2011 NFL Draft: Ranking the Likelihood Of Each NFL Team Selecting a QB
The 2011 NFL draft doesn’t feature a ton of QBs that jump off the page.
Blaine Gibbert, Jake Locker, Ryan Mallett and Cam Newton are all potential NFL stars—but every single one of them has flaws that could blow up in the face of an NFL team that picks them.
Problem is, there are a ton of teams in the league that are willingly to take the risk. The talent level at QB is weak and there are a ton of teams in the market for a QB.
Whether it be for a franchise guy that starts right away, a project that a team must develop, or just a back up…here are the odds of your team drafting a QB in the 2011 NFL draft.
32. Denver Broncos- 30/1
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V.P. of Operations John Elway recently stated that if the season started today Kyle Orton would be the man under center for the Broncos.
Orton put up outstanding numbers but couldn’t get the W’s to match it.
Tim Tebow is quite possibly the biggest wild card of the entire 2011 season.
He showed why he is a living legend in Gainesville and also why a large portion of the NFL was afraid to take a stab at him.
The Broncos may have a huge question mark surrounding their QB situation—but it’s between two players already on the roster.
31. San Diego Chargers- 25/1
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No doubt about the fact that Phillip Rivers is in the prime of his career currently.
He has played hurt in the past as well and seemingly never misses a game. He hasn't missed a single game since taking over as full time starter in 2006.
Billy Volek has had success in the past in a back up role.
The 'Bolts are in great shape at the game's most important position.
30. Green Bay Packers- 25/1
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Have you heard of a guy named Aaron Rodgers by chance?
The hottest QB on the planet will be in a Green Bay uniform for possibly the next 10 years.
Second stringer Matt Flynn almost beat the Patriots in his only career start this season. Like most positions on this Super Bowl team—the Packers are just fine at QB.
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29. Atlanta Falcons- 25/1
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Matt Ryan is the man and is only 25. Unless he gets caught in a dog fighting scandal, Ryan will be the Falcons QB for the next decade.
Second string Chris Redman is the ideal back up. He is a veteran with game experience that will keep the Falcons afloat if Ryan were to ever go down.
28. Balitmore Ravens- 20/1
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Joe Flacco is the guy and he is still extremely young.
Second string QB Mark Bulger had a decent amount of success as starter for the Rams a few seasons back and is a top NFL back up.
27. St. Louis- 20/1
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What a difference a year makes.
In 2010 they needed a QB more than any other team in the NFL.
Now it’s the last thing on their minds.
Sam Bradford didn’t disappoint in his inaugural season and looks to be the face of the Rams for a long time.
A.J. Feeley is a 33-year old serviceable back up that can fill in if need be.
26. Pittsburgh Steelers- 20/1
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Three Super Bowl appearances in seven years….yeah I’m pretty sure Ben Roethlisberger isn’t going anywhere.
His back ups (Byron Leftwich and Charlie Batch) were able to go 3-1 during Big Ben’s suspension.
Can’t ask for much more.
25. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- 20/1
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The Bucs have finally solidified the QB position for the first time since Jeff Garcia was in town. The 23-year old Josh Freeman took Tampa Bay to respectability this year and will enter 2011 with heavy expectations.
No. 2 on the depth chart is Josh Johnson. He is young (24) and completed 14 of his 16 passing attempts in the 2010 regular season.
No need for a QB here.
24. Chicago Bears- 20/1
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Jay Cutler’s season couldn’t have ended any worse for a guy that led his team to the NFC Championship team.
Through all the speculation on if he was hurt or not, the Bears have stuck by his side. Cutler isn’t going anywhere.
The good news of the game was that the Bears found a bonafide No. 2 in Caleb Hanine. After Todd Collins was injured right away in relief of Cutler, Hanie busted out for 153 yards and a TD.
23. Dallas Cowboys 20/1
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The 30-yeard old Tony Romo will return at full strength and is still the franchise QB.
Back-up Jon Kitna performed admirably and will likely return in the role of back up. Stephen McGee is an intriguing second year QB from Texas A&M.
