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With training camps approaching, Scouts Inc. ranks the NFL teams 1-32 at nine positions. Today's position: quarterback.
1. Indianapolis Colts
Peyton Manning continues to play at a level that most QBs can only dream about. He is a master at reading defenses, getting in and out of plays and is so well prepared, he can even adjust the blocking assignments up front before the snap. He makes better presnap decisions than any QB in the history of this league and his career completion rate is 64 percent. He has even improved his one weakness, mobility, over the past two years, and now does a good job of moving around and avoiding sacks. Backup Jim Sorgi has limited arm strength and lacks Manning's presnap creativity, but he's played pretty well in some mop-up situations and has an excellent feel for the Colts' offense. Veteran John Navarre is big and strong and will occupy the No. 3 spot, but with Manning being the most durable QB in the NFL, the Indianapolis backups don't get a lot of work.
2. New England Patriots
There is no better QB at accomplishing more with less than Tom Brady. In 2006, with a mediocre receiving corps, he threw 24 TD passes to 11 different receivers. He is the consummate leader and combines outstanding toughness with great physical skills. He has a better feel for pressure than any other QB in the league and has an uncanny ability to move around the pocket, beat the blitz and find the matchup he wants. With a better group of receivers in 2007, Brady should put up huge numbers. Backup Matt Cassel is a young guy with a lot of Brady-like qualities and the coaches have a lot of faith in him. Still, he hasn't started a game since high school, which is not a major concern as long as Brady continues to be Mr. Durable.
3. New Orleans Saints
In a short amount of time, Drew Brees has become the face of this organization and a favorite son to a city that needs a diversion. He may have the best touch and accuracy of any QB in the league and does a great job of spreading the ball around to all of his receivers. He does not have great arm strength, but he doesn't need it because the Saints' offense puts the emphasis on underneath routes. He is the unquestioned leader and has a calming presence that seems to filter through the entire team. Backup Jamie Martin has the confidence of his coaches, but he's probably not a long-term answer if he had to replace Brees. Still, he does know the system and could step in for a short run. Rookie Tyler Palko has the inside track for the No. 3 job, but this is clearly Brees' team.
4. Cincinnati Bengals
Carson Palmer rebounded from a devastating knee injury in 2005 to play all 16 games last season, throwing for 4,035 yards with a 62.3 completion percentage. He is big, strong, has a great arm and can be lethal running the no-huddle offense. He has worked hard this offseason to improve his mobility -- he was sacked 36 times last season -- and passing on rollouts. He did not play great at the end of the 2006 season and seemed to force the ball at times, but his weaknesses are fixable and he is poised to have a great year. Following Anthony Wright's signing with the Giants, the backup role goes to veteran Doug Johnson, who has a good feel for the offense and good overall skills. Rookie Jeff Rowe will fill the No. 3 spot and will be brought along slowly.
5. Philadelphia Eagles
Donovan McNabb is the heart and soul of this team, but now 31, he has lost significant playing time due to injuries over the past several seasons and durability is a big question. Still, he's big-play guy capable of putting up huge numbers in the Eagles' pass-oriented offense and his arm strength, accuracy, mobility and leadership remain top-notch. The No. 2 spot starts with A.J. Feeley, who has shown glimpses of promise in stops at Miami and San Diego and knows this system, but he may have to battle Kelly Holcomb, who was obtained in an offseason trade from Buffalo. Holcomb has average skills, but he's tough and competitive. Rookie Kevin Kolb, Philadelphia's top draft pick, will be brought along slowly as the QB of the future.
6. San Diego Chargers
Young Philip Rivers exceeded everyone's expectations a year ago with his poise and maturity and now the Chargers are ready for him to take the next step. He has excellent physical skills and fits perfectly into the Chargers' offense, which requires a lot of timing routes, quick decisions and tight throws. He is a student of the game, prepares well and will only get better. His backup is ex-Titan Billy Volek, who could start for a lot of NFL teams. He has good skills and intangibles and could step up immediately if Rivers was hurt. Charlie Whitehurst will be the No. 3 QB. He's young, has a strong arm and is an excellent prospect.
7. St. Louis Rams
Marc Bulger adjusted well to new coach Scott Linehan's low-risk, conservative offense in 2006 and probably played the best football of his career, earning his second trip to the Pro Bowl in the process. His physical skills are solid, but where he has shown marked improvement is his ability to read defenses, change plays at the line of scrimmage, and make accurate and safe throws. Right now, he is at the top of his game, and in this offense, he will only get better. Backup Gus Frerotte, who has played for Linehan in Minnesota and Miami, has a great grasp of this offense. He may have a stronger arm than Bulger, but he lacks Bulger's consistency. Young Ryan Fitzpatrick from Harvard is an excellent developmental project and is in the perfect spot in St. Louis as the No. 3 QB.
8. Baltimore Ravens
Although his skills may be starting to erode, Steve McNair can still play at a fairly high level. He brought toughness and leadership to the Ravens in 2006 and still makes all the throws necessary to win. He reads defenses well and is excellent in the short-range and midrange passing game. While he doesn't scramble like he used to, he has excellent patience in the pocket and will risk taking a hit to hold on to the ball a little longer to allow his receivers to separate from coverage. Former first-round pick Kyle Boller is the backup and actually played pretty well a year ago, replacing the injured McNair in a couple of games, but whether he can carry this team as a starter when McNair is done is still a question mark. The No. 3 job will be an interesting battle between rookie Troy Smith from Ohio State, and young Drew Olson from UCLA. Both are talented guys, but one will wind up on the practice squad.
