Quarterbacks Wanted

Ask any scout, and they'll tell you that this year's draft is weak at quarterback.  Many mock drafts predict that a signal-caller won't go off the board until the eighth pick.  If so, that would mark the first time in 10 years that a QB is not taken with one of the top three overall picks.

And yet, this is the best year ever to be a rookie quarterback.  Here's why:

1) High Demand - It's becoming increasingly evident that you cannot win a championship without a franchise signal-caller.  Sixteen of the past 20 Super Bowl teams had a QB who had previously been selected to the Pro Bowl.  It seems that more teams are in the market for a QB than ever before.  Right now I think the Panthers (1st overall pick), Bills (3), Cardinals (5), Browns (6), 49ers (7), Titans (8), Redskins (10), Vikings (12), Dolphins (15), Jaguars (16), and Raiders (48) could all draft a QB in the early rounds.  That's one-third of the league.

2) What Have You Done For Me Lately? - As pro and college offenses start to more closely resemble each other, rookie QBs are more NFL-ready than they've ever been.  The quick success of guys like Matt Ryan, Joe Flacco, Matt Sanchez and Josh Freeman will make general managers less gun-shy about taking a QB early.

3) Last Call - With the need for a rookie wage scale being the only issue that the owners and players can agree upon, this will most likely be the final chance for draft picks to cash in on a big contract.  Last year, Sam Bradford signed a five-year, $86 million deal, with $50 million guaranteed; it was the richest contract in NFL history.  If a rookie cap is instituted, Andrew Luck might not get half that much next year.

4) Their Only Hope - This is a distinction that is unique to this year because of the lockout (which I fully expect to happen).  Unlike any other year, free agency will not start in March and no trades involving players can occur until the owners and players reach a new collective bargaining agreement.  So whereas some of the above-mentioned teams could normally deal for a Donovan McNabb or Kevin Kolb to fill their needs prior to the draft, now they are left with only the rookie prospects.  Sure, the Titans could pass on Blaine Gabbert or Cam Newton and hope to make a trade once the lockout ends, but do they really want to take that chance?

There has always been a market for franchise QBs in the NFL, but the success of recent top draft picks has driven demand even higher.  Combine that with a lack of free agency and the final hurrah for big rookie contracts, and you see that Gabbert, Newton, and company are in the best situation that a group of QB prospects has ever been in.  Don't be surprised to see these guys go higher in the draft than analysts are predicting them to.

Image found here.