The Cowboys played him in the final two games of the year and he threw for 238 yards and two TDs. He has the potential to be a starter in this league—either with the Cowboys or another team.
22. Kansas City Chiefs- 17/1
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Matt Cassel firmly cemented his spot as starter after getting the Chiefs in the playoffs for the first time in a long while.
Brody Croyel is No. 2 on the depth chart and he certainly doesn’t make Chiefs fans feel safe if Cassel goes down, he is a decent enough back up in a league where it’s becoming a rarity to have one.
21. Houston Texans- 15/1
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Matt Schaub is a fantasy football players dream. He puts up the big stats and has made the Texans into fringe contenders for the past two seasons.
With possibility the worst defense in the league in 2010—the Texans have much bigger fishes to fry.
20. New York Jets- 15/1
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New York Jets- 15/1
After consecutive AFC Championships, Mark Sanchez has firmly entrenched himself as the starter.
Mark Bunell will be entering his 19th season in the NFL but will likely come back as Sanchez’s booger towel for another season. He still has massive debt and could use the NFL paycheck.
Drafting a back up would be a good idea.
19. Detroit Lions- 15/1
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Matthew Stafford will be healthy again…well, until the next injury. Shaun Hill filled in and was a key factor in the Lions four game winning streak to close the season.
Between the two of them the Lions don’t need to worry about drafting a QB in 2011.
18. Cleveland Browns- 15/1
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It appears that the Browns have finally found their man in Colt McCoy. He kept the lowly Browns competitive all year and even beat the Saints and Pats.
Jake Delhomme is a likely one-and-done guy and his NFL career is looking bleak at this point.
Seneca Wallace will be McCoy’s prime back up. It could be much worse.
The Browns will hold off on the QB position in this year’s draft.
17. Philadelphia Eagles- 15/1
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The Michael Vick experiment has been an overwhelming success. The two sides will meet some sort of agreement to keep Vick in Philly.
Kevin Kolb is on the radar of several teams around the league. The Eagles may be able to swing a trade for him in exchange for draft picks.
If that’s the case than Philly will be in the market for a new QB.
If Kolb stays…no way they draft a QB.
16. New Orleans Saints- 12/1
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Drew Brees may be the king of the bayou, but he is 32. His career was almost derailed because of shoulder surgery (ask Miami) and you never know when the wrong hit could destroy the rest of his career.
It would be a good idea for the Saints to grab a reliable back up that could eventually succeed Brees down the line.
Especially when your two other QBs are currently Chase Daniels and Sean Canfield.
15. New England Patriots- 13/1
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Tom Brady’s job isn’t in danger but he is going to be 34-years old when the 2011 season begins.
The time is now to draft a future replacement.
Second stringer Brian Hoyer is still an unproven commodity and it’s doubtful he's the heir apparent to Brady.
The Pats would be smart to draft a QB in the late rounds and see if they can land the…well the next Tom Brady.
14. Jaksonville Jaguars- 12/1
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David Garrard is about as average as it gets for an NFL QB. He won’t ever wow you with his numbers but he does a great job of taking care of the football.
His job is safe for now.
His back up is former Bills starter Trent Edwards. He is capable of keeping the Jags competitive is Garrard were to go down.
13. New York Giants- 11/1
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The 30-year old Eli Manning will be entering his eight season as starter for the Giants in 2011. He is showing no signs of aging and will presumably be the man for at least the next three-to-five seasons.
But the G-Men certainly may draft a QB on Day Two of the draft. Sage Rosenfels has been a career back up that didn’t even see the field in 2010. He is also aging—turning 33 in a month.
Keep Rosenfels another year as they groom a new guy to be the back up.
12. Indianapolis Colts- 12/1
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Peyton Manning is getting old and he only has 3-5 years of top-notch play left in him. Then again…we said that about Favre a decade ago.
Assuming Manning bows out gracefully, it’s not too early for the Colts to start thinking about a replacement.
Taking a stab at a QB in the fifth or six round wouldn’t hurt.