9. Seattle Seahawks
QB Matt Hasselbeck had a little bit of an off year in 2006 because of injuries and some inconsistency, but he still is capable of taking over a game and carrying the Seattle offense. He has excellent arm strength and touch, along with great pocket presence and good leadership skills. When he's pressured, however, he tends to force the ball into coverage, but it's a flaw that he's working to correct. His backup is Seneca Wallace, who really surprised a lot of people in his four starts last season when Hasselbeck was out. Wallace has a huge arm, big-time running skills and can create a lot of big plays, but he lacks consistency and doesn't manage the game as well as Hasselbeck. David Greene is in his third year, but he's still a developmental project and is not close to being ready to get on the field right now in Mike Holmgren's complex offense.
10. Pittsburgh Steelers
Ben Roethlisberger suffered through a tough 2006 because of offseason injuries. He was inconsistent and looked nothing like the QB who led the Steelers to a Super Bowl win in the 2005 season. In 2006, he threw a league-high 23 interceptions. He often looked confused reading defenses, which led him to hold on to the ball too long and take 46 sacks. Big Ben has worked hard in the offseason to rebuild his confidence and improve his mechanics. The talent is still there, and new QB coach Ken Anderson will work hard to get him back to that championship level. Charlie Batch is excellent in the backup role and can easily step in as a starter and play at a high level for a short time. Brian St. Pierre is the No. 3 guy and has decent developmental qualities.
11. Jacksonville Jaguars
Although Byron Leftwich will go into training camp as the 2007 starter, things are far from settled at the QB position for the Jaguars. Leftwich is in the final year of his contract and there is a lot of speculation that the organization won't re-sign him. It wouldn't be surprising to see Daunte Culpepper running this offense in 2008. For now, the backup is David Garrard, who has significant starting experience but has not played with enough consistency to be the starter. Leftwich needs to speed up his delivery and improve his ability to create plays, but he has a strong arm and good intangibles. Quinn Gray is the No. 3 QB, but that could change if Culpepper joins the Jaguars.
12. New York Jets
You have to admire Chad Pennington's perseverance. He came back with a throwing shoulder that has been surgically repaired twice and still played all 16 games in 2006. He is a cerebral QB with superior leadership qualities. He has an excellent touch and is a master at reading defenses and making plays in the short passing game. However, his lack of arm strength can tend to hinder his effectiveness. Defenders jump his routes and his accuracy has to be nearly perfect because it takes so long for the ball to get there. Backup Kellen Clemens is the QB of the future. He has better physical skills and arm strength, but he's not quite ready to take over. Ex-Raider Marques Tuiasosopo will fill the No. 3 role and has solid NFL experience. Even if Pennington struggles in 2007, it is unlikely Eric Mangini would make a midseason change.
13. Arizona Cardinals
This is now Matt Leinart's team and big things are expected from him in 2007. He replaced Kurt Warner as the starter in Game 5 in 2006 and wound up throwing for over 2,500 yards. His poise, accuracy and feel for the offense was outstanding for such a young player, especially considering the Cardinals changed offensive coordinators during the season. He can make all the throws and spent the offseason working on his footwork, mechanics and strength. Warner is a perfect backup and seems to be willing to accept that role. With his knowledge of defenses, his preparation and attention to detail, he is the perfect mentor for Leinart. Plus, he can still play effectively in a short-term starting role if needed. Shane Boyd will be the No. 3 QB, but the Cardinals would probably like to upgrade that spot.
14. Dallas Cowboys
Tony Romo had a storybook season in 2006, going 5-1 in his first six starts and giving the Cowboys great production at the position. But he struggled down the stretch, throwing too many interceptions and fumbling too many times while the Cowboys finished 1-4 in his final five games. The coaches are hoping that the Romo they saw early in the season is the one they get in 2007. He has excellent physical skills as a passer and his mobility allows him to make plays with his feet. However, he must do a better job of playing under control, being patient and not turning the ball over. Aging Brad Johnson will be the backup and mentor to Romo. Although his physical skills are limited, he still knows how to read a defense and get the ball to the right place. Young Matt Baker will be the No. 3 QB, and although he has good developmental skills, he's a long way from the field.
15. Green Bay Packers
Brett Favre comes back for his 16th season as the Packers' QB and is hoping to have better results than he did a year ago. A combination of receivers' dropping passes and Favre's forcing the ball into coverage led to a lot of interceptions and bad plays last season. Also, playing from behind much of the time forced Favre to take chances, and that got him in trouble a lot. He still has great arm strength and his leadership and toughness are off the charts. Despite his flaws, he can still play at a very high level. Backup Aaron Rodgers was a first-round draft pick two years ago, but he hasn't shown enough for the Packers to feel comfortable about making him the heir apparent to Favre. Ingle Martin owns the No. 3 job. He's young and raw but has some developmental qualities.
