Projecting the Starting QBs for Every Single Team in 2011
After ten weeks of the NFL season, fans are starting to get a good idea that their team is a Super Bowl contender, on the playoff bubble, or destined to be "fighting" for a top five draft pick. Being the modern day NFL, most teams successes and failures ride with the quality of their quarterback. It's a big reason why the Patriots and Colts continually make the playoffs, and the Raiders and Redskins have missed them.
With teams now having to address quarterbacks that are draft busts, injury prone, or are pending free agents, let's take a look at who will be our 32 starting quarterbacks come September, 2011.
1) The Obvious Starters
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These are the teams that have no question who will be taking snaps next year. In most cases, it's because the team already has a franchise quarterback, but in a few others, it's due to the fact that hefty contracts or a horrible depth chart will dictate who starts.
New England Patriots: Tom Brady
New York Jets: Mark Sanchez
Pittsburgh Steelers: Ben Roethlisberger
Baltimore Ravens: Joe Flacco
Indianapolis Colts: Peyton Manning
Houston Texans: Matt Schaub
Tennessee Titans: Vince Young
San Diego Chargers: Phillip Rivers
New York Giants: Eli Manning
Dallas Cowboys: Tony Romo
Chicago Bears: Jay Cutler
Green Bay Packers: Aaron Rodgers
New Orleans Saints: Drew Brees
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Josh Freeman
Atlanta Falcons: Matt Ryan
St. Louis Rams: Sam Bradford
2) The Rest of The Bunch
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For the rest of the teams, there are varying levels of uncertainty about who will be starting next year. Is it a veteran that is retiring? Are injury concerns outweighing talent? Will their current start prove to be too expensive? Let's take a look at which teams will keep their general, and which teams will move in a new direction.
Buffalo Bills: Ryan Fitzpatrick
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Let's start this one off with a bang.
About five weeks ago, the Bills looked destined to have the top pick in the draft, which they would surely use on a new franchise quarterback. After all, they only had career Ryan Fitzpatrick to take the reigns after cutting Trent Edwards.
Fitzpatrick however has helped bring some respectability back to the Bills, and has been arguably one of the ten best quarterbacks in the league since he took over. He's developed a good connection with Steve Johnson and Lee Evans, and has the Bills playing much better football than their 1-8 record would indicate.
With the Bills having holes on both their interior lines, Buffalo should allow Fitzpatrick one more year to see if he is the read deal and potential franchise quarterback they haven't had since Drew Bledsoe.
Sleeper: A rookie quarterback taken in the middle rounds like Iowa's Ricky Stanzi.
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Miami Dolphins: Chad Henne
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The Dolphins were already starting to doubt the abilities of Chad Henne when he got injured this past Sunday. The severity of his injury is unknown, but there are now more questions than answers in Miami regarding the long term future of the quarterback position. There is a chance if Tyler Thigpen succeeds these next seven weeks that he could unseat Henne. But with their recent past failures at drafting quarterbacks, and unlikely to sign any big name, the Dolphins will most likely give Henne one last shot before moving on elsewhere.
Potential Sleeper: Tyler Thigpen.
Cincinnati Bengals: Carson Palmer
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The question of Palmer's tenure with the Bengals would have been unthinkable ten years ago. But with arguably the best offensive talent he's ever been surrounded by, Palmer has struggled mightily to have his passes go to the right team.
His disastrous effort last week against the Colts was the most recent illustration of his struggles. The questions of his knee injury five years ago turning Palmer into a shell of his former self certainly look more legitimate now. If the Bengals continue their nose dive, they could be in position to select Andrew Luck as their quarterback of the future since many other bottom feeders (Buffalo, Dallas, Detroit, Cleveland, Denver, etc) may not need one.
Sleeper: Andrew Luck if Palmer continues to underachieve to a point the team cuts him.
Cleveland Browns: Colt McCoy
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Talk about a quarterback taking advantage of an opportunity.
When the Browns drafted McCoy in the third round, they tried to ensure he would not see the field in 2010, signing not one, but two NFL veterans. However, when they both got hurt, McCoy was forced into a game at Pittsburgh and did himself proud. Since then, he's led the Browns to wins at New Orleans and home against New England as well as last weekends near miss against the Jets.
There is a feeling Browns fans haven't felt for awhile and that is hope. If McCoy can continue his play, it's his job in 2011. If it falters down the stretch however, Seneca Wallace, whom, I expect will be resigned could compete for the job. Regardless, Jake Delhomme is a goner.
Sleeper: Seneca Wallace
Jacksonville Jaguars: Ryan Mallet
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The Jaguars are coming off perhaps the most bizarre victory in their teams history Sunday and despite being blown out numerous times this season, sit just one game out of first at 5-4.
While David Garrard had a strong game last week, he's also struggled mightily at other points. For a franchise that is in desperate need of excitement, I expect them to go down another path next year. Assuming the Jags finish in the middle of the pack, they'll draft an SEC quarterback in Ryan Mallet.
Sleeper: Garrard gets a multi-year extension.
Kansas City Chiefs: Matt Cassel
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Mere weeks ago, Chiefs fans would have had no confidence in Matt Cassel in the huddle. But after going off for nearly 500 yards passing against the Broncos this pat week surely eased many minds in K.C. Cassel has a large, multi-year contract left, and with a team that continues to rebuild, Cassel should be there for many years to come.
Sleeper: Brodie Croyle if Cassel somehow becomes a total flop.
Denver Broncos: Kyle Orton
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You really have to not be enjoying life right now if you're Brady Quinn. Less than a year ago, Quinn signed with the Broncos to be the team backup with the slim possibility of eventually starting. Flash forward to 10 weeks into the season, and Kyle Orton is having a pro bowl year while Tim Tebow continues to become a bigger part of the offense.
