Post by TheShadow on Jul 17, 2007 4:34:24 GMT -5
www.realfootball365.com/
By Connor Byrne
Where does your favorite quarterback stand in RealFootball365's QB Power Rankings? Take a look.
1.) Tom Brady, New England Patriots - Brady's stats rarely indicate that he'd be the NFL's top QB, but the soon-to-be 30-year-old simply wins. What Scott Niedermayer is to hockey, Tim Duncan is to basketball and Derek Jeter is to baseball, Brady is to football. Right now, it appears as if he and the Patriots are lined up to win Super Bowl No. 4 during his tenure at the helm. It's still only July, of course, but New England, thanks mostly to Brady, has to be the hands-on favorite to hoist the Lombardi Trophy in February.
2.) Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts - Manning, the modern-day Dan Marino when it comes to putting up huge numbers, finally got the monkey off his back last season, winning his first of what could be multiple Super Bowls with Indianapolis. Manning, 31, is no doubt one of the all-time greats, but he's still a pair of titles shy of his on-field archrival, Brady.
3.) Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints - When the 6-foot, 209-pound Brees signed with the Saints during the free agency period in March 2006, many wondered what he was thinking. After all, New Orleans was rebuilding its city and football team after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. However, led by Brees' 26 touchdowns, 4,418 yards and dazzling 96.2 efficiency rating, the Saints marched all the way to the NFC title game in '06, shocking everyone in the process. After such an outstanding season, Brees & Co. seem primed to represent their conference in February's Super Bowl.
4.) Carson Palmer, Cincinnati Bengals - Entering last season, most fans questioned how Palmer would rebound from a major knee injury he suffered in an AFC Wild Card game the previous January. The four-year veteran battled the odds, though, tossing 28 touchdowns and 13 interceptions for a Bengals team that ultimately disappointed. At 27, the 2002 No. 1 pick from USC is ready to enter his prime.
5.) Donovan McNabb, Philadelphia Eagles - Before his injury 10 games into last season, few QBs were as dominant as McNabb. He threw 18 touchdowns and just six interceptions, racking up a sparkling 95.5 rating along the way. As good as McNabb is, he can't seem to remain healthy these days. Over the last two campaigns, the 30-year-old has played only 19 regular-season games, and the Eagles prepared for yet another McNabb injury during the offseason by bringing in three new reserve quarterbacks -- A.J. Feeley, Kelly Holcomb and heir apparent Kevin Kolb, a second-round pick.
6.) Marc Bulger, St. Louis Rams - When thinking of the 30-year-old Bulger, the word "underrated" comes to mind. Last year, his first playing a full 16-game schedule, the seventh-year man threw 24 TD passes against a meager eight picks for a mediocre Rams team. If the 6-3, 212-pounder can stay healthy yet again, expect improved St. Louis to contend for a division title.
7.) Matt Hasselbeck, Seattle Seahawks - The normally terrific Hasselbeck fell short of expectations in 2006, tossing 18 touchdowns and 15 interceptions in an injury-shortened year. Like his team, which was supposed to be Super Bowl-caliber but came nowhere close, Hasselbeck is set to rebound this season. Expect the 31-year-old to regain his 24-touchdown form of '05, when the Hawks were a few questionable calls away from being world champions.
8.) Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers - Overshadowed by offensive teammates LaDainian Tomlinson and Antonio Gates, Rivers performed admirably in his first full season at the helm, picking up right where his predecessor, Drew Brees, left off. Rivers, 25, a 2004 first-round pick, threw for 3,300-plus yards, 22 touchdowns and nine picks in his debut year. Common sense says the 6-5, 228-pounder will only get better this season under the tutelage of new head coach Norv Turner, an offensive guru.
9.) Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers - It's hard to believe the Roethlisberger-led Steelers were Super Bowl champs just two short seasons ago. Last year was a disaster both on and off the field for the three-year veteran, who got in a motorcycle accident a summer ago and never quite recovered. The usually consistent 25-year-old was far from it in '06, pitching an eyebrow-raising 23 interceptions against only 18 touchdowns. Expect the real Roethlisberger to stand up again in 2007.