16. New York Giants
This is a huge year for Eli Manning. It's time for him to step up and play at a level of consistency the Giants expected when they drafted him. At times he looks like a Pro Bowl QB, but at other times he will look like a mistake-prone rookie. He has all the physical skills, but he must improve his accuracy, especially on the deep ball, and his overall mechanics have to get better. The Giants signed veteran Anthony Wright from Cincinnati in free agency. He has 19 NFL starts on his résumé, along with a strong arm and good athleticism. The No. 3 job will be between Tim Hasselbeck and Jared Lorenzen. Both are young guys with some skills, but not future starter potential.
17. Carolina Panthers
The biggest challenge for the Panthers is to get Jake Delhomme back on track and improve his consistency and decision making. He can either be great or mediocre, and that's not good enough for this team. As an insurance policy, the Panthers brought in ex-Houston Texan David Carr. Carr has better physical skills than Delhomme, but lacks his fiery leadership, and has never really won as an NFL starter. Publicly, the Panthers say that this is still Delhomme's team, but Carr is closer to taking over than most people realize. Brett Basanez will be the No. 3 guy, but will probably never climb any higher on the depth chart.
18. Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons once boasted one of the deepest collections of QBs in the the NFL, with hugely talented Michael Vick as the starter and the best backup in the league in Matt Schaub. Not any more. Schaub is now the starting QB in Houston and Vick has some huge off-field issues that could affect his future availability. As talented as he is, Vick is still widely inconsistent and you just don't see the progress expected for a guy entering his seventh season. New coach Bobby Petrino has a great reputation of developing QBs. Two things he's working on with Vick is having him throw more deep passes, which Vick is capable of doing well, and coaching him on calling audibles and reading defenses. Make no mistake about it -- this is a make-or-break season for Vick. The backup will be Joey Harrington, who teases you with good skills, but has never taken over a team when given the chance. The No. 3 QB will be young D.J. Shockley. He's a Vick clone, but still needs a lot of development.
19. Buffalo Bills
J.P. Losman showed marked improvement in 2006 as the starting QB and is poised to have an excellent 2007 season. His preparation and maturity have dramatically improved and he makes fewer negative plays than he did in the past. He has good physical skills, a strong arm and can scramble out of trouble. While he needs to improve his recognition in reading defenses and spreading the ball around, he now has the confidence of his teammates and coaches that he is the guy. That was missing earlier in his career. Craig Nall is a decent No. 2 QB with a big arm that suits the Bills' vertical passing attack. Trent Edwards, a third-round draft pick from Stanford, is an exciting young guy with a lot of developmental skills, but will be brought along slowly.
20. Denver Broncos
Denver is now in the Jay Cutler era, and based on his five starts in 2006, the Broncos have a lot of good things on the horizon at the QB position. He has John Elway-type skills with a big arm, a lot of confidence and an uncanny ability to handle pressure. He still has to learn to be a little more patient, to take what the defense gives him and not go for it all on every play, but that will come in time. The Broncos made an excellent offseason move when they signed Patrick Ramsey. He not only has solid athletic skills and a strong arm, but he also has 24 NFL starts under his belt and is an excellent No. 2 QB. There isn't really a clear-cut No. 3 QB, but with Cutler and Ramsey, the Broncos are in good shape.
21. Chicago Bears
Rex Grossman enters the final year of his contract with a lot of questions about whether he is the future of this franchise. He can look great at times, picking apart defenses with accuracy and making some great deep throws (especially the seam route) as evidenced by his 23 TD passes in 2006. However, he can look like a totally different player when pressured. He'll make horrible decisions and use poor mechanics, as evidenced by his 20 interceptions last season. He must take better care of the football and play better under pressure if he wants to keep his job. Backup Brian Griese has a lot of starting experience, knows the offense and takes care of the football. He could easily take over the starting job. Young Kyle Orton has starting experience and excellent physical skills. He is probably better than a No. 3 QB, but for now he's stuck in Chicago.
22. Detroit Lions
Although his skills may be in decline, Jon Kitna can still put up big numbers in this QB-friendly offense, and offensive coordinator Mike Martz still believes in him. Kitna has excellent composure and leadership skills, is a student of the game and his preparation, including his attention to detail, is outstanding. A lot of his bad throws in 2006 were the result of his receivers' not being in the right place, but another offseason should help everybody get on the same page. His backup is untested Dan Orlovsky, who has a strong arm, but has not yet shown that he can run this complicated offense. Rookie second-round draft pick Drew Stanton may be the future, but it will take him a couple of years to get ready, so the Lions need to keep Kitna healthy and upright in 2007.
23. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Playing QB for Jon Gruden can be a real challenge, and while the Bucs enter the 2007 season with talent, there is also some instability at the position. There will likely be a spirited training camp battle between newly acquired veteran Jeff Garcia and the oft-injured Chris Simms. Although Simms could be the future for Tampa Bay, Gruden loves veterans and Garcia knows how to run this offense to perfection. Simms has a bigger arm, but right now he lacks the savvy of Garcia. Still, they form an excellent one-two punch and will push each other. The No. 3 QB will likely be Bruce Gradkowski, who started 11 games last season filling in for Simms, but he will have a tough training camp battle with Luke McCown to keep his job.
24. Oakland Raiders
The complexion of the QB position in Oakland dramatically changed on draft weekend. The Raiders not only selected JaMarcus Russell first in the draft, but also obtained veteran Josh McCown from Detroit. As talented as Russell is, he is new and has a lot to learn. It is likely McCown will be the starter in 2007 until Russell is ready, which could be at any point during the season. McCown is smart, efficient and won't make a lot of mistakes, but Russell's physical skills and arm strength are so superior, he could be brought along quicker than expected. Andrew Walter started several games in 2006 with marginal results, but he does have great experience for a No. 3 QB.
