Chase Keenum of Houston are favorites.

Arizona Cardinals

Quarterbacks: Max Hall (R), Derek Anderson, John Skelton

Outlook: Starting an undrafted rookie at quarterback is no one’s plan, no matter what the coaches may tell you. Max Hall may be a long-term starter at quarterback, in fact I liked him out of BYU, but the Cardinals are taking a huge risk.

Prediction: This all hinges on Hall. He could finish the season strong and show promise, which makes Ken Whisenhunt look even smarter. Or he could crash and burn—it’s definitely possible. I hope Hall latches on as the starter, but they should be investing in a quality veteran in the off-season.

San Francisco 49ers

Quarterbacks: Alex Smith, David Carr, Troy Smith

Outlook: Mike Singletary refuses to play Carr or Troy Smith, even though former 1st Overall pick, Alex Smith, has been a train-wreck this season. He rebounded nicely after a few terrible showings in the first half against Kansas City, New Orleans and Oakland, but truthfully, he's not good.

Prediction: San Francisco could be picking first in the 2011 NFL Draft, or they may run the table and make the playoffs. Either scenario is incredibly plausible right now. No matter where they end up drafting, quarterback has to be the priority for them in Round 1.