Matching Top Available NFL Quarterbacks to QB Needy Teams

Ben Margot/Associated Press

The most important position on the football field: the quarterback.

This is the position that separates the champions from the runner-ups. Just look at the past five Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks: Peyton Manning ^[1], Tom Brady, Russell Wilson ^[2], Joe Flacco and Eli Manning. They are all some of the best we've seen at the position in recent memory, have pedigree and are talented (although Peyton was ready to turn out the lights).

Even the teams that have pretty good quarterbacks can't get over the hump. For example, Andy Dalton ^[3], Teddy Bridgewater, Matthew Stafford ^[4] and Andrew Luck ^[5].

Hell, teams are so desperate to get a pulse at the position, that they're willing to pay a guy $18 million a year for five career wins. See Osweiler, Brock.

So, you get it; a team needs a top-shelf quarterback to win it all (or a 2016 Denver Broncos, 2000 Ravens or 1985 Bears defense).

What's left out there isn't exactly delectable, but they may be put in a position as a bridge quarterback, or could find themselves placed with a team that has pieces around him to succeed.

There are six quarterbacks that can be had—via trade or a free-agent signing—that could help out a quarterback-starved franchise and give a fanbase some hope.

What better way to begin than with a guy whose Fitzmagic ran out at the end of the season.

Bill Wippert/Associated Press

Ryan Fitzpatrick should consider taking over for the woman in the JG Wentworth commercial.

You know—"It's my money, and I need it now!"

Seems perfect, no?

Fitzpatrick is a smart guy with that Harvard pedigree and all. So, he should know what we all know—especially the New York Jets—that he's only good with Chan Gailey being in his coaching circle.

In four seasons with Gailey as either his head coach or offensive coordinator (2010-2012; 2015), Fitzpatrick has never thrown less than 23 touchdown passes, and has thrown for 3,400 or more yards three of those four seasons.

Without Gailey?

Fitzpatrick has one season of more than 15 touchdown passes, 2014, in which he threw 17.

But hey, we should understand—the guy was a seventh-round selection and wants his money. However, come on—he won't be in a better situation anywhere else having wide receivers such as Brandon Marshall ^[6] and Eric Decker ^[7]. And, oh, newly signed running back Matt Forte < small>^[8].

The Jets had 10 wins last season under Fitzpatrick.

Spark the Fitzmagic flame again in 2016, Fitzy.

2016 Team: New York Jets

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I was hoping to end the slideshow with this fella here, but his last name is so early in the alphabet, and with having to go in alphabetical order, here we are.

You won't find anything like this out there on the Internet except for right here.

There are no rumors of New England Patriots quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo being available. Hell, he probably isn't, but this is all speculation anyways, right?

Look, this guy isn't going to play for a while. With fellow quarterback Tom Brady signing a contract extension ^[9] through 2019, that will mark six seasons in which Garoppolo will not be a starting quarterback.

We've seen it happen in the past with quarterbacks under the tutelage of Patriots head coach Bill Belichick ^[10]—Matt Cassel, Brian Hoyer and Ryan Mallett—he ships them off for hard-earned draft-pick compensation.

Yeah, yeah, I'm aware—the Patriots drafted Garoppolo in the second round of the 2014 NFL ^[11] draft, but still.

If I'm the Denver Broncos, I'm calling the Patriots and throwing an offer on the table.

In the limited reps we've seen of him, Garoppolo has looked like he can hang in this league.

Don't give me this nonsense that they won't deal with a team to get in the way of their Super Bowl hopes. They're a professional NFL franchise with an ego that won't make them sit there and think, "Oh no, we can't do that! What if...What if they beat us again?"

Make it happen.

Send Jimmy G to Denver.

2016 Team: Denver Broncos (I wish).

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At this point in his career, we know just about all we need to about Brian Hoyer—he's a fantastic backup to have in case your starting quarterback is hit with an injury.

In the 11 regular-season games Hoyer participated in last season, he tossed 19 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

Not too shabby.

However, Hoyer absolutely melted down in the Wild Card Round against the Kansas City Chiefs, throwing for a measly 136 yards and four interceptions.