25. Houston Texans
David Carr is gone and ex-Atlanta backup Matt Schaub is now the face of the franchise. Schaub is a guy that coach Gary Kubiak has a lot of faith in, and in limited playing time in Atlanta, he really flashed exciting physical skills. He has a big arm, is smart and has excellent intangibles and leadership skills. All he needs now is playing time, and his chance for success is very high. Sage Rosenfels will be the backup. While he lacks Schaub's arm strength, he is very accurate, calm under pressure and a solid No. 2 guy. The No. 3 job will likely go to Bradlee Van Pelt, who played for Kubiak in Denver.
26. Tennessee Titans
Vince Young played better than expected in his rookie season, but while he shows flashes of greatness, he is still far from a finished product. After a solid offseason, his accuracy and overall mechanics should dramatically improve. His decision making got better the more he played in 2006, but he still needs a lot of work reading defenses. Young has big-play capabilities and can turn a game around with his arm or his feet. He will likely be a feast-or-famine QB his entire career, but hopefully the big plays outnumber the bad ones. Kerry Collins did a nice job as a backup and mentor to Young last season, but he is no longer a viable starter. If the Titans keep three QBs (they kept only two in 2006), the third will be veteran Tim Rattay, a quality backup.
27. San Francisco 49ers
Although he is playing with his third offensive coordinator in three years, Alex Smith seems to have a good grasp on the 49ers' offense and has shown marked improvement in his short NFL career. He is a student of the game with terrific physical skills. He is really starting to manage the game better and can make every throw necessary. His backup is veteran Trent Dilfer, who is like another coach, and Smith could not have a better mentor. Dilfer still has a strong arm and is such a leader that he could carry this offense for a while if Smith was injured. The No. 3 QB is Shaun Hill, a guy with a strong arm, but not a lot of consistency or developmental skills. This is Alex Smith's team and he should have a breakout year in 2007.
28. Miami Dolphins
After a very tumultuous offseason, things are starting to settle down at the QB position for the Dolphins. Culpepper is out as the starter, replaced by Trent Green, who should do a great job in the Miami offensive system. Green makes great decisions and has the efficiency that new head coach Cam Cameron requires. Cleo Lemon and second-round draft pick John Beck will likely fill the Nos. 2 and 3 roles, respectively. Lemon has good overall skills, but must learn to manage the game a little better. Beck, meanwhile, has a great background in the passing game coming from BYU and could be the future for the Dolphins, but he does not have great arm strength. Green will run this offense well while the young guys come along slowly.
29. Cleveland Browns
In 2006 the Browns gave both Charlie Frye and Derek Anderson a chance to take over this team, and neither responded to the challenge successfully. Now there's a new era at QB with rookie Brady Quinn, who has a legitimate chance to start as a rookie after gaining maturity and confidence under Charley Weis at Notre Dame. Even with his lack of NFL experience, Quinn will likely make fewer mistakes and manage the offense well, which Frye failed to do last season. If Quinn starts, Frye and Anderson will battle for the Nos. 2 and 3 spots. Both are still young with a lot of developmental qualities, and that makes this a potentially very deep, albeit young, position.
30. Washington Commanders
With a full offseason as the starter, young Jason Campbell is expected to show vast improvement in 2007 and take over this team. He has excellent overall skills, a strong arm and a potentially outstanding deep ball, but he makes bad decisions at times and throws into coverage. The hope is that another year in the offensive system will help his recognition. The coaches will also utilize a run-oriented offense to take the pressure off. Veteran Mark Brunell restructured his contract to stay as Campbell's mentor and backup. Even though his skills and arm strength are diminishing, he still knows this offense and his leadership and poise could be invaluable if Campbell falters and he was forced to play. The No. 3 QB will be Todd Collins. He has a great grasp of this offense and he's probably better than a lot of No. 2 QBs in this league.
31. Minnesota Vikings
Tarvaris Jackson was hand-picked by coach Brad Childress to win this job in 2007, but in only his second season, he has a long way to go. All the physical skills are there, but his ability to read sophisticated defenses and make smart and accurate throws is something he's still working on. Brooks Bollinger will likely be the backup, and while he knows Childress' offense well, his arm strength and physical skills are not overly exciting. He is not really a guy you want starting if Jackson falters. Drew Henson will get a long look in training camp and the well-travelled veteran could be an interesting guy in the mix if he shows any skills. He could compete with Bollinger for the No. 2 job. This is not a real stable position for a veteran team and Childress is under a lot of pressure to quickly develop Jackson.
32. Kansas City Chiefs
With Trent Green now in Miami, it's time for the Damon Huard era in Kansas City. Filling in for Green a year ago, Huard posted a 5-3 record and looked like a competent guy who could run this offense effectively. Brodie Croyle is probably the future for the Chiefs and has better skills than Huard. While he's probably a year away from being ready, this could turn out to be a more intense training camp battle than most realize. The Chiefs will have to decide whether they can live with Croyle's growing pains or if they'll go with a less talented, but more consistent guy in Huard. Former CFL QB Casey Printers has a ton of skills, but little NFL experience. Still, he's a quality No. 3 QB.
