NFL Trade Talk: 5 Quarterbacks Who Should Be Traded but Won't Be

There is a shortage of quality QBs in the NFL.

After you get through your Peyton Mannings, Tom Bradys, Phillip Rivers, Matt Schaub's etc., you look at the rest of the quarterbacks in the NFL and you think to yourself, "Wow, the NFL is really lacking in the QB department."

It's not an easy position to play and it's not an easy position to fill for general managers.

I'd go so far as to say that out of the four major sports, it's the hardest position to play.

Nonetheless, playing QB in the NFL is a job. If you don't do your job, then you don't deserve to play QB in the NFL.

There are numerous teams with bad or less than desirable QB situations, but some of these teams have an excuse for their "situations." Some teams have rookie QB's starting. Some teams have inexperienced QB's starting. Some teams simply don't have any better options at the position.

However, there are teams out there that do have better options but choose to go in the same route they've been going the last few seasons which has led to nothing but consistency in the losing department.

Here are five quarterbacks that should be traded in 2011 but won't be.

Denver Broncos: Kyle Orton

This is the selection that I feel most passionate about, seeing as I'm a Broncos fan.

Kyle Orton is a decent QB. He is your prototypical game manager, in the vein of Trent Dilfer and Brad Johnson. Kyle Orton won't lose you games, but he also won't win you games.

The Denver Broncos are a below average team when it comes to the talent level on their squad. Their depth is terrible and their starters are average at best.

If Kyle Orton was on a team such as the Jets, where they are loaded with talent, I'd have no problem with him starting.

The problem with Orton is, he's an average QB on a bad team. He won't make the team better. Tim Tebow makes the team better simply because the versatility that Orton will never possess.

The Broncos are terrible with Kyle Orton on third downs. The Broncos ranked 28th in 2010, converting on only 32.37 percent of their third down conversions. In 2009, the Broncos ranked 21st, converting on only 36.28 percent of their third downs.

That is not a recipe for success.

The Broncos have lost 18 of their past 23 games with Kyle Orton starting, and although the fault in 2010 is mainly the defense's fault, the Broncos are simply a more competitive team with Tebow starting compared to when Orton is starting.

Denver averaged more points, had a better average margin in points, gained more rushing yards and were more competitive with Tebow starting in his three games, compared to when Orton started in his 13 games.

Is there a chance that Denver is decent this season provided the running game and the defense performs decently? Yes. But in all liklihood, Denver won't go any better than 8-8 with Orton at QB with a second place finish in the division.

Orton is making $9 million this year on the one year that he has on the contract. It's time for Denver to head into a different direction and see if Tebow really is the franchise QB.

San Francisco 49ers: Alex Smith

Forget about trading this guy. This guy should have never been re-signed in the first place.

I understand why the Niners re-signed Alex Smith. It was a safe move, seeing as Alex Smith has started for the Niners for the past six seasons since being drafted by SF in 2005.

It was a safe move because he already has chemistry with Frank Gore, Vernon Davis and Michael Crabtree.

It was a safe move because although the Niners had another coaching overhaul with Jim Harbaugh taking over as head coach, Alex Smith is familiar with the organization.

It was a safe move because Smith is keeping the seat warm for rookie draft pick Colin Kaepernick.

That's about the end of the positives when it comes to Alex Smith. It was a safe move.

Alex Smith has led a team that hasn't had a winning record since he took over. He led them to a dissapointing season, which saw them win only six games, when they were expected to run away with the division after the retirement of Kurt Warner. Alex Smith failed yet again.

Alex Smith is a QB that doesn't have potential. He is 27 years old, he has had his chance to shine and he has failed every time. Quite simply put, he is a bust.

He is a mental midget, he is turnover prone and a large reason other than his own faults, for his lack of success in the NFL is/was due to the constant coaching turnover that took place in SF and the lack of supporting cast that the Niners have had for the majority of Smith's career.