10.) Jake Delhomme, Carolina Panthers - After a so-so 2006, one has to wonder if Delhomme has much left in his tank at the age of 32. At the same time, though, Carolina's entire team -- not just Delhomme -- was incredibly inconsistent and disappointing last year, so perhaps the Panthers and their QB will manage to rebound this season. If the team can get any semblance of a ground game going, Delhomme should regain form (53 touchdown passes from 2004-05) with Steve Smith and rookie Dwayne Jarrett as his primary wideouts.
11.) Chad Pennington, New York Jets - Say what you want about Pennington, but he manages to win, and that's the most important thing. His numbers weren't great last season (17 TDs, 16 INTs), but he and Gang Green had the last laugh, riding a 10-6 record to a surprise playoff berth. The expectations are once again high for the injury-prone 31-year-old. Can he live up to them?
12.) Jay Cutler, Denver Broncos - Denver's head coach, Mike Shanahan, made an odd decision to replace veteran Jake Plummer with Cutler, a first-round rookie, 11 games into last year, but Cutler got valuable experience and showed flashes of brilliance. The former Vanderbilt star accrued an unimpressive 2-3 record as the Broncos' starter late last season, but it was hardly his fault. The cannon-armed 23-year-old ought to better his 88.5 efficiency rating of '06 (nine touchdowns against five picks).
13.) Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys - The pressure's on for Romo, who's now notoriously known for fumbling away a snap that would have led to a chip-shot field goal and first-round playoff win for the Cowboys. Instead, though, he and the 'Boys went home and Seattle marched on in the postseason. Romo, in his first campaign as Dallas' No. 1 QB, piled up 19 touchdowns, 13 interceptions and a Pro Bowl berth. In a contract year, it's time for the 27-year-old to officially show that he is indeed the real deal.
14.) Matt Leinart, Arizona Cardinals - Arguably the greatest QB in college football history, the former Heisman Trophy winner and two-time national champion from USC showed glimpses of future brilliance last year, starting 11 games for the rebuilding Cardinals. Leinart's numbers (11 scores, 12 picks, 74.0 rating) were nothing special, but he'll benefit in a big way in 2007 from new head coach Ken Whisenhunt, an offensive genius who tutored Ben Roethlisberger as the Steelers' offensive coordinator. It also helps that Leinart has two tremendous receivers -- Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin -- an improved offensive line and veteran RB Edgerrin James.
15.) J.P. Losman, Buffalo Bills - In his first full season as the Bills' top signalcaller, Losman - a 2004 first-rounder - accumulated 19 touchdown passes against 14 interceptions, also piling up over 3,000 yards and an 84.9 rating on a team with a nonexistent ground game and porous O-line. This year, though, the 26-year-old has a seemingly better group of running backs and an improved fivesome of blockers, which should mean a breakout campaign. If not, he'll be back under fire in Buffalo, which potentially has a young replacement -- third-round rookie Trent Edwards -- waiting in the wings if Losman struggles.
16.) Vince Young, Tennessee Titans - Young, a rookie last year, became one of the NFL's top stories in 2006, reviving a once-terrible Titans team and leading them to an 8-5 finish. The only reason the multidimensional Young isn't higher on the list is because he's still developing as a QB. Young's passing stats (12 touchdowns, 13 picks, 51.5 completion percentage) were subpar, which is understandable for a first-year guy, but they were overshadowed by his superb ground numbers -- 552 yards, seven TDs -- and ability to win games.
17.) Eli Manning, New York Giants - It was hard to put a guy who threw 24 touchdowns last season this low on the list, but the expectations for Manning are simply higher than most others. Considering he's the son of Archie, the brother of the great Peyton and a former No. 1 overall pick, that's understandable. In order to become elite, Manning absolutely has to become a better decision-maker and develop more consistency. As of now, he's at risk of being little more than a middle-of-the-pack starter, which won't be enough for the tough New York crowd.