1. Indianapolis Colts
Peyton Manning continues to play at a level that most QBs can only dream about. He is a master at reading defenses, getting in and out of plays and is so well prepared, he can even adjust the blocking assignments up front before the snap. He makes better presnap decisions than any QB in the history of this league and his career completion rate is 64 percent. He has even improved his one weakness, mobility, over the past two years, and now does a good job of moving around and avoiding sacks. Backup Jim Sorgi has limited arm strength and lacks Manning's presnap creativity, but he's played pretty well in some mop-up situations and has an excellent feel for the Colts' offense. Veteran John Navarre is big and strong and will occupy the No. 3 spot, but with Manning being the most durable QB in the NFL, the Indianapolis backups don't get a lot of work.
2. New England Patriots
There is no better QB at accomplishing more with less than Tom Brady. In 2006, with a mediocre receiving corps, he threw 24 TD passes to 11 different receivers. He is the consummate leader and combines outstanding toughness with great physical skills. He has a better feel for pressure than any other QB in the league and has an uncanny ability to move around the pocket, beat the blitz and find the matchup he wants. With a better group of receivers in 2007, Brady should put up huge numbers. Backup Matt Cassel is a young guy with a lot of Brady-like qualities and the coaches have a lot of faith in him. Still, he hasn't started a game since high school, which is not a major concern as long as Brady continues to be Mr. Durable.
3. New Orleans Saints
In a short amount of time, Drew Brees has become the face of this organization and a favorite son to a city that needs a diversion. He may have the best touch and accuracy of any QB in the league and does a great job of spreading the ball around to all of his receivers. He does not have great arm strength, but he doesn't need it because the Saints' offense puts the emphasis on underneath routes. He is the unquestioned leader and has a calming presence that seems to filter through the entire team. Backup Jamie Martin has the confidence of his coaches, but he's probably not a long-term answer if he had to replace Brees. Still, he does know the system and could step in for a short run. Rookie Tyler Palko has the inside track for the No. 3 job, but this is clearly Brees' team.
4. Cincinnati Bengals
Carson Palmer rebounded from a devastating knee injury in 2005 to play all 16 games last season, throwing for 4,035 yards with a 62.3 completion percentage. He is big, strong, has a great arm and can be lethal running the no-huddle offense. He has worked hard this offseason to improve his mobility -- he was sacked 36 times last season -- and passing on rollouts. He did not play great at the end of the 2006 season and seemed to force the ball at times, but his weaknesses are fixable and he is poised to have a great year. Following Anthony Wright's signing with the Giants, the backup role goes to veteran Doug Johnson, who has a good feel for the offense and good overall skills. Rookie Jeff Rowe will fill the No. 3 spot and will be brought along slowly.
5. Philadelphia Eagles
Donovan McNabb is the heart and soul of this team, but now 31, he has lost significant playing time due to injuries over the past several seasons and durability is a big question. Still, he's big-play guy capable of putting up huge numbers in the Eagles' pass-oriented offense and his arm strength, accuracy, mobility and leadership remain top-notch. The No. 2 spot starts with A.J. Feeley, who has shown glimpses of promise in stops at Miami and San Diego and knows this system, but he may have to battle Kelly Holcomb, who was obtained in an offseason trade from Buffalo. Holcomb has average skills, but he's tough and competitive. Rookie Kevin Kolb, Philadelphia's top draft pick, will be brought along slowly as the QB of the future.
6. San Diego Chargers
Young Philip Rivers exceeded everyone's expectations a year ago with his poise and maturity and now the Chargers are ready for him to take the next step. He has excellent physical skills and fits perfectly into the Chargers' offense, which requires a lot of timing routes, quick decisions and tight throws. He is a student of the game, prepares well and will only get better. His backup is ex-Titan Billy Volek, who could start for a lot of NFL teams. He has good skills and intangibles and could step up immediately if Rivers was hurt. Charlie Whitehurst will be the No. 3 QB. He's young, has a strong arm and is an excellent prospect.
7. St. Louis Rams
Marc Bulger adjusted well to new coach Scott Linehan's low-risk, conservative offense in 2006 and probably played the best football of his career, earning his second trip to the Pro Bowl in the process. His physical skills are solid, but where he has shown marked improvement is his ability to read defenses, change plays at the line of scrimmage, and make accurate and safe throws. Right now, he is at the top of his game, and in this offense, he will only get better. Backup Gus Frerotte, who has played for Linehan in Minnesota and Miami, has a great grasp of this offense. He may have a stronger arm than Bulger, but he lacks Bulger's consistency. Young Ryan Fitzpatrick from Harvard is an excellent developmental project and is in the perfect spot in St. Louis as the No. 3 QB.
8. Baltimore Ravens
Although his skills may be starting to erode, Steve McNair can still play at a fairly high level. He brought toughness and leadership to the Ravens in 2006 and still makes all the throws necessary to win. He reads defenses well and is excellent in the short-range and midrange passing game. While he doesn't scramble like he used to, he has excellent patience in the pocket and will risk taking a hit to hold on to the ball a little longer to allow his receivers to separate from coverage. Former first-round pick Kyle Boller is the backup and actually played pretty well a year ago, replacing the injured McNair in a couple of games, but whether he can carry this team as a starter when McNair is done is still a question mark. The No. 3 job will be an interesting battle between rookie Troy Smith from Ohio State, and young Drew Olson from UCLA. Both are talented guys, but one will wind up on the practice squad.
