Odds These 7 QBs Start for the Washington Redskins in 2012

If it wasn't clear after last season, through the offseason, preseason and now the regular season, the Washington Redskins are in desperate need of change at the quarterback position. Mike Shanahan may feign belief in their ability to lead the team to victory, but nobody else is buying into the idea that either Rex Grossman or John Beck is anything more than a placeholder.

The Redskins are projected to finish the season with a top-10 draft pick, which would give them the ability to draft their future franchise quarterback.

The draft is just one avenue the Redskins could take to cure their continuing quarterback woes, as they could settle for what they have or even delve into the free agent pool. The latter option worked for the likes of Kansas City with Matt Cassel and the Houston Texans with Matt Schaub.

Here are some of the players Washington could have starting for them next season and the odds it actually happens.

Rex Grossman, Current Starter

There was a time during the lockout when the Redskins were committed to John Beck as their starter. The week before the opener, Shanahan pulls the rug out from under everyone and names Rex Grossman the starter. After a surprising 3-1 start, Grossman reverted to his familiar turnover-prone style of play and earned a two-game stint on the bench.

Though a liability, Grossman does give the Redskins the best chance to win in this season.

Grossman is a free agent after this season, and most fans would be content to let him walk away. However, it may be a better idea to keep him around, given his relative experience in Kyle Shanahan's offense. That being said, he should in no way be brought back as the starter unless he's merely keeping the position warm for the rookie the team drafts in April.

It may not be for the whole season, but Grossman could very easily start for Washington to start things off.

Odds: 1 in 10

John Beck, Current Backup

John Beck went from starter to backup, back to starter and finally back to the bench in the first eight weeks of this season. Shanahan praised him as a viable option at quarterback, but clearly didn't mean it given his decision to start Grossman over Beck for all but two games.

Beck didn't impress anyone with his passing skills, and his mobility doesn't do enough to change his average pocket presence.

Shanahan's faith in Beck has been nonexistent since he was forced to re-insert Grossman into the starting role following two weeks of stagnant offense with Beck at the helm. Beck is signed through next season, but doesn't appear to be in the running to be the starter.

Odds: 1 in 250

Andrew Luck, Standford

Andrew Luck is the odds-on favorite to go first in next year's draft, and the Redskins could very well be within striking distance of the highly touted prospect. However, the Redskins are still far from the worst team in the NFL, and at least two other teams could take a quarterback ahead of them.

Washington needs a quarterback as bad, if not worse than any other team in the NFL right now, and Luck is the type of player an owner like Dan Snyder would sell the farm to get.

There is speculation that the Colts, who are currently winless, could draft Luck despite the projected return of Peyton Manning. Manning isn't going to last forever, and his recent neck surgery could shorten his shelf life. The Redskins have the more pressing need at present, but may not have the resources to make a trade worthy of the first overall pick.

Stranger things have happened and the draft is as good a place as any to swing a major deal for a major player like Luck.

Odds: 1 in 50

Landry Jones, Oklahoma

When Sam Bradford left Oklahoma, it was assumed that Landry Jones would pick up where Bradford left off in guiding the Sooners' explosive offense to big wins. Jones didn't have a bad junior season, but he left a lot to be desired in terms of his decision making and showed signs of slowed development.

There are the inherent concerns of a spread offense quarterback, but Jones comes with doubts about his overall skill set.

The Redskins could do a lot worse in a draft than Jones, but they could also do a lot better. He isn't particularly mobile, and mobility is a feature that each of Shanahan's favored quarterbacks have possessed throughout his career. As a passer, he has a way to go after failing to follow up his great sophomore season.

Odds: 1 in 150

Robert Griffin III, Baylor

If you didn't know who Robert Griffin III was before this season, no one would blame you. Last season was all about Cam Newton and rightfully so. This season, however, Griffin put together a year to rival Newton's 2010 campaign and put himself in the running for the Heisman Trophy.

The Redskins have very little going for them on offense, and a player like Griffin would give them a good passer with great mobility.

Shanahan has a history of favoring mobile quarterbacks in his career, from John Elway to Jake Plummer, and even Jay Cutler. Griffin is head and shoulders above them in terms of his mobility, but he isn't the polished passer Elway was or Cutler has shown he can be from time to time. Still, the Redskins could use a big playmaker like Griffin to build their offense around.

Odds: 1 in 40

Matt Barkley, USC

Matt Barkley has gone shockingly unnoticed this season, despite turning in a great season for the Trojans. He has improved as a passer, both in terms of accuracy and decision making, saw his mistakes drop and his successes increase.

Coming out of Lane Kiffin's pro style offense would give Barkley a leg up in his transition to the NFL, and the Redskins wouldn't have to wait long to see him develop.

The Redskins lack the receiving corps to make Barkley comfortable in his first season, but the tight ends Washington has would provide a nice security blanket. Though he isn't the type of quarterback to take off and run on the regular, he can move in the pocket well and get out of tight spots to make plays.

Odds: 1 in 25

Matt Flynn, Green Bay

Chalk it up to a weak projected free agency class, or the infatuation with anything close to Aaron Rodgers, but there are those who believe that Packers backup Matt Flynn has what it takes to be a quality starter in the NFL. Playing behind Rodgers has to have had some positive impact on Flynn's development.

Though there are no claims that he would be an elite quarterback for years to come, Flynn has the tools a team like the Redskins could put to good use.

Flynn is not a big name, big arm, big time free agent pickup the way Matt Schaub was a big acquisition for the Texans. However, there were those who believed Rodgers was incapable of escaping or exceeding the shadow left by Brett Favre in Green Bay.

The Redskins can't do much worse than the pair they've toted around this season, and it might be good to bring in a player with experience from a winning team.

Odds: 1 in 500