18.) Jeff Garcia, Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Garcia had a four-season window (2000-03) with San Francisco in which he was a top-notch QB, but he appeared washed up with three different teams from '03-05. However, the 37-year-old fought every odd yet again last season as Donovan McNabb's backup in Philadelphia, leading the Eagles to the playoffs on the strength of his 10-touchdown, two-interception campaign in six starts. Now, he has big expectations to live up to as the Bucs' new No. 1 QB. Expecting another magical year from Garcia might be unfair, though.
19.) Michael Vick, Atlanta Falcons - Dogfighting allegations have ruined Vick's offseason, but he's facing plenty of on-field pressure, too. The Falcons have a new head coach, Bobby Petrino, who wants Vick to run less, and the team traded promising backup Matt Schaub away, thus totally putting its confidence in No. 7. Vick rushed for a whopping 1,039 yards in '06, but his passing was once again average at best. It's time for the 6-0, 215-pounder to become a reliable QB in Year 7, not just a runner with a big arm.
20.) Byron Leftwich, Jacksonville Jaguars - Leftwich and the Jags were a trendy Super Bowl pick early last season, but they fell off in the latter half of the schedule. The 6-5, 250-pounder is penciled in as Jacksonville's starter entering this year, but David Garrard is looking over his shoulder. If Leftwich struggles or fails to stay healthy (he played only six games in 2006), he'll likely find his way out of Jacksonville. What looked to be a very promising career for the 2003 first-rounder from Marshall has turned into a four-year era of one injury after another.
21.) Rex Grossman, Chicago Bears - Grossman was the talk of the NFL midway through last season, an MVP candidate, but he became one of the league's worst QBs in the second half of the year. To many, the Bears made it to the Super Bowl in spite of Grossman, who had a dreadful outing in a 29-17 loss to Indy. If Good Rex shows up consistently in 2007, Chicago will be in great shape. However, Bad Rex is seemingly always right around the corner.
22.) Steve McNair, Baltimore Ravens - Despite a 13-3 campaign and playoff berth, McNair looked shot toward the end of last season. That seemed very evident in Baltimore's second-round playoff loss to the Colts, when Air McNair threw for 173 yards and two interceptions on 29 attempts. At this point, it would be miraculous if the 12-year veteran can find a way to get through the entire 2007 campaign. At 34, he's simply too worn down.
23.) Brett Favre, Green Bay Packers - Like McNair, Favre is at the end of his rope at this point. Though No. 4 showed shades of his old greatness at time last year, he still finished with a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 18-to-18 and a below-average 72.9 rating. The 36-year-old, a veteran of 16 seasons, probably should have gone out after '06. Instead, he'll return to a Green Bay team with minimal offensive talent. It could get ugly for the future Hall of Famer.
24.) Alex Smith, San Francisco 49ers - A lot was made of Smith's improvements last season (18 total touchdowns), but how hard could it have been to progress from a rookie campaign in which he threw only one touchdown to 11 picks? Still, Smith was decent enough to give 49ers fans hope for the upcoming season. However, losing O-coordinator Norv Turner will hurt Smith, who is going on his third play-caller in as many years.
25.) Jason Campbell, Washington Redskins - Campbell, 6-4, 230, has the size, arm strength and mobility teams look for in a big-time quarterback. His 10 touchdowns against six interceptions were impressive last year, too, considering the Redskins were essentially a total disaster. The ex-Auburn standout has started only seven games in his career, so Washington's fans can't yet expect the next Joe Theismann.
26.) Trent Green, Miami Dolphins - The 37-year-old Green showed his age for the Chiefs last season, especially in the team's playoff loss to the Colts. At this point, he should be looked to not as the Dolphins' savior but a mentor for young John Beck, whom Miami used a second-round pick on back in April.