9. Seattle Seahawks
QB Matt Hasselbeck had a little bit of an off year in 2006 because of injuries and some inconsistency, but he still is capable of taking over a game and carrying the Seattle offense. He has excellent arm strength and touch, along with great pocket presence and good leadership skills. When he's pressured, however, he tends to force the ball into coverage, but it's a flaw that he's working to correct. His backup is Seneca Wallace, who really surprised a lot of people in his four starts last season when Hasselbeck was out. Wallace has a huge arm, big-time running skills and can create a lot of big plays, but he lacks consistency and doesn't manage the game as well as Hasselbeck. David Greene is in his third year, but he's still a developmental project and is not close to being ready to get on the field right now in Mike Holmgren's complex offense.
10. Pittsburgh Steelers
Ben Roethlisberger suffered through a tough 2006 because of offseason injuries. He was inconsistent and looked nothing like the QB who led the Steelers to a Super Bowl win in the 2005 season. In 2006, he threw a league-high 23 interceptions. He often looked confused reading defenses, which led him to hold on to the ball too long and take 46 sacks. Big Ben has worked hard in the offseason to rebuild his confidence and improve his mechanics. The talent is still there, and new QB coach Ken Anderson will work hard to get him back to that championship level. Charlie Batch is excellent in the backup role and can easily step in as a starter and play at a high level for a short time. Brian St. Pierre is the No. 3 guy and has decent developmental qualities.
11. Jacksonville Jaguars
Although Byron Leftwich will go into training camp as the 2007 starter, things are far from settled at the QB position for the Jaguars. Leftwich is in the final year of his contract and there is a lot of speculation that the organization won't re-sign him. It wouldn't be surprising to see Daunte Culpepper running this offense in 2008. For now, the backup is David Garrard, who has significant starting experience but has not played with enough consistency to be the starter. Leftwich needs to speed up his delivery and improve his ability to create plays, but he has a strong arm and good intangibles. Quinn Gray is the No. 3 QB, but that could change if Culpepper joins the Jaguars.
12. New York Jets
You have to admire Chad Pennington's perseverance. He came back with a throwing shoulder that has been surgically repaired twice and still played all 16 games in 2006. He is a cerebral QB with superior leadership qualities. He has an excellent touch and is a master at reading defenses and making plays in the short passing game. However, his lack of arm strength can tend to hinder his effectiveness. Defenders jump his routes and his accuracy has to be nearly perfect because it takes so long for the ball to get there. Backup Kellen Clemens is the QB of the future. He has better physical skills and arm strength, but he's not quite ready to take over. Ex-Raider Marques Tuiasosopo will fill the No. 3 role and has solid NFL experience. Even if Pennington struggles in 2007, it is unlikely Eric Mangini would make a midseason change.
13. Arizona Cardinals
This is now Matt Leinart's team and big things are expected from him in 2007. He replaced Kurt Warner as the starter in Game 5 in 2006 and wound up throwing for over 2,500 yards. His poise, accuracy and feel for the offense was outstanding for such a young player, especially considering the Cardinals changed offensive coordinators during the season. He can make all the throws and spent the offseason working on his footwork, mechanics and strength. Warner is a perfect backup and seems to be willing to accept that role. With his knowledge of defenses, his preparation and attention to detail, he is the perfect mentor for Leinart. Plus, he can still play effectively in a short-term starting role if needed. Shane Boyd will be the No. 3 QB, but the Cardinals would probably like to upgrade that spot.
14. Dallas Cowboys
Tony Romo had a storybook season in 2006, going 5-1 in his first six starts and giving the Cowboys great production at the position. But he struggled down the stretch, throwing too many interceptions and fumbling too many times while the Cowboys finished 1-4 in his final five games. The coaches are hoping that the Romo they saw early in the season is the one they get in 2007. He has excellent physical skills as a passer and his mobility allows him to make plays with his feet. However, he must do a better job of playing under control, being patient and not turning the ball over. Aging Brad Johnson will be the backup and mentor to Romo. Although his physical skills are limited, he still knows how to read a defense and get the ball to the right place. Young Matt Baker will be the No. 3 QB, and although he has good developmental skills, he's a long way from the field.
15. Green Bay Packers
Brett Favre comes back for his 16th season as the Packers' QB and is hoping to have better results than he did a year ago. A combination of receivers' dropping passes and Favre's forcing the ball into coverage led to a lot of interceptions and bad plays last season. Also, playing from behind much of the time forced Favre to take chances, and that got him in trouble a lot. He still has great arm strength and his leadership and toughness are off the charts. Despite his flaws, he can still play at a very high level. Backup Aaron Rodgers was a first-round draft pick two years ago, but he hasn't shown enough for the Packers to feel comfortable about making him the heir apparent to Favre. Ingle Martin owns the No. 3 job. He's young and raw but has some developmental qualities.
16. New York Giants
This is a huge year for Eli Manning. It's time for him to step up and play at a level of consistency the Giants expected when they drafted him. At times he looks like a Pro Bowl QB, but at other times he will look like a mistake-prone rookie. He has all the physical skills, but he must improve his accuracy, especially on the deep ball, and his overall mechanics have to get better. The Giants signed veteran Anthony Wright from Cincinnati in free agency. He has 19 NFL starts on his résumé, along with a strong arm and good athleticism. The No. 3 job will be between Tim Hasselbeck and Jared Lorenzen. Both are young guys with some skills, but not future starter potential.
