NFL Power Rankings: Which Teams Are Playing for Andrew Luck Lottery?

A theme we're going to hear again and again throughout the 2011 season is in regard to the opportunity of some NFL teams to draft Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck with the first pick in next April's NFL draft. Many have dubbed him the best college quarterback prospect since Peyton Manning, with some thinking he may even be better overall. Of course, that makes Luck a tremendous catch for the team that finishes the 2011 season with the worst record.

Plenty of teams are still in the running for the Andrew Luck "sweepstakes."

Jacksonville Jaguars (1-5)

The Jaguars are going to take their lumps with rookie Blaine Gabbert starting at quarterback. He'd really have to fall on his face over the next 10 games for the Jags to consider taking Luck. Jacksonville's defense will probably win them a few games that should take them out of the Luck lottery.  

Minnesota Vikings (1-5)

The Christian Ponder era is going to start in Minnesota sooner rather than later. Whether that change at quarterback will help the Vikings improve their 1-5 record is up for debate, but it'd be a shock if Ponder didn't start the second half of the season. It would be very interesting to see what the Vikings would do with the No. 1 pick if they attained it after 2011. 

Arizona Cardinals (1-4)

There is still plenty of time to turns things around, but the Cardinals don't look markedly better than 2010. New quarterback Kevin Kolb has been a part of the problem. But if the Cards did get the first overall pick, they'd be hard-pressed to use it on Luck.  

Miami Dolphins (0-5)

Finally, we get to the meat of the Luck lottery. The Dolphins start the "true" candidates, as they don't have a win or a quarterback on the roster that looks capable of getting more than one or two this season. The Dolphins offense is poor enough with Matt Moore under center that they'll stick right with the Colts for the No. 1 pick. Luck could give Miami their first real quarterback prospect since Dan Marino retired. 

Indianapolis Colts (0-6)

The Colts are losing in every way possible, and with six tallies in the loss column already, they are probably the front runners. Curtis Painter can probably pull off a handful of wins this season, but the only winnable games left on the Colts' schedule look like a pair of games with the Jags. It's bad in Indy right now, and they could be a 1-15 team in 2011.

St. Louis Rams (0-5)

The Rams looked like they were going to get blown out of the water in the first half Sunday at Lambeau Field, but St. Louis played a better second half and only lost by three touchdowns. The Rams also went out and got Pro Bowl receiver Brandon Lloyd, who Sam Bradford desperately needs. Injuries have ravaged this team, and even in the NFC West, the Rams will struggle to keep their head above water. But if the Rams get the No. 1 pick, there's almost zero chance they'd take Luck. 

Full Week 7 Power Rankings

1. Green Bay Packers (6-0)	17. Chicago Bears (3-3)
2. New England Patriots (5-1)	18. Atlanta Falcons (3-3)
3. Baltimore Ravens (4-1)	19. New York Jets (3-3)
4. San Francisco 49ers (5-1)	20. Philadelphia Eagles (2-4)
5. Detroit Lions (5-1)	21. Washington Redskins (3-2)
6. New Orleans Saints (4-2)	22. Cleveland Browns (2-3)
7. San Diego Chargers (4-1)	23. Seattle Seahawks (2-3)
8. Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2)	24. Kansas City Chiefs (2-3)
9. Buffalo Bills (4-2)	25. Carolina Panthers (1-5)
10. Oakland Raiders (4-2)	26. Denver Broncos (1-4)
11. New York Giants (4-2)	27. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-5)
12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-2)	28. Minnesota Vikings (1-5)
13. Tennessee Titans (3-2)	29. Arizona Cardinals (1-4)
14. Cincinnati Bengals (4-2)	30. Miami Dolphins (0-5)
15. Houston Texans (3-3)	31. Indianapolis Colts (0-6)
16. Dallas Cowboys (2-3)	32. St. Louis Rams (0-5)