NFL Draft Breakdown – The Teams Looking At Quarterbacks

If you look at the 2010 NFL Draft from a pure talent standpoint, there’s only one quarterback who deserves to be in the first-round. That would be Sam Bradford of the Oklahoma Sooners, who is destined to be selected first overall by the St. Louis Rams.

Yet, as always, there are plenty of big names in the quarterback class of 2010. The problem is where they fit in terms of the draft order.

Teams Desperate For Quarterbacks

Obviously the St. Louis Rams fit in to this category, but we all know what they’re doing. The only other team I didn’t list that possibly fits this mold is Seattle, largely because I have no idea what to expect out of Charlie Whitehurst.

They seem to like him, so I’d like to forget them. When you scroll down the list of teams without young or exiting quarterbacks, the only team that jumps off the page is Buffalo.

#9 Buffalo Bills (6-10 SU, 8-7-1 ATS)

Current Quarterback – Trent Edwards?

Buffalo is going through a much needed re-tooling process. There is no way that they feel comfortable with Brian Brohm, Ryan Fitzpatrick and Trent Edwards, which would be a three-headed monster almost any GM would lead to slaughter. The Bills haven’t had a reliable quarterback since Jim Kelly in the 90’s.

That means that between Tim Tebow, Jimmy Clausen and Colt McCoy, their best bet for a top-10 draft pick is Buffalo. Not exactly the paradise that any NFL prospect hopes to go to, but a starting role would be a better promise than any other destination in the first-round.

Clausen makes the most sense, largely because of how well he grades and his aptitude for the pro-style offense.

TEAMS WITH YOUNG PROSPECTS

Carolina Panthers (8-8 SU, 9-7 ATS)

Current Quarterback – Matt Moore (25 years old)

Moore played like gangbusters down the stretch, but nobody in Carolina has lobbied him as the surefire starter. The problem for Carolina? They don’t have a first-round pick. Like it or not, Moore is likely to be their starter. They simply can’t afford to draft another quarterback prospect in the second round.

#8 Oakland Raiders (5-11 SU, 8-8 ATS)

Current Quarterback – JaMarcus Russell (24 years old)

The Raiders haven’t abandoned all hope on Russell, but it seems like the rest of the NFL football betting public has. I’ve joked that Tim Tebow would probably wow Al Davis enough to earn the Raiders’ first-round pick. Russell has been abysmal as a starting quarterback and reports that he’s ballooned in weight lately don’t bode well for his chances in 2010.

That being said, is Clausen the right fix for a maligned offense that has no direction?

I’d like to say that the Raiders would do the smart thing and draft an offensive lineman with their eighth overall pick, but if they launch forward for Clausen or McCoy, it could throw a damning wrench in the plans of Buffalo who picks right behind them.

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Team With Veteran Quarterbacks

They’ve dealt for aging veterans, or they already have one. Either way these teams might be looking to the future now rather than later.

#10 Jacksonville Jaguars (7-9 SU, 5-11 ATS)

Current Quarterback: David Garrard (32 years old)

The Florida betting faithful would probably rejoice if Tim Tebow gets drafted tenth overall to stay in his home state. David Garrard has been appalling under center. The Jaguars can fix almost any other position on their roster if they want to, but getting a new face to the franchise is imperative.

Unfortunately for them, their hopes lie in the hands of Oakland, Buffalo and Cleveland who all pick ahead of them.

#4 Washington Redskins (4-12 SU, 6-8-2 ATS)

Current Quarterback – Donavan McNabb (33 years old)

I’d say McNabb has two good seasons left in his body, especially after being spurned by his former team. The Washington Redskins will likely jump at the chance to get Russell Okung or Bryan Bulaga to bolster their tackle spots and protect their recent investment.

The honest truth is that if Shanahan sees McNabb as a two-year starter, and with the fate of Jason Campbell still very uncertain, they’re no need to jump with the fourth pick to get another quarterback. This draft, like its 2011 and 2012 renditions, will have plenty of talent at the passer position.

There’s no need to jump the gun this year. The Redskins can wait to draft a quarterback next year.

#7 Cleveland Browns (5-11 SU, 10-6 ATS)

Current Quarterback – Jake Delhomme (35 years old)

I’m reserving all of my Jake Delhomme jokes for the season, but the fact remains that this guy is not deserving of a starting job anywhere, let alone the $19.6 million he gets from both the Panthers and Browns in 2010. Don’t worry, Cleveland. He’s just a transition guy.

That being said, Cleveland owns all the cards for the quarterbacks in the 2010 NFL Draft. From what we hear, they like Jimmy Clausen and they’re warm on Colt McCoy.

Since they pick ahead of all the other fledgling hopefuls that need a quarterback, they control the draft. I think it’s safe to say that the top-6 picks are going to unfold as expected, albeit maybe not in the order we foresee.

“THEREIN LIES THE RUB”

Here’s the kicker. If Cleveland does take Clausen, neither McCoy nor Tebow are talented enough to warrant a first-round pick, or first-round money. I don’t think that any team, other than perhaps Jacksonville, has to panic with what they have.

Sure, Oakland may have their concerns on Russell, but drafting a steady hand won’t fix the myriad of problems they have.

2010 NFL Draft Futures: Quarterbacks OVER 2.0 (-700) / UNDER 2.0 (+400)

Furious Draft Prediction: I think the oddsmakers have this right on the nose. I project McCoy going in the second round, and Tebow somewhere in the third although I suspect he’ll be snatched up in the second round.

Even more so, I have my hunches that Cleveland will look at defense with a pick that high, although spending that kind of money can on a safety would make everyone scratch their heads. That’s why, if my hand is forced away from a push, I’ll take the OVER.

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