17. Carolina Panthers
The biggest challenge for the Panthers is to get Jake Delhomme back on track and improve his consistency and decision making. He can either be great or mediocre, and that's not good enough for this team. As an insurance policy, the Panthers brought in ex-Houston Texan David Carr. Carr has better physical skills than Delhomme, but lacks his fiery leadership, and has never really won as an NFL starter. Publicly, the Panthers say that this is still Delhomme's team, but Carr is closer to taking over than most people realize. Brett Basanez will be the No. 3 guy, but will probably never climb any higher on the depth chart.
18. Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons once boasted one of the deepest collections of QBs in the the NFL, with hugely talented Michael Vick as the starter and the best backup in the league in Matt Schaub. Not any more. Schaub is now the starting QB in Houston and Vick has some huge off-field issues that could affect his future availability. As talented as he is, Vick is still widely inconsistent and you just don't see the progress expected for a guy entering his seventh season. New coach Bobby Petrino has a great reputation of developing QBs. Two things he's working on with Vick is having him throw more deep passes, which Vick is capable of doing well, and coaching him on calling audibles and reading defenses. Make no mistake about it -- this is a make-or-break season for Vick. The backup will be Joey Harrington, who teases you with good skills, but has never taken over a team when given the chance. The No. 3 QB will be young D.J. Shockley. He's a Vick clone, but still needs a lot of development.
19. Buffalo Bills
J.P. Losman showed marked improvement in 2006 as the starting QB and is poised to have an excellent 2007 season. His preparation and maturity have dramatically improved and he makes fewer negative plays than he did in the past. He has good physical skills, a strong arm and can scramble out of trouble. While he needs to improve his recognition in reading defenses and spreading the ball around, he now has the confidence of his teammates and coaches that he is the guy. That was missing earlier in his career. Craig Nall is a decent No. 2 QB with a big arm that suits the Bills' vertical passing attack. Trent Edwards, a third-round draft pick from Stanford, is an exciting young guy with a lot of developmental skills, but will be brought along slowly.
20. Denver Broncos
Denver is now in the Jay Cutler era, and based on his five starts in 2006, the Broncos have a lot of good things on the horizon at the QB position. He has John Elway-type skills with a big arm, a lot of confidence and an uncanny ability to handle pressure. He still has to learn to be a little more patient, to take what the defense gives him and not go for it all on every play, but that will come in time. The Broncos made an excellent offseason move when they signed Patrick Ramsey. He not only has solid athletic skills and a strong arm, but he also has 24 NFL starts under his belt and is an excellent No. 2 QB. There isn't really a clear-cut No. 3 QB, but with Cutler and Ramsey, the Broncos are in good shape.
21. Chicago Bears
Rex Grossman enters the final year of his contract with a lot of questions about whether he is the future of this franchise. He can look great at times, picking apart defenses with accuracy and making some great deep throws (especially the seam route) as evidenced by his 23 TD passes in 2006. However, he can look like a totally different player when pressured. He'll make horrible decisions and use poor mechanics, as evidenced by his 20 interceptions last season. He must take better care of the football and play better under pressure if he wants to keep his job. Backup Brian Griese has a lot of starting experience, knows the offense and takes care of the football. He could easily take over the starting job. Young Kyle Orton has starting experience and excellent physical skills. He is probably better than a No. 3 QB, but for now he's stuck in Chicago.
22. Detroit Lions
Although his skills may be in decline, Jon Kitna can still put up big numbers in this QB-friendly offense, and offensive coordinator Mike Martz still believes in him. Kitna has excellent composure and leadership skills, is a student of the game and his preparation, including his attention to detail, is outstanding. A lot of his bad throws in 2006 were the result of his receivers' not being in the right place, but another offseason should help everybody get on the same page. His backup is untested Dan Orlovsky, who has a strong arm, but has not yet shown that he can run this complicated offense. Rookie second-round draft pick Drew Stanton may be the future, but it will take him a couple of years to get ready, so the Lions need to keep Kitna healthy and upright in 2007.
23. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Playing QB for Jon Gruden can be a real challenge, and while the Bucs enter the 2007 season with talent, there is also some instability at the position. There will likely be a spirited training camp battle between newly acquired veteran Jeff Garcia and the oft-injured Chris Simms. Although Simms could be the future for Tampa Bay, Gruden loves veterans and Garcia knows how to run this offense to perfection. Simms has a bigger arm, but right now he lacks the savvy of Garcia. Still, they form an excellent one-two punch and will push each other. The No. 3 QB will likely be Bruce Gradkowski, who started 11 games last season filling in for Simms, but he will have a tough training camp battle with Luke McCown to keep his job.
24. Oakland Raiders
The complexion of the QB position in Oakland dramatically changed on draft weekend. The Raiders not only selected JaMarcus Russell first in the draft, but also obtained veteran Josh McCown from Detroit. As talented as Russell is, he is new and has a lot to learn. It is likely McCown will be the starter in 2007 until Russell is ready, which could be at any point during the season. McCown is smart, efficient and won't make a lot of mistakes, but Russell's physical skills and arm strength are so superior, he could be brought along quicker than expected. Andrew Walter started several games in 2006 with marginal results, but he does have great experience for a No. 3 QB.