27.) Jon Kitna, Detroit Lions - Kitna, a 10-year veteran, believes the always hapless Lions will be a double-digit win team in 2007. At least he's enthusiastic. In reality, like the above-mentioned Green, Kitna, 34, is little more than a bridge to a young QB, second-rounder Drew Stanton.
28.) Damon Huard, Kansas City Chiefs - Yes, Huard's 11 TD tosses to one INT in 10 games just about single-handedly led Kansas City to the playoffs in '06. However, you have to look at the 11th-year man's entire body of work. Huard was a mid-level backup for three different teams between 1997-2005 for a reason: He's simply not that good. Expect Brodie Croyle, the Chiefs' young QB, to take the job from Huard soon enough.
29.) Matt Schaub, Houston Texans - Finally, the world has a chance to watch the much-hyped Schaub actually play. The 6-5, 237-pounder, a 2004 third-round pick, sat behind Michael Vick in Atlanta for three seasons, and many believe he has the size, arm and intangibles to be a tremendous starter in the pros. Houston, which gave up two second-round picks for Schaub's services, will find out soon enough if he's the next Brett Favre or another Rob Johnson.
30.) JaMarcus Russell, Oakland Raiders - The No. 1 overall pick in April's draft will likely be very good eventually, perhaps a franchise player, but not yet. The former LSU standout has to adjust to the speed of the pros, a brand-new offense and a bunch of guys he's never played with. The 6-6, 250-pounder isn't set up to have a Roethlisberger-esque rookie season. Look for him to progress as the year goes on and be ready to guide Oakland back to respectability by September 2008.
31.) Tarvaris Jackson, Minnesota Vikings - The '06 second-round pick from Alabama State has plenty going for him in terms of size (6-2, 232), arm strength, and mobility. However, Minnesota fans have to understand that Jackson is basically just a rookie at this point. He started a pair of games last year and was horrible at best, compiling ratings of 35.4 and 62.5 in those contests.
32.) Charlie Frye, Cleveland Browns - Don't worry, Browns fans. By October, the forgetful Frye era should be over, thus paving the way for first-round pick Brady Quinn, an Ohio native.
By Connor Byrne
Where does your favorite quarterback stand in RealFootball365's QB Power Rankings? Take a look.
1.) Tom Brady, New England Patriots - Brady's stats rarely indicate that he'd be the NFL's top QB, but the soon-to-be 30-year-old simply wins. What Scott Niedermayer is to hockey, Tim Duncan is to basketball and Derek Jeter is to baseball, Brady is to football. Right now, it appears as if he and the Patriots are lined up to win Super Bowl No. 4 during his tenure at the helm. It's still only July, of course, but New England, thanks mostly to Brady, has to be the hands-on favorite to hoist the Lombardi Trophy in February.
2.) Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts - Manning, the modern-day Dan Marino when it comes to putting up huge numbers, finally got the monkey off his back last season, winning his first of what could be multiple Super Bowls with Indianapolis. Manning, 31, is no doubt one of the all-time greats, but he's still a pair of titles shy of his on-field archrival, Brady.
3.) Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints - When the 6-foot, 209-pound Brees signed with the Saints during the free agency period in March 2006, many wondered what he was thinking. After all, New Orleans was rebuilding its city and football team after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. However, led by Brees' 26 touchdowns, 4,418 yards and dazzling 96.2 efficiency rating, the Saints marched all the way to the NFC title game in '06, shocking everyone in the process. After such an outstanding season, Brees & Co. seem primed to represent their conference in February's Super Bowl.
4.) Carson Palmer, Cincinnati Bengals - Entering last season, most fans questioned how Palmer would rebound from a major knee injury he suffered in an AFC Wild Card game the previous January. The four-year veteran battled the odds, though, tossing 28 touchdowns and 13 interceptions for a Bengals team that ultimately disappointed. At 27, the 2002 No. 1 pick from USC is ready to enter his prime.
