13 NFL Starting Quarterbacks Teams Shouldn't Plan Their Franchise Around

There are times when general mangers and head coaches get it right in terms of drafting the next great quarterback.

Great size, great arm strength, and a meticulous student in the film room.

And then, there are those who miss. Lack of confidence, can't read a defense and of course, can't hit the backside of a barn with a periscope.

Sometimes, you need to know when to hold them and when to fold them.

Quarterback is such scrutinized position that teams hitch their rides to millionaires and in some cases, do so for too long a period. The end result is wasted play, wasted chances and a wasted draft pick that could have filled another important need.

Right now, the NFL has an handful of quarterbacks that are starters or part-time starters, but are not long term solutions.

In other words, a team should not plan their franchise around them for one reason or another.

13. Alex Smith, San Francisco 49ers

He has been resurrected from the dead by Jim Harbaugh and his staff, but is he the answer in the future for this team?

Smith has been a good player this season. Can he string two or three good seasons together and if so, what happens to Colin Kaepernick?

If Smith is the real deal, then the 49ers will be perennial contenders for years to come.

12. Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens

Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde of the NFL.

Flacco should have been better than he is by now. It is a good thing the Ravens have a good running game and a superior defense.

Until Flacco takes another step in progression, the Ravens may continually fall short of their Super Bowl aspirations.

11. Vince Young, Philadelphia Eagles

He has been on the losing end of both games he has played this season.

In one game he looks like a prolific passer, next he looks lost.

If Young is every to fulfill his potential, the guy from the University of Texas must come forward.

10. Tarvaris Jackson, Seattle Seahawks

What was Pete Carroll thinking? OK, maybe he did not make the decision to sign Jackson, but the Minnesota cast off was not the answer at quarterback to begin with.

Seattle has a good running game and the defense is growing stronger.

A good signal caller and this team could be a contender next season.

9. Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts

He may be back next season, but will he be as good as he ever was.

The vote here in "no."

Injuries such as these have a tendency make you think the best years for Manning are behind him. He did not look as crisp last season as he did in years past and now the surgery has to have taken something out of him.

He may be "good" but he many not be "great" again.

8. Matt Cassel, Kansas City Chiefs

He is a decent quarterback, but I have never been sold on him as a "franchise" quarterback.

Even this season before his injury, Cassel was erratic. He has weapons in Jonathon Baldwin, Dwayne Bowe and Steve Breaston to throw to.

That should have offset the loss of Jamaal Charles at running back.

But as you can see, the Chiefs still struggled.

7. Carson Palmer, Oakland Raiders

When you give up draft choices and the potential future of your franchise for a quarterback who had not thrown passes in over six months, you face the possibility of it blowing up in your face.

The Raiders are in the middle of the AFC West playoff race, but Palmer has not had that "wow" game yet that shows why Oakland gave up the house to get him.

Some might be wishing Jason Campbell was back over center.

6. Caleb Hanie, Chicago Bears

He is not going to make any Bears fan for get Jay Cutler. Heck, he won't make anyone forget Rex Grossman.

Hanie is a decent back-up, but he is not starter material.

If the Bears hitch their wagon to him in hopes of a playoff birth, they will be very disappointed come Christmas.

5. Tim Tebow, Denver Broncos

He has the best winning percentage of any starter in the league besides Aaron Rodgers this season.

But Tebow is still an enigma.

He wins and wins ugly. But as I recall, it was Matt Prater and the defense winning last week, not Tebow.

Once defenses figure him out, like they have with others, he will fade.

4. Matt Moore, Miami Dolphins

Originally, the Dolphins were going to trade for Kyle Orton. They signed Matt Moore and got a pretty good investment so far.

Moore has been better than advertised in his replacement of Chad Henne.

But with the team 4-9, the Dolphins could have found a better solution.

3. Rex Grossman and John Beck, Washington

Either one spells doom for the Redskins.

Grossman and Beck are serviceable at best. That is a far cry from taking the Bears to the Super Bowl.

Beck is "average" when in the game and defenses don't fear either one will hurt them and sneak in a victory or two.

2. Blaine Gabbert, Jacksonville Jaguars

He showed more promise against the Buccaneers. Let's see how he does against the Falcons.

Is Gabbert the answer in Jacksonville? That remains to be seen. But the next three games will tell you if the team signs a big name back up in the offseason or drafts someone else in the 2012 NFL draft.

1. Colt McCoy, Cleveland Browns

McCoy was supposed to be the next Joe Montana.

Right now, he is David Woodley.

If McCoy is to get better, he needs more weapons, but also needs more pocket presence.

That is not likely to happen in Cleveland.