NFL Draft 2012: 5 Teams That Need Andrew Luck

"John Elway had the highest grade ever and that was back in the 1983 draft, ironically, out of Stanford. And certainly Andrew Luck will have the second highest grade behind Elway."

Pretty high praise from ESPN's Mel Kiper and it must not be far from the truth because the NFL is buzzing.

Obviously, every team would love to have him. Here are the five teams that need him most—and have the best odds of drafting him.

Honorable Mentions

These are teams that could certainly use some Luck, but are much less likely to get him.

New York Jets: You saw this coming. It's time to cut your losses, New York.

Washington Redskins: Can you even name their starting QB? Didn't think so.

Kansas City Chiefs: Matt Cassel is missing his days in the New England passing system...you know, when he looked good.

Dallas Cowboys: You shouldn't cringe every time your QB drops back.

Houston Texans: Matt Schaub is not the future.

5. Andrew Luck Can't Make the Rams Any Worse

True, the Rams recently selected Sam Bradford No. 1 overall. He has also been bruised and battered since his final year at Oklahoma.

Andrew Luck has a thicker frame and no such injury history. Throw in the fact that he's the best-rated QB to enter the draft since John Elway and what's not to like?

Bradford could easily be traded and would command tremendous value, further helping the Rams. St. Louis should take Luck and never look back. After all, they can't possibly get any worse.

4. Rams 2.0 but with Less Invested

The Minnesota Vikings are essentially a better version of the Rams.

Even though they just drafted Christian Ponder in the first round of this year's draft, they need to take Andrew Luck, given the opportunity. Why pass on the chance to upgrade? Ponder can be traded.

Luck would give Minnesota a franchise QB to go along with Adrian Peterson and Percy Harvin. How's that for a trio? With tools like that, Luck could step in and succeed from day one.

Minnesota could contend for the title starting next season.

3. Seattle Might Regret Letting Matt Hasselbeck Go

The "Tarvaris Jackson/Charlie Whitehurst Show" is not going to get things done in Seattle. The Seahawks brought in talented Sidney Rice to be their No. 1 receiving threat so they might as well get someone to throw to him.

No need to stick to your guns here Seattle, admit you made a mistake and do everything you can bring in Andrew Luck. He's already an icon in the northwest and he would have coach Pete Carroll's tutelage and few weapons on offense, to boot.

Though he would more than likely be thrust into a starting role immediately, he'll be one of the most polished QBs to ever enter the draft.

Luck could make Seattle the team to beat.

2. Peyton Manning's Neck Injury Could Shorten His Career

After multiple neck surgeries, Peyton Manning has missed the first six weeks of the 2011 season. Boy, has it has been an ugly six weeks for Indianapolis.

With Manning, the Colts seem to be perennial Super Bowl contenders. Without him, they don't look like they could beat the Cincinnati Bearcats—forget beating the Bengals.

Though Manning hadn't missed a start until this year, his career could be significantly altered after such a serious neck injury. How much longer can he really play—and will he even be the same when he returns?

Enter Andrew Luck.

The Colts could have an uber-talented QB waiting in the wings. It would be a perfect situation for Luck to study under a future Hall of Fame quarterback before taking the reins of the franchise.

Story sound familiar? (See Aaron Rodgers/Brett Favre)

The Colts must draft Luck if presented with the opportunity.

1. Miami Dolphins Need a Whole Lot of Luck

The team that needs Andrew Luck the most: Miami Dolphins.

Like this was a surprise.

Should Miami receive the No. 1 selection in April's NFL draft, taking Luck would be a forgone conclusion. They are arguably the NFL's most desperate franchise and haven't fielded a decent QB since the days of Dan "The Man" Marino.

Names like Jay Fiedler, Brian Griese, Chad Pennington and Chad Henne have "graced" the Miami backfield in the last decade—all with marginal success at best.

While he wouldn't be a cure-all, Luck would give Miami the franchise quarterback they've been yearning for since Marino retired.

Upon drafting Luck, the celebration in the Miami draft room would go a lot like this.