Miami Dolphins, San Francisco 49ers and 8 Other Teams Who Need a QB Quick Fix
Miami Dolphins, San Francisco 49ers and 8 Other Teams Have Big Decisions Ahead
The Miami Dolphins, San Francisco 49ers and eight other teams will be busy this offseason looking for upgrades at the quarterback position.
Some franchises are looking for a new long-term solution, some a short term solution to wait out a young quarterback, or just to start all over from scratch.
And some of those solutions will come through the draft, some through free agency, and some via trade.
But who has the most undesirable quarterback situation in the NFL?
No. 10: Buffalo Bills
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Quarterbacks Under Contract: Ryan Fitzpatrick, Levi Brown
Best Bet For Upgrade: Free Agency
The Bills like Ryan Fitzpartick. And he played well throughout most of the season. But is he really the “franchise quarterback” that team needs?
Maybe.
Either way, they could really use a veteran on the roster. Brian Brohm is a restricted free agent, and should something happen to Fitzpatrick, they probably don’t want to go with Brown, a 24-year-old who has thrown three passes in his career.
If Matt Hasselbeck were on the market, or perhaps a player like Chad Pennington, the Bills would be wise to have a proven veteran on their club for at least one year.
No. 9: Jacksonville Jaguars
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Quarterbacks On The Roster: David Garrard
Best Bet For Upgrade: Draft, later round
David Garrard has been “productive” and “efficient”, but he struggled down the stretch, tossing eight interceptions in his last six games.
The Jags have invested a lot of money in him, so it seems unlikely that they’re looking to replace him.
But with no other quarterbacks on the roster as of right now, they have to make one, if not two moves.
They have other concerns to address with their first round pick, so the team shouldn’t be in the running for a Cam Newton, Blaine Gabbert, or Ryan Mallett. Maybe Jake Locker could be a fit, but a later round pick is more likely.
No. 8: Seattle Seahawks
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Quarterbacks Under Contract: Charlie Whitehurst
Best Bet For Upgrade: Draft, second round
The Seahawks really want to re-sign Hasselbeck. Or at least that’s what Pete Carroll is saying.
Something working against that, however, is the fact that he played so well in the playoff win over New Orleans. That had to raise his value. He’ll also be 36 next year and has battled injuries recently, so giving him anything more than a one-year deal doesn’t seem to make sense.
That would just leave them with Charlie Whitehurst, whose contract ends after next season.
They need to come up with a long term plan for the offense.
It’s hard to imagine that they would pass on Jake Locker if he were still around in the second round, but either way, another young quarterback is in their future.
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No. 7: Carolina Panthers
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Quarterbacks Under Contract: Jimmy Clausen, Tony Pike
Best Bet For Upgrade: Trade
Jimmy Clausen did better than people seem to remember: he had a few decent games, including his win over the Cardinals, and a near upset of the Saints in Week Four.
Still, Clausen couldn’t have been too promising to the Panthers, otherwise they wouldn’t have been so willing to take Andrew Luck first overall.
They missed out on Luck, but even that wouldn’t have cured their ailments. With a new regime coming to Carolina, they could certainly use a veteran leader to at least mentor, push, or even replace Clausen at some point during the season.
They’ve also invested in Tony Pike, but having two second-year quarterbacks and no one else (Matt Moore is a free agent) is a big concern.
No. 6: Minnesota Vikings
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Quarterbacks Under Contract: Joe Webb, Rhett Bomar
Best Bet For Upgrade: Draft, first round
This should be the year that Brett Favre finally stays retired, but who knows.
Regardless of what the Great Waffler does come August, the Vikings quarterback cast needs an overhaul. With Bomar and Webb, the club doesn’t need another young quarterback, so re-signing Tarvaris Jackson doesn’t make sense.
Still, if a great prospect like Cam Newton, Ryan Mallett, or Blaine Gabbert is left on the draft board, and they have an incredible combine, passing on one of them will be very hard to do, especially with the combination of a major letdown in 2010 and so many skill players on offense.
