NFL Rumors: The Top 10 QB-Needy Teams and Where They Will Turn

You need a quarterback to compete in the NFL.  It's a fact. 

If you have a stellar defense, you can mask a mediocre quarterback, but that's about the best you can hope for.  Unfortunately for the following teams, they don't possess that stellar defense and need to upgrade their quarterbacks. 

But how will they get it done?  Guys like Peyton Manning and Aaron Rogers simply don't grow on trees.  Look ahead to see where they will find their next signal caller.

10. Cincinnati Bengals

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CINCINNATI - DECEMBER 26: Carson Palmer #9 of the Cincinnati Bengals throws a pass during the NFL game against the San Diego Chargers at Paul Brown Stadium on December 26, 2010 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Bengals 34-20. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Carson Palmer just isn't that good.  He puts up solid numbers and makes a pretty impressive throw or two every game, but that's about it. 

The recent struggles of the team make it obvious that they need a change of pace to revitalize the franchise.  A quarterback change can do just that.

If the Bengals do trade away Palmer, look for them to take Missouri quarterback Blaine Gabbert with the fourth overall pick.  If they don't trade him, they will probably suffer through another season with Palmer. 

9. Buffalo Bills

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MIAMI - DECEMBER 19: Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick #14 of the Buffalo Bills throws against the Miami Dolphins at Sun Life Stadium on December 19, 2010 in Miami, Florida.The Bills defeated the Dolphins 17-14. (Photo by Marc Serota/Getty Images)

Ryan Fitzpatrick was a serviceable quarterback for the Buffalo Bills last season.  He put up great numbers and didn't make glaring mistakes, but he was playing from behind all year. 

Regardless, the Bills could have done a lot worse at quarterback.

But Fitzpatrick isn't a franchise quarterback.  And with the third pick in the draft, expect the Bills to try and find that franchise quarterback. 

They will take Auburn quarterback Cam Newton and hope that the experiment works out.

8. Washington Redskins

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LANDOVER, MD - JANUARY 02: Quarterback Rex Grossman #8 of the Washington Redskins throws a pass in the fourth quarter of a game against the New York Giants at FedEx Field on January 2, 2011 in Landover, Maryland. The Giants won the game 17-14. (Photo by

The Redskins signed Donovan McNabb, and not long after, he began clashing with head coach Mike Shanahan.  Shanahan disliked him so much that he started Rex Grossman over him.  That says a lot.

Now McNabb is gone, and your starting quarterback going into the 2011/2012 season is Rex Grossman.  This is a man who has failed at every stop he has made in the NFL.  Shanahan does believe in him, though.

The Redskins have the 10th pick, but no deserving quarterback will still be on the board.  They will most likely try and sign someone like an Alex Smith and just ride it out for the year. 

On the bright side, Andrew Luck will be available in the draft next year.

7. Minnesota Vikings

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DETROIT, MI - JANUARY 02: Joe Webb #14 of the Minnesota Vikings throws a first quarter pass while playing the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on January 2, 2011 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Brett Favre finally retired—at least, for now.  That status may change, as it is wont to do.

Now the Vikings are left with Tarvaris Jackson and Joe Webb under center.  Many may see that as a pretty bad quarterbacking corps, but they have seemed surprisingly efficient when they have taken the field in the past. 

The Vikings will probably play out the 2011/2012 season with Jackson and Webb and see how things go.  It can't be worse than the Favre mess last season.

6. Miami Dolphins

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FOXBORO, MA - JANUARY 02: Vince Wilfork #75 of the New England Patriots pressures Chad Henne #7 of the Miami Dolphins on January 2, 2011 at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

The Miami Dolphins are currently stuck with a double dose of Chad: Henne and Pennington. 

Both have looked pretty good at times and downright horrendous at others.  The team needs a stable option at quarterback as soon as possible.

Unfortunately, none are available.  All serviceable quarterbacks will be gone by the 15th pick in the draft.  There is really no one better than Henne or Pennington available through trade or free agency either.

The Dolphins will probably just have to gut it out for another season.

5. Denver Broncos

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DENVER - JANUARY 02: Quarterback Tim Tebow #15 of the Denver Broncos gets back on his feet after being knocked down against the San Diego Chargers at INVESCO Field at Mile High on January 2, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Image

The Tim Tebow experience began during the  last few weeks of the 2010/2011 season.  He definitely didn't look like the second coming of Aaron Rogers but didn't look like an NFL washout either.  Plus, the fans absolutely adore him.

With so few options out there, the Broncos will probably roll the dice with the Tebow experience once again next season.  If it doesn't work out, oh well, they weren't winning the Super Bowl this year anyway.

But if, by some miracle, they do, they suddenly have the most marketable star in the NFL.  A lot to gain and little to lose up in Denver.

4. Carolina Panthers

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ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 02: Quarterback Jimmy Clausen #2 of the Carolina Panthers against the Atlanta Falcons at Georgia Dome on January 2, 2011 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Jimmy Clausen isn't the answer.  That's pretty clear. 

But, once again, the Panthers face a horrible dilemma: Do they use the number one pick on a quarterback that they desperately need?

It's doubtful.

No quarterback this year warrants a number one selection, regardless of how badly a team needs one.  No one is a sure-fire thing—not even close.

The Panthers need to try and trade or sign someone like McNabb, Kevin Kolb or Billy Volek.

3. Tennessee Titans

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NASHVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 21: Quarterback Vince Young #11 of the Tennessee Titans talks with a member of the training staff after leaving a game against the Washington Redskins at LP Field on November 21, 2010 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Redskins won 19-

Vince Young and Jeff Fisher are gone.  Kerry Collins remains their quarterback.  That needs to change.

The Titans have the eighth pick in the draft and will most certainly take Blaine Gabbert if the Missouri quarterback is available. 

However, that doesn't seem likely.

So, they will be forced to either live with Collins for a year or attempt to trade for someone like McNabb or Kolb.  I'm putting my money on the trade route. 

2. San Fransisco 49ers

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SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JANUARY 02: Alex Smith #11 of the San Francisco 49ers runs against the Arizona Cardinals during an NFL game at Candlestick Park on January 2, 2011 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

Alex Smith was an experiment gone horribly wrong, as the former No. 1 pick hasn't lived up to his hype in the slightest. 

Troy Smith is fun to see play every now and then, but he isn't a franchise quarterback.

If the Bengals don't take Gabbert, he has a tremendous chance of landing in San Francisco.  But if the Bengals do snatch him up, that leaves the 49ers with very, very few options. 

Gabbert is option A.  Option B is probably Kevin Kolb from the Eagles.  If that doesn't work out, it's a year of Troy Smith.

1. Arizona Cardinals

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GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 05: Quarterback Derek Anderson #3 of the Arizona Cardinals scrambles to pass the football during the NFL game against the St. Louis Rams at the University of Phoenix Stadium on December 5, 2010 in Glendale, Arizona. The Rams defea

The No. 1 receiver in the league is wasting away in Arizona.  Larry Fitzgerald is literally fading away as Derek Anderson and John Skelton overthrow him again and again...and again.

They can't waste time by building up a rookie quarterback, especially not the ones available in this year's draft.  Gabbert or Newton, if available, won't be near their prime for probably two more years.

Their best bet is to go out and get McNabb.  Sure he has looked pretty terrible over the past few seasons, but anyone with a working arm is better than who they have now.  Fitzgerald needs SOMETHING. 

McNabb is the answer for now.