5.) Donovan McNabb, Philadelphia Eagles - Before his injury 10 games into last season, few QBs were as dominant as McNabb. He threw 18 touchdowns and just six interceptions, racking up a sparkling 95.5 rating along the way. As good as McNabb is, he can't seem to remain healthy these days. Over the last two campaigns, the 30-year-old has played only 19 regular-season games, and the Eagles prepared for yet another McNabb injury during the offseason by bringing in three new reserve quarterbacks -- A.J. Feeley, Kelly Holcomb and heir apparent Kevin Kolb, a second-round pick.
6.) Marc Bulger, St. Louis Rams - When thinking of the 30-year-old Bulger, the word "underrated" comes to mind. Last year, his first playing a full 16-game schedule, the seventh-year man threw 24 TD passes against a meager eight picks for a mediocre Rams team. If the 6-3, 212-pounder can stay healthy yet again, expect improved St. Louis to contend for a division title.
7.) Matt Hasselbeck, Seattle Seahawks - The normally terrific Hasselbeck fell short of expectations in 2006, tossing 18 touchdowns and 15 interceptions in an injury-shortened year. Like his team, which was supposed to be Super Bowl-caliber but came nowhere close, Hasselbeck is set to rebound this season. Expect the 31-year-old to regain his 24-touchdown form of '05, when the Hawks were a few questionable calls away from being world champions.
8.) Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers - Overshadowed by offensive teammates LaDainian Tomlinson and Antonio Gates, Rivers performed admirably in his first full season at the helm, picking up right where his predecessor, Drew Brees, left off. Rivers, 25, a 2004 first-round pick, threw for 3,300-plus yards, 22 touchdowns and nine picks in his debut year. Common sense says the 6-5, 228-pounder will only get better this season under the tutelage of new head coach Norv Turner, an offensive guru.
9.) Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers - It's hard to believe the Roethlisberger-led Steelers were Super Bowl champs just two short seasons ago. Last year was a disaster both on and off the field for the three-year veteran, who got in a motorcycle accident a summer ago and never quite recovered. The usually consistent 25-year-old was far from it in '06, pitching an eyebrow-raising 23 interceptions against only 18 touchdowns. Expect the real Roethlisberger to stand up again in 2007.
10.) Jake Delhomme, Carolina Panthers - After a so-so 2006, one has to wonder if Delhomme has much left in his tank at the age of 32. At the same time, though, Carolina's entire team -- not just Delhomme -- was incredibly inconsistent and disappointing last year, so perhaps the Panthers and their QB will manage to rebound this season. If the team can get any semblance of a ground game going, Delhomme should regain form (53 touchdown passes from 2004-05) with Steve Smith and rookie Dwayne Jarrett as his primary wideouts.
11.) Chad Pennington, New York Jets - Say what you want about Pennington, but he manages to win, and that's the most important thing. His numbers weren't great last season (17 TDs, 16 INTs), but he and Gang Green had the last laugh, riding a 10-6 record to a surprise playoff berth. The expectations are once again high for the injury-prone 31-year-old. Can he live up to them?
12.) Jay Cutler, Denver Broncos - Denver's head coach, Mike Shanahan, made an odd decision to replace veteran Jake Plummer with Cutler, a first-round rookie, 11 games into last year, but Cutler got valuable experience and showed flashes of brilliance. The former Vanderbilt star accrued an unimpressive 2-3 record as the Broncos' starter late last season, but it was hardly his fault. The cannon-armed 23-year-old ought to better his 88.5 efficiency rating of '06 (nine touchdowns against five picks).
13.) Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys - The pressure's on for Romo, who's now notoriously known for fumbling away a snap that would have led to a chip-shot field goal and first-round playoff win for the Cowboys. Instead, though, he and the 'Boys went home and Seattle marched on in the postseason. Romo, in his first campaign as Dallas' No. 1 QB, piled up 19 touchdowns, 13 interceptions and a Pro Bowl berth. In a contract year, it's time for the 27-year-old to officially show that he is indeed the real deal.