Vince Young is also out there in a potential trade scenario, but if the asking price is anything higher than a third or fourth round, the Vikes will probably bow out of the running.
No. 5: Miami Dolphins
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Quarterbacks Under Contract: Chad Henne
Best Bet For Upgrade: Draft, late round
Henne’s future in Miami is a major question mark. He had some decent games, and a few games that were absolutely dreadful.
He seems to have all the tools to be successful in the NFL and has the Michigan background.
But he regressed in 2010.
Henne should bounce back strong. Still, there is no net in case he doesn’t or if he gets injured.
If they want a veteran on the roster, then re-signing Pennington is the best move. Or perhaps the team tries to acquire Kevin Kolb. But to have a backup plan in case Henne isn’t the future, they can find a potential successor in one of the later rounds, maybe a Colin Kaepernick or an Andy Dalton.
No. 4: Tennessee Titans
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Quarterbacks Under Contract: Rusty Smith, Vince Young (not for long)
Best Bet For Upgrade: Trade
The Titans are moving Vince Young: that seems to be a guarantee.
But even his frequent replacement, Kerry Collins, is a free agent this spring, and Rusty Smith didn’t show very much in his lone start (three picks) against Houston.
Kevin Kolb seems like a great fit if they can get him at a reasonable price from Philadelphia. In case that doesn’t happen, they do have the eighth pick in April’s draft and either Cam Newton, Blaine Gabbert, or Ryan Mallett would be a nice fit.
No. 3: Washington Redskins
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Quarterbacks Under Contract: Donovan McNabb, John Beck
Best Bet For Upgrade: Draft, first round
The apparent savior in Washington, Rex Grossman, is a free agent and there seems to be a consensus that McNabb isn’t going to be back, no matter what his contract says.
The Redskins could take a look at making a trade, but considering the problems between McNabb and Shanahan, Vince Young isn’t a great idea. And although the Eagles dealt a quarterback in-division to the Redskins last year, they probably won’t move Kevin Kolb to the Skins under any circumstances.
One of the franchise quarterbacks out there, particularly Cam Newton, should be appealing to owner Daniel Snider. If nothing else he has immense star power, and Shanahan should be clever enough to design an offense around him.
No. 2: San Francisco 49ers
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Quarterbacks Under Contract: David Carr
Best Bet For Upgrade: Draft, first round
Jim Harbaugh needs to find a franchise quarterback soon, and neither the first overall pick nor the former Heisman Trophy winner on the 2010 roster were what he has in mind.
Kevin Kolb could be on their radar, but Harbaugh and his staff shouldn’t start their tenure in San Francisco by dealing away picks.
Depending on how the beginning of the draft shakes out, the 49ers could have the first choice among quarterbacks. If that is the case, they are much more likely to take one.
There is a ton of talent on that offense: Frank Gore, Vernon Davis, Michael Crabtree, two great young linemen, even Ted Ginn, Jr..
Now all they need is a quarterback.
No. 1: Arizona Cardinals
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Quarterbacks Under Contract: Max Hall, John Skelton, Derek Anderson, Richard Bartel
Best Bet For Upgrade: Trade
Ironically, the only team on this list with all of their 2010 quarterbacks under contract for next year, is the team with the worst quarterback status.
Anderson had a horrible 2010 and is due almost $4 million next year. Max Hall and John Skelton were even worse but as rookies, but they get a break and should have another chance to compete next season.
When they select, Newton, Gabbert, and Mallett will each probably still be on the board, but taking one of those players might not appeal to Ken Wisenhunt, who found his greatest success with Kurt Warner, not Matt Leinart.
Kevin Kolb could wind up in Arizona, as could Donovan McNabb if the Redskins cut him. But no matter how it happens, the Cardinals must revamp their quarterback corps.
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