QB Churn in 2018

So the off-season has started for 30 out of the 32 teams in the NFL and searching across the league landscape - at least one team per division either has a deficit at QB or needs to make a big decision on the one(s) they have

NFC West -

Arizona Cardinals - with Carson Palmer hanging it up, the Red Birds are suddenly in need of a competent QB (Sit DOWN Blaine). They just missed out on Mahone last year so I expect them to be aggressive in the draft - even if they land a veteran in free agency.

NFC  East -

Washington Redskins - another off-season and another - will they sign Kirk to a long term deal or won't they. With the franchise tag for QBs pegged around $34m this year - I am betting the skins will be looking for a QB outside their roster for the first time in 6 years.

New York Giants - Eli Manning has had a Hall of Fame career but he is also entering his 14th season and its starting to show. With the number two overall pick - its a good bet the Giants will be drafting Eli's successor this April.

NFC South -

New Orleans - Yes Drew Brees is a free agent, and no is not going anywhere - not with the potential of $18M in dead money dragging their cap down while keep up in the hyper competitive NFC South. That being said - look for them to also be aggressive in the draft for Bree's successor.

NFC North

Minnesota Vikings - None of the three QBs from last season' roster - Keenum, Bradford, and Bridgewater are currently under contract for 2018. All three have proven to be at least serviceable starters, but none of them at this point can be considered elite.

Keenum is the scrappy over-achiever who had the hot hand that helped propel the Vikings to the number two seed in the NFC East. However, his short-comings were on display when the Eagles started laying the wood on the Vikings and Keenum did not have the arm to complete when the points piled up.

Bradford has the pedigree being a former number one overall pick and has the best arm out of the three. He has also had three injury shortened season - including this one courtesy of back to back ACL tears.

Bridgewater - the fact this kid can even walk without a cane, much less step on to the gridiron in uniform is amazing stuff. That being said - Bridgewater was a bit of an enigma before his knee unraveled on the practice field. Now you have injury risk on top of it.

Best guess - and it is a guess at this point is Keenum is the guy for at least one more season and they try to keep Bridgewater around on a back-up contract.

AFC West -

Denver Broncos - To borrow a phrase from John Madden - "If you say you have two QBs, you don't have any". That sums up the Broncos QB situation to a tee. At a number 5 slot and what appears to be on paper so far a talented QB class - I expect Elway to pull the plug on the Pax Lynch experiment and draft a QB in round one.

Kansas City Chiefs - Alex Smith will not be a Chief this season. With Mahone in the wings and Smith on the last year of his contract - the Chiefs will make a move and deal him to a QB hungry team that is too far down the draft order to have a shot at Rosen, Allen, or Donaldson without having to give up the farm.

AFC East -

Buffalo Bills - There is no love for Tyrod Taylor in Buffalo. I expect the Bills to be active in the veteran QB market depending upon who is available.

New York Jets - When Josh McKnown is your best hope under center, that is the epitome of not a good, very bad, QB situation. The Jets played surprisingly well in spite of having Bryce Petty under center for much of the season - well enough to miss out on three best prospects as they could all be gone by the time the Jets pick at number 6.

Dolphins - I have to put the Dolphins in here because Tannehill is coming off an ACL injury. The silver lining is it happened in pre-season. That being said if his knee still isn't right, the Fins may have to be looking for another stand-in not named Cutler at the start of the year.

AFC South -

Jacksonville Jaguars - Blake Bortles had the game of his life against the Patriots and came within half a quarter of beating Brady in his own house. All that aside he is still the mother-loving oh-my-god-he-threw-ANOTHER-pick Bortles Jag fans have known and loathed. It was year FOUR and the former number three overall pick is STILL making first year QB mistakes. This is another team that will be players in the veteran QB market. At very least someone will be brought in to compete with Blake in 18.

AFC North

Cleveland Browns - when haven't the Browns had a QB problem. Now they have the number one overall pick so ANY of the QBs in this class is their for the taking. Do they give up on Kizer who at times has shown potential or do turn the page and tab Allen, Rosen, or Donaldson to be the next face of the franchise. Here's a hint - after missing out on the likes of Wentz and Watson in back to back seasons - they won't blink this time.

Cincinnati Bengals - Andy Dalton is a decent QB. However (comma) but, that's ALL he is at this point in his career. Heck they even call it the "Dalton line" to divide the good from the not so good QBs. At 12 the Bengals are too far down to hope one of the top QBs tumbles down the board. However, a guy like Mayfield might make sense here.

Pittsburgh Steelers - Big Ben has said he wants to play "Three more seasons." His body might be saying something else later this season - especially if they lose Bell in free agency. Thus, I would be very surprised if the Steelers waited until the 6th round this draft to tab a signal caller.