A similar career to Smith's was that of David Carr in Houston.

Expect Alex Smith to go the route of David Carr, playing the role of journeyman backup after he fails yet again in 2011.

Alex Smith should be traded, but he won't be. Because simply nobody wants to trade anything for him.

Jacksonville Jaguars: David Garrard

David Garrard is a QB that has lasted about two years too long as a starting QB for the Jaguars.

The Jaguars finally made the effort into rebuilding with the drafting of Blaine Gabbert in the first round in the 2011 Draft.

Garrard is a QB that isn't very good in anything. Where he excels at is his leadership qualities, something that Byron Leftwich was never very good at. That is what landed Garrard the starting job, despite his lack of physical skills.

Like a lot of QB's in the mold of Garrard, they have short periods of success and go down hill after defenses pick up on their tendencies. That's what happened to Garrard. Three years ago.

Garrard had a magnificant 2007 season, where he went to the Pro Bowl, throwing 18 TD's and only 3 INT's to lead the Jaguars to the Divisional Playoffs.

In 2008, he threw 15 TDs and 13 INTs. Jacksonville went 5-11.

In 2009, Garrard threw for 15 TDs and 10 INTs. Jacksonville went 7-9.

In 2010, the Jaguars had a chance to win the division before losing to the Colts in Week 16.

Garrard should not be the starting QB in a division that contains offensive juggernauts such as the Texans and the Colts. Yeah, Garrard's stat line in 2010 of 23 TDs and 15 INTs doesn't look so bad, until you compare them to Matt Schaub and Peyton Manning.

Garrard is keeping the seat warm for Gabbert. Chances are, after Gabbert gets the starting job, Garrard will remain with Jacksonville in a backup role.

Miami Dolphins: Chad Henne

I actually like Chad Henne. I might be in the one percent of people who actually like Chad Henne, and I'm not even a Michigan Wolverines fan.

Henne had a fine season starting in his first year in the NFL in 2009, going 7-6 and leading the Dolphins to the best third-down conversion percentage of any team in the NFL.

That all collapsed in 2010.

Remember Week 16 vs. Detroit at home when all Miami had to was run out the clock, but Henne managed to throw two interceptions with a few minutes remaining to single-handedly give the game to Detroit?

Henne looked good in the pre-season. With the exception of a two INT first quarter effort vs. Atlanta, Henne has looked comfortable and efficient.

Henne is the one selection on this list where I believe he does deserve a chance. Give him the first two or three games of the season to see how he performs. If the running game, which was 28th in 2010, improved to the point where the Dolphins have a balanced offensive attack, there should be no excuse for Henne playing terribly.

If the Dolphins, which had a good defense in 2010, continues to be a stout defensive team and the running game proves to be above average but Henne falters, Henne should be traded for whatever Miami can get.

If Henne proves to be an adequate game manager for a solid Dolphins squad, he deserves another year in the aqua and orange.

Seattle Seahawks: Tarvaris Jackson or Charlie Whitehurst

Did I mention how bad the Seahawks' QB situation is?

You have a guy who has started two games in his six-year NFL career.

You have another guy who is a little bit experienced starting in the NFL but hasn't started on a full-time basis since 2007.

Both guys are limited in terms of skill sets; neither of them have strong arms. Neither of them have accurate arms. Neither of them really have any big play potential. Hell, Jackson hasn't averaged any more than 4.2 yards an attempt this preseason.

It's safe to say the Seahawks won't win the division this year. They'll be battling with the Niners to avoid (or maybe not) finishing in last place in the NFC West.

Either way, whichever QB fails to win the starting job this season, needs to be traded.

I understand the Seahawks gave up a lot for Whitehurst in 2010, and they just signed Jackson to a two year deal, but the 'Hawks are going nowhere with these two guys. They were better of with a 35-year-old Matt Hasselbeck who had thrown 12 TDs and 17 INTs.

At least he provided leadership and the resume. These guys have neither of those qualities.