11. Oakland Raiders- 10/1
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Is Jason Campbell the guy?
He was yanked in-and-out of the lineup for a good portion of the year and was getting bumped by Bruce Gradkowski.
The Raiders organization, well Al Davis, needs to decide if they are going to go all-in with Campbell or draft a guy that could replace him at some point in 2011 or the beginning of 2012.
10. Buffalo Bills- 7/1
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The Bills front office has already confirmed that Ryan Fitzpatrick will be the starter in 2011.
Whhhhhy?
Are the standards so low in Buffalo that they are willingly to tell their fans that a guy coming off a 4-12 season is without a doubt going to be back under center?
If I’m the Bills I draft a QB with my second or third round pick and start him mid-way through the season.
9. Miami Dolphins- 5/1
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Chad Henne had a brutal end of the season in 2010 and has proven to be a big question mark for the Dolphins.
Tyler Thigpen is terrible and has never won a game in his career.
Drafting a QB in round one or two should be on the top of their priority list.
8. Cincinnati Bengals- 5/1
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Carson Palmer has demanded a trade and owner Mike Brown already laughed in his face and said no way.
But when the alleged best player on your team wants to jump ship...why would you ever want to keep him?
That’s the Bengals my friends.
Boomer Esiason was in the same situation nearly two decades ago and he had to play another year before getting traded.
The back up is little Jordan Palmer and there is no way he is capable of starting in the NFL. His first ever pass was a pick-six.
Draft a QB in the third round and let him develop under Palmer and throw him into the fire if the Bengals have another retched season.
7. Tennessee Titans- 5/1
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In a battle between Vince Young and Jeff Fisher….owner Bud Adams won.
Fisher is already gone and Adams has already stated that Young will be traded.
Kerry Collins will be entering his 17 season in 2011 and by no means should be relied upon.
Rusty Smith? Lol
The Titans will be drafting a QB at some point in the draft…the only question is when.
6. Seattle Seahawks- 3/1
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Matt Hasselbeck has about one good year left in him. Lucky for him his back up is Charlie Whitehurst.
While the fans momentarily turned on Hasselbaeck in ’10, he won them back with a playoff victory.
The time is now to draft a QB in the second or third round and help him learn under Hasselbeck.
5. Washington Redskins- 3/1
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The Donovan McNabb era didn’t even last a year. The relationship between Mike Shannahan and McNabb has been damaged beyond repair.
If the ‘Skins think Rex Grossman is the answer they are clinically insane.
Whether it be in the first or second round…the Redskins have to draft a QB at some point in the 2011 draft.
4. Carolina Panthers- 3/1
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The Panthers ran out of Luck when the consensus No. 1 overall pick Andrew Luck decided to stay in school.
Do the Panthers feel comfortable going into the new season with the QB options of Jimmy Clausen and Brian St. Pierre?
No way.
The Panthers will likely spend their No. 1 overall pick on Nick Fairley. A new QB will be selected in the second or third round…just like Clausen was last year.
Gulp.
3. San Francisco 49ers- 2/1
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Two QBs with an average last name and below average game.
New coach Jim Harbaugh has already publicly commented on his “excitement” to be able to coach former No. 1 pick Alex Smith.
This team needs to admit their mistakes of the past and start fresh.
Neither Alex nor Troy Smith is the answer and the quicker they figure that out the quicker the team makes the playoffs.
2. Minnesota Vikings- Even
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Is the Brett Favre saga finally over?
That question can never be completely answered ‘till August but it looks as if he is finally done.
Tavaris Jackson is a goner and Joe Webb was inconsistent in the few games he had a chance to play in.
The Vikings have to start from scratch with a franchise QB and hope he is able to be effective right away.
1. Arizona Cardinals- Off The Board
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The team with the biggest need for a QB has got to be the Cardinals.
Max Hall? No
Derek Anderson? Don’t make me laugh on the sideline.
John Skelton? Please
If the Cardinals want to keep star WR Larry Fitzgerald happy they better draft a QB in the first two rounds.
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