For Orton specifically, he's responded to having Tebow breathe down his neck by having the best season of his career. His numbers have proven that his seat will be safe in 2011 if not for years to come.
Sleeper: Tim Tebow, but only to possibly get a few more red zone possessions.
Oakland Raiders: Bruce Gradkowski
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The Raiders are having a problem that for once is of a good variety. In recent weeks, both Bruce Gradkowski and Jason Campbell have produced for the Raiders.
Assuming no other QB is signed, these two guys will duke it out next year to see who starts. While Campbell may have more talent, the team seems to rally more behind Gradkowski. And for that reason, he will be taking the opening day snap come 2011.
Sleeper: Definitely Jason Campbell.
Washington Redskins: David Garrard
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With Gerrard likely out of Jacksonville, the Redskins can sign Gerrard who would mostly likely be no worse than McNabb while saving millions of dollars. Rex Grossman could also be given a chance, whom the Shanahan's seem to like, despite his well known struggles in Chicago.
McNabb staying is also an option, but given the direction of their season, this seems to be heading towards an amicable split come season's end.
Sleeper: Donovan McNabb.
Philadelphia Eagles: Michael Vick
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The cute story that Andy Reid told us earlier this year about how it's great to have two good starting quarterbacks on his roster will come to an end once free agency starts.
With Michael Vick primed to get another $100 million contract, the Eagles still have Kevin Kolb and his $10+ million salary on the books. Something has to give here, and with the dominance of Vick this year, Kolb will almost certainly be the odd man out of Philadelphia unless some other team somehow outspends the Eagles for Vick's services.
Sleeper: Kevin Kolb only if Vick signs somewhere else.
Detroit Lions: Matthew Stafford
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This is a sad story that always seems to happen to teams like the Lions, Chicago Cubs or L.A. Clippers.
After spending years and millions of dollars, the Lions finally find a franchise quarterback. The problem is the guy is already showing a history of having serious shoulder problems after less than a season's worth of playing time. For this, the team has to show some serious concern. Shaun Hill has filled in admirably as the team's backup, but his play has been so solid, he might find himself starting somewhere next year.
Stafford will certainly be the opening starter, but the Lions need to find a veteran to serve as a quality backup, in case he goes down injured again.
Sleeper: If Stafford is still hurt from his 2010 injuries, a guy like Alex Smith, who will likely be a free agent could sneak in there and start.
Minnesota Vikings: Kevin Kolb
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Viking fans, meet your new franchise quarterback.
With Vick emerging as the Eagles starter, Philadelphia is unlikely to keep two quarterbacks making over $10 million on average per season. For that reason, Kolb will need a new home. With the disaster this season unfolding, and Favre unlikely to come back even if he inexplicably did not retire, Kolb would be the perfect choice here. The two teams run a similar offense, and Kolb could hit the ground running with guys like Sidney Rice and Percy Harvin to throw to.
Sleeper: The only other viable solution is to let Tavaris Jackson be given another chance to start for the team.
Carolina Panthers: Shaun Hill
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With the Panthers trying to develop not one, but two quarterbacks in Jimmy Clausen and Tony Pike, the Panthers will bring in a veteran who can stabilize the position while they sort the two prospects out.
Hill is enjoying a good season in Detroit, who's getting the majority of the play with Stafford being constantly hurt. Hill will come to Carolina with an open try out to see who will start, and due to solid play in the pre-season will kick off 2011 as the starter.
Sleeper: Jimmy Clausen
San Francisco 49'ers: Troy Smith
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Mike Singletary put his coaching life on the line when he named Troy Smith his new starting quarterback two weeks ago. Smith, the former Heisman Trophy winner, had done virtually nothing in the NFL to warrant starting in this league, yet his coach tabbed him over former No. 1 draft pick David Carr.
Smith has rewarded this confidence by going 2-0 and throwing for over 300 yards this past Sunday against the Rams. Singletary is an old school coach and person that preaches things like loyalty. For Smith to make his coach look good and bring the 49'ers back into contention (Yes, 3-6 in the NFC West = contention), I believe it is his job to lose now.
It would however shock no one to see the 49'ers take a quarterback like Nick Foles or Christian Ponder in the second round of the draft to groom a potential future starter that could conceivably start for a starting quarterback spot. In any case, it would appear Alex Smith is history in San Fran.
Sleeper pick: A rookie quarterback drafted in the second or third round.
Seattle Seahawks: Matt Hasselbeck
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There are two things that have thus far been proven in Seattle regarding their quarterbacks. 1) Matt Hasselbeck has something left in the tank if he remains healthy and 2) Charlie Whitehurst doesn't appear to have what it takes in the NFL.
With those two things in mind, I would expect the Seahawks to draft local hero Jake Locker who, given his erratic play this year, should move down the draft charts to the point they could snag him. At 36, Hasselbeck could still play one more year and help groom Locker who with some polishing should become a solid NFL quarterback.
Sleeper: Jake Locker if he outperforms his mentor.
Arizona Cardinals: Donovan McNabb
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The Cardinals were obviously not prepared for life after Kurt Warner when they had to cut Matt Leinart and rely on the unreliable Derek Anderson at quarterback as well as undrafted rookie Max Hall. The Cardinals will do something they should have done the previous off-season and sign McNabb, who likely will be cut by the Redskins following this year. With McNabb throwing balls to Larry Fitzgerald and Steve Breaston, the Cardinals could immediately thrust themselves back into contention.
Sleeper: Max Hall if they are unable to bring in any veteran.
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