14.) Matt Leinart, Arizona Cardinals - Arguably the greatest QB in college football history, the former Heisman Trophy winner and two-time national champion from USC showed glimpses of future brilliance last year, starting 11 games for the rebuilding Cardinals. Leinart's numbers (11 scores, 12 picks, 74.0 rating) were nothing special, but he'll benefit in a big way in 2007 from new head coach Ken Whisenhunt, an offensive genius who tutored Ben Roethlisberger as the Steelers' offensive coordinator. It also helps that Leinart has two tremendous receivers -- Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin -- an improved offensive line and veteran RB Edgerrin James.
15.) J.P. Losman, Buffalo Bills - In his first full season as the Bills' top signalcaller, Losman - a 2004 first-rounder - accumulated 19 touchdown passes against 14 interceptions, also piling up over 3,000 yards and an 84.9 rating on a team with a nonexistent ground game and porous O-line. This year, though, the 26-year-old has a seemingly better group of running backs and an improved fivesome of blockers, which should mean a breakout campaign. If not, he'll be back under fire in Buffalo, which potentially has a young replacement -- third-round rookie Trent Edwards -- waiting in the wings if Losman struggles.
16.) Vince Young, Tennessee Titans - Young, a rookie last year, became one of the NFL's top stories in 2006, reviving a once-terrible Titans team and leading them to an 8-5 finish. The only reason the multidimensional Young isn't higher on the list is because he's still developing as a QB. Young's passing stats (12 touchdowns, 13 picks, 51.5 completion percentage) were subpar, which is understandable for a first-year guy, but they were overshadowed by his superb ground numbers -- 552 yards, seven TDs -- and ability to win games.
17.) Eli Manning, New York Giants - It was hard to put a guy who threw 24 touchdowns last season this low on the list, but the expectations for Manning are simply higher than most others. Considering he's the son of Archie, the brother of the great Peyton and a former No. 1 overall pick, that's understandable. In order to become elite, Manning absolutely has to become a better decision-maker and develop more consistency. As of now, he's at risk of being little more than a middle-of-the-pack starter, which won't be enough for the tough New York crowd.
18.) Jeff Garcia, Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Garcia had a four-season window (2000-03) with San Francisco in which he was a top-notch QB, but he appeared washed up with three different teams from '03-05. However, the 37-year-old fought every odd yet again last season as Donovan McNabb's backup in Philadelphia, leading the Eagles to the playoffs on the strength of his 10-touchdown, two-interception campaign in six starts. Now, he has big expectations to live up to as the Bucs' new No. 1 QB. Expecting another magical year from Garcia might be unfair, though.
19.) Michael Vick, Atlanta Falcons - Dogfighting allegations have ruined Vick's offseason, but he's facing plenty of on-field pressure, too. The Falcons have a new head coach, Bobby Petrino, who wants Vick to run less, and the team traded promising backup Matt Schaub away, thus totally putting its confidence in No. 7. Vick rushed for a whopping 1,039 yards in '06, but his passing was once again average at best. It's time for the 6-0, 215-pounder to become a reliable QB in Year 7, not just a runner with a big arm.
20.) Byron Leftwich, Jacksonville Jaguars - Leftwich and the Jags were a trendy Super Bowl pick early last season, but they fell off in the latter half of the schedule. The 6-5, 250-pounder is penciled in as Jacksonville's starter entering this year, but David Garrard is looking over his shoulder. If Leftwich struggles or fails to stay healthy (he played only six games in 2006), he'll likely find his way out of Jacksonville. What looked to be a very promising career for the 2003 first-rounder from Marshall has turned into a four-year era of one injury after another.
21.) Rex Grossman, Chicago Bears - Grossman was the talk of the NFL midway through last season, an MVP candidate, but he became one of the league's worst QBs in the second half of the year. To many, the Bears made it to the Super Bowl in spite of Grossman, who had a dreadful outing in a 29-17 loss to Indy. If Good Rex shows up consistently in 2007, Chicago will be in great shape. However, Bad Rex is seemingly always right around the corner.