25. Houston Texans
David Carr is gone and ex-Atlanta backup Matt Schaub is now the face of the franchise. Schaub is a guy that coach Gary Kubiak has a lot of faith in, and in limited playing time in Atlanta, he really flashed exciting physical skills. He has a big arm, is smart and has excellent intangibles and leadership skills. All he needs now is playing time, and his chance for success is very high. Sage Rosenfels will be the backup. While he lacks Schaub's arm strength, he is very accurate, calm under pressure and a solid No. 2 guy. The No. 3 job will likely go to Bradlee Van Pelt, who played for Kubiak in Denver.
26. Tennessee Titans
Vince Young played better than expected in his rookie season, but while he shows flashes of greatness, he is still far from a finished product. After a solid offseason, his accuracy and overall mechanics should dramatically improve. His decision making got better the more he played in 2006, but he still needs a lot of work reading defenses. Young has big-play capabilities and can turn a game around with his arm or his feet. He will likely be a feast-or-famine QB his entire career, but hopefully the big plays outnumber the bad ones. Kerry Collins did a nice job as a backup and mentor to Young last season, but he is no longer a viable starter. If the Titans keep three QBs (they kept only two in 2006), the third will be veteran Tim Rattay, a quality backup.
27. San Francisco 49ers
Although he is playing with his third offensive coordinator in three years, Alex Smith seems to have a good grasp on the 49ers' offense and has shown marked improvement in his short NFL career. He is a student of the game with terrific physical skills. He is really starting to manage the game better and can make every throw necessary. His backup is veteran Trent Dilfer, who is like another coach, and Smith could not have a better mentor. Dilfer still has a strong arm and is such a leader that he could carry this offense for a while if Smith was injured. The No. 3 QB is Shaun Hill, a guy with a strong arm, but not a lot of consistency or developmental skills. This is Alex Smith's team and he should have a breakout year in 2007.
28. Miami Dolphins
After a very tumultuous offseason, things are starting to settle down at the QB position for the Dolphins. Culpepper is out as the starter, replaced by Trent Green, who should do a great job in the Miami offensive system. Green makes great decisions and has the efficiency that new head coach Cam Cameron requires. Cleo Lemon and second-round draft pick John Beck will likely fill the Nos. 2 and 3 roles, respectively. Lemon has good overall skills, but must learn to manage the game a little better. Beck, meanwhile, has a great background in the passing game coming from BYU and could be the future for the Dolphins, but he does not have great arm strength. Green will run this offense well while the young guys come along slowly.
29. Cleveland Browns
In 2006 the Browns gave both Charlie Frye and Derek Anderson a chance to take over this team, and neither responded to the challenge successfully. Now there's a new era at QB with rookie Brady Quinn, who has a legitimate chance to start as a rookie after gaining maturity and confidence under Charley Weis at Notre Dame. Even with his lack of NFL experience, Quinn will likely make fewer mistakes and manage the offense well, which Frye failed to do last season. If Quinn starts, Frye and Anderson will battle for the Nos. 2 and 3 spots. Both are still young with a lot of developmental qualities, and that makes this a potentially very deep, albeit young, position.
30. Washington Commanders
With a full offseason as the starter, young Jason Campbell is expected to show vast improvement in 2007 and take over this team. He has excellent overall skills, a strong arm and a potentially outstanding deep ball, but he makes bad decisions at times and throws into coverage. The hope is that another year in the offensive system will help his recognition. The coaches will also utilize a run-oriented offense to take the pressure off. Veteran Mark Brunell restructured his contract to stay as Campbell's mentor and backup. Even though his skills and arm strength are diminishing, he still knows this offense and his leadership and poise could be invaluable if Campbell falters and he was forced to play. The No. 3 QB will be Todd Collins. He has a great grasp of this offense and he's probably better than a lot of No. 2 QBs in this league.
31. Minnesota Vikings
Tarvaris Jackson was hand-picked by coach Brad Childress to win this job in 2007, but in only his second season, he has a long way to go. All the physical skills are there, but his ability to read sophisticated defenses and make smart and accurate throws is something he's still working on. Brooks Bollinger will likely be the backup, and while he knows Childress' offense well, his arm strength and physical skills are not overly exciting. He is not really a guy you want starting if Jackson falters. Drew Henson will get a long look in training camp and the well-travelled veteran could be an interesting guy in the mix if he shows any skills. He could compete with Bollinger for the No. 2 job. This is not a real stable position for a veteran team and Childress is under a lot of pressure to quickly develop Jackson.
32. Kansas City Chiefs
With Trent Green now in Miami, it's time for the Damon Huard era in Kansas City. Filling in for Green a year ago, Huard posted a 5-3 record and looked like a competent guy who could run this offense effectively. Brodie Croyle is probably the future for the Chiefs and has better skills than Huard. While he's probably a year away from being ready, this could turn out to be a more intense training camp battle than most realize. The Chiefs will have to decide whether they can live with Croyle's growing pains or if they'll go with a less talented, but more consistent guy in Huard. Former CFL QB Casey Printers has a ton of skills, but little NFL experience. Still, he's a quality No. 3 QB.