So let's see: Solid backup for a team and can fill in well enough to keep your team above water until the starter gets back.

Sounds like the Dallas Cowboys, doesn't it?

I'm not buying that they are open to taking a quarterback with the fourth overall selection in the 2016 NFL draft.

Not one bit.

Put Hoyer behind Romo.

2016 Team: Dallas Cowboys

Ben Margot/Associated Press

Will he stay or will he go?

That's the question surrounding San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick ^[12].

It seems as though he doesn't trust upper management, and rightfully so.

Although he was terrible last season, they did kind of jerk him around a little bit during the whole benching him for fellow quarterback Blaine Gabber, as well putting him on injured reserve.

However, Kaepernick should view Chip Kelly coming to town as head coach of the 49ers as a path to redemption.

We all know Kelly's game—run, run, run some more and do it at a fast pace.

We also all know what Kaepernick has accomplished in this league. He's been to a Super Bowl, you know!

While those are distant memories, Kaepernick just needs some consistency and a coach like Kelly to help him out with a second act like Robert Griffin III ^[13] and Cleveland Browns head coach Hue Jackson.

As it stands right now, the only team that he could be on in 2016 besides the 49ers are the Denver Broncos, and it's doubtful they pull the trigger on handing over a second-round pick on a quarterback who looked like a lost puppy trying to find his way in 2015.

He'll stay put.

For now.

2016 Team: San Francisco 49ers

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Oh, Johnny—what are we going to do with you?

Writing about Johnny Manziel ^[14] has become a little tedious because he's such a knucklehead and the talent he has is just going to waste.

That's what will keep teams interested: his talent.

While he's looked awful at points, he has shown flashes that make you think, "Hmm. This guy can kind of play."

Whether it be a bomb of a pass to Travis Benjamin or a scramble for a touchdown, Manziel possesses traits that raise eyebrows for teams.

But—he has an insane amount and just weird off-the-field situations. Obviously, the domestic violence case is something he should have never gotten himself wrapped up in, and that's probably one of the big things teams are waiting on to be rectified before coming forth with any kind of interest in Manziel, but let's not overshadow his alleged wrongdoings with his NFL future. This is serious.

However, the weird stuff Manziel has done involves him dressing up in disguises parading around Las Vegas.

Uh, what?

Nonetheless, Manziel did hire agent Drew Rosenhaus, according to Jason La Canfora ^[15] of CBS Sports.

Rosenhaus has always wanted to add a quarterback to his trophy case and getting Manziel signed should satisfy that emptiness in his sports-agent heart.

We may not hear anything on Manziel's domestic violence case for a while, so it's unlikely he'll be with a team before the season starts.

If he is, though, the Kansas City Chiefs make some sense.

Right now, they have Alex Smith at quarterback who is 31 years old and is serviceable.

Under head coach Andy Reid, Manziel will likely receive the guidance he needs and Reid should be able to squeeze what he has in him out.

Manziel could turn his career around in KC once he starts to care about football and being the quarterback for an NFL franchise.

2016 Team: None, Jail, or Kansas City Chiefs

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$5 million cap hit in 2016. 36 years old. And the Cleveland Browns recently signed quarterback Robert Griffin III.

Yeah, that just about spells the end of fellow quarterback Josh McCown's time with the Dawg Pound.

Originally, McCown was brought in to tutor Johnny Manziel in Cleveland, but the latter had other plans.

Instead, McCown started eight games for the Browns and was actually fairly decent, throwing over 2,000 yards with 12 touchdown passes and just four interceptions.

It's no surprise: McCown is a bridge quarterback for a team that's on the lookout for their next guy and wants McCown to serve as a mentor.

He will not be a starter in 2016 (minus filling in if needed), but he will likely end up in a place that needs a bridge quarterback or one with a young guy who needs some mentoring.

I'm drawn to the Los Angeles Rams for this very reason.

Whether it's Case Keenum or one of the "big three" quarterback prospects—Carson Wentz, Jared Goff or Paxton Lynch—McCown would be the perfect guy in the locker room for all these young guys as they try to improve their craft.

2016 Team: Los Angeles Rams