22.) Steve McNair, Baltimore Ravens - Despite a 13-3 campaign and playoff berth, McNair looked shot toward the end of last season. That seemed very evident in Baltimore's second-round playoff loss to the Colts, when Air McNair threw for 173 yards and two interceptions on 29 attempts. At this point, it would be miraculous if the 12-year veteran can find a way to get through the entire 2007 campaign. At 34, he's simply too worn down.
23.) Brett Favre, Green Bay Packers - Like McNair, Favre is at the end of his rope at this point. Though No. 4 showed shades of his old greatness at time last year, he still finished with a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 18-to-18 and a below-average 72.9 rating. The 36-year-old, a veteran of 16 seasons, probably should have gone out after '06. Instead, he'll return to a Green Bay team with minimal offensive talent. It could get ugly for the future Hall of Famer.
24.) Alex Smith, San Francisco 49ers - A lot was made of Smith's improvements last season (18 total touchdowns), but how hard could it have been to progress from a rookie campaign in which he threw only one touchdown to 11 picks? Still, Smith was decent enough to give 49ers fans hope for the upcoming season. However, losing O-coordinator Norv Turner will hurt Smith, who is going on his third play-caller in as many years.
25.) Jason Campbell, Washington Redskins - Campbell, 6-4, 230, has the size, arm strength and mobility teams look for in a big-time quarterback. His 10 touchdowns against six interceptions were impressive last year, too, considering the Redskins were essentially a total disaster. The ex-Auburn standout has started only seven games in his career, so Washington's fans can't yet expect the next Joe Theismann.
26.) Trent Green, Miami Dolphins - The 37-year-old Green showed his age for the Chiefs last season, especially in the team's playoff loss to the Colts. At this point, he should be looked to not as the Dolphins' savior but a mentor for young John Beck, whom Miami used a second-round pick on back in April.
27.) Jon Kitna, Detroit Lions - Kitna, a 10-year veteran, believes the always hapless Lions will be a double-digit win team in 2007. At least he's enthusiastic. In reality, like the above-mentioned Green, Kitna, 34, is little more than a bridge to a young QB, second-rounder Drew Stanton.
28.) Damon Huard, Kansas City Chiefs - Yes, Huard's 11 TD tosses to one INT in 10 games just about single-handedly led Kansas City to the playoffs in '06. However, you have to look at the 11th-year man's entire body of work. Huard was a mid-level backup for three different teams between 1997-2005 for a reason: He's simply not that good. Expect Brodie Croyle, the Chiefs' young QB, to take the job from Huard soon enough.
29.) Matt Schaub, Houston Texans - Finally, the world has a chance to watch the much-hyped Schaub actually play. The 6-5, 237-pounder, a 2004 third-round pick, sat behind Michael Vick in Atlanta for three seasons, and many believe he has the size, arm and intangibles to be a tremendous starter in the pros. Houston, which gave up two second-round picks for Schaub's services, will find out soon enough if he's the next Brett Favre or another Rob Johnson.
30.) JaMarcus Russell, Oakland Raiders - The No. 1 overall pick in April's draft will likely be very good eventually, perhaps a franchise player, but not yet. The former LSU standout has to adjust to the speed of the pros, a brand-new offense and a bunch of guys he's never played with. The 6-6, 250-pounder isn't set up to have a Roethlisberger-esque rookie season. Look for him to progress as the year goes on and be ready to guide Oakland back to respectability by September 2008.
31.) Tarvaris Jackson, Minnesota Vikings - The '06 second-round pick from Alabama State has plenty going for him in terms of size (6-2, 232), arm strength, and mobility. However, Minnesota fans have to understand that Jackson is basically just a rookie at this point. He started a pair of games last year and was horrible at best, compiling ratings of 35.4 and 62.5 in those contests.
32.) Charlie Frye, Cleveland Browns - Don't worry, Browns fans. By October, the forgetful Frye era should be over, thus paving the way for first-round pick Brady Quinn, an Ohio native.