If you ask any NFL General Manager to pick one player to build a team around, you're likely to hear a number of answers...Aaron Rodgers. Drew Brees. Matt Ryan. Sam Bradford. Josh Freeman. The common thread is the position they play, because the Quarterback is the most important position in football and perhaps all of sports. Defense may win championships, but every team in the NFL wants to have a franchise QB. There are not many out there though, so that means the search could be a long and tedious process for some teams. We are going to take a look at every NFC team and assess their QB Depth heading into the offseason.

New York Giants

Franchise Guy
Eli Manning has a solid 7+ seasons remaining as the unquestioned starter in New York.  The last two seasons he has posted 4,000+ passing totals while also throwing career high TD passes, surpassing the 30+ TD mark in 2010.  Surrounded by a youthful and emerging receiving corps Eli will remain a solid statistical performer without ever reaching elite fantasy status.

Depth Chart
The G-Men are a long way from starting their franchise QB of the future search.  Being that Eli has remained largely healthy in his career, not yet missing a start, it can be anticipated he will be around for the foreseeable future.
 

Philadelphia Eagles

QB of the Right Now
The exceptional return of Michael Vick was one of the biggest storyline's in 2010.  In a offense that invested heavily in Kevin Kolb at the start of the '10 campaign, the Eagles quickly turned to the playmaking ability of Vick following an early season Kolb Koncussion.  Vick showed his speed of old and an arm that was significantly more accurate than in the past.  His commitment to the playbook was clear.  He still won't slide however and becomes an injury risk.  The Eagles will bring back Vick as their starter in 2010, and he's earned it.

QB of the Future
The Eagles paid Kevin Kolb big time money before the season and they really want to keep him around as a backup to an injury prone Vick.  It's yet to be seen if Kolb will remain an Eagle in 2011 as his market value will be high with numerous teams searching for a starter.  Kolb has been waiting for his chance to be a starter and a demand to be traded out of Philly may be in the future.  Third on the Eagles depth chart is Mike Kafka, who will be entering his second year in 2011.  He's got a nice skill set, but without ever throwing a pass in the NFL can obviously not be counted on.
 

Washington Redskins

QB of the Right Now
We're not really sure...

QB of the Future
Rex Grossman sits atop the depth chart.  Yikes.  John Beck is the 2nd stringer.  Yea, it's that bad.  Yup, that leaves Donovan McNabb as the 3rd stringer, likely to be shipped out of D.C. this offseason.  The QB of the future is not yet on this roster.....

 

Dallas Cowboys

Franchise Guy
The Big Time upside of Tony Romo has him firmly entrenched as the Cowboys unquestioned starter for the next 7 years.  Surrounded by legit offensive talent, Romo will thrive as he enters his prime.  Romo has the potential to compete as a Top-3 Fantasy QB from season to season and at only 30 should lead a few Dynasty squads to long term success. 

Depth Chart
Romo has been given a longer leash than most Cowboys players, being that the organization understands his immense playmaking ability.  While he remains an elite fantasy option, questions remain surrounding whether he has what it takes to lead the Cowboys to a Championship.  2nd stringer Steve McGee is a nice developmental prospect although likely not the franchise option.

 

Atlanta Falcons

Franchise Guy
Matty Ice is a legit talent, but he has yet to wow us with the look of fantasy elite.  He is a stud however and should grow into a top Dynasty QB option in the next two seasons.

Depth Chart
Chris Redman is an aging player that has shown to be decent in limited action.  He has no Dynasty value.  John Parker Wilson is a player that will try to establish himself as the long term backup to Matt Ryan.  
 

New Orleans Saints

Franchise Guy
Drew Brees will likely remain one of the top NFL and Fantasy QB's for the next 5 seasons.  During this time the Saints will continue to surround him talent and as long as Sean Peyton is leading this team on the coaching front, they will remain a pass happy team in the hands of their futre hall of fame signal caller.

Depth Chart
Chase Daniel and Sean Canfield are interesting prospects, but stand no chance of seeing the field while Brees remains healthy.  Brees is a safe Dynasty bet for some time and don't expect the Saints to search for their predecessor to Brees for another couple seasons.

 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Franchise Guy
Josh Freeman has all the intangibles to be a successful NFL QB, and a Beast at that.  As he emerges in the next 2-3 seasons as one of the leagues most exciting signal callers, big time fantasy numbers will follow for the next decade plus.

Depth Chart
Trade rumors surrounding Josh Johnson and the potential of a reunion between he and HC Jim Harbaugh in San Fran. will exists through Draft Season.  Harbaugh coached Johnson at the University of San Diego.  Rudy Carpenter is a 24 year old player with potential, but it's unclear whether he'll ever be more than back-up material.  This is Freeman's team folks.

 

Carolina Panthers

QB of the Right Now
Jimmy Clausen is inked in as the starter in Carolina.  Big question marks surround Clausen's ability to be a starter/franchise guy.

QB of the Future
Tony Pike and Keith Null are not the answer.  Matt Moore isn't either, and he is a free agent. With the #1 overall selection in this year's NFL Draft, we will learn a lot about their feelings about Clausen.  This is a tough fantasy situation from every angle.
 

Detroit Lions

Franchise Guy
#1 Overall Selection Matt Stafford has all the intangibles to be a Top-5 NFL QB.  In only two seasons however, he has managed to find himself sidelined with 2 separate shoulders and a knee injury.  His durability has become a concern, but the Lions are tied to their signal caller for at the very least a few more seasons. 

Depth Chart
Backup QB's Drew Stanton, Shaun Hill and Zac Robinson each played in 2010.  They are each perennial backups however and for now, the Lions will stand by Stafford as he tries to prove he can stay healthy.
 

Chicago Bears

Franchise Guy
The Bears have invested heavily in one of the leagues biggest arms (and mistake makers) in the league.  Jay Cutler is the long term franchise QB in Chi-Town for the next decade.  Look for this offense to continually surround him with studs.  He'll remain frustrating at times, but he's one of the most skilled QB's in the game and should continue to evolve over the next 3-5 seasons.

Depth Chart
You need a cannon arm to throw in the Windy City.  It's the Jay Cutler show in Bear Country for a long time.  Caleb Hanie is a nice young prospect the Bears really like, but he's going to have a hard time finding PT behind Cutler.
 

Minnesota Vikings

QB of the Right Now
The Vikings really like the skill set of Joe Webb, but it is widely understood that he is not yet ready to be "the guy."  He is an excellent developmental prospect to get your hands on now if you have the roster space.

QB of the Future
Patrick Ramsey and Rhett Bomar are not the answers here.  Look for the Vikings to make a move for a stopgap QB while they groom someone they likely take early in this year's Draft.

 

Green Bay Packers

Franchise Guy
Aaron Rodgers has the potential to emerge into the next great QB in the NFL.  He has every intangible necessary to do so.  The only thing that could slow him down is his aggressive running style and subsequent numerous concussions.

Depth Chart
Matt Flynn showed some serious skill in his single start in  2010 while Rodgers was sidelined due to a concussion.  Flynn and Graham Harrell have no chance of seeing the field unless they play for another team, but of the two, Flynn is the player to invest a roster spot on, especially if you are a Rodgers owner.
 

San Francisco 49ers

QB of the Right Now
Is it Alex Smith or Troy Smith?  The QB situation in San Fran. is a disaster.  If only they could merge the cerebral game of A. Smith and the Leadership and Athleticism of T. Smith and you'd have a nasty QB in the City by the Bay.  Well merging people is impossible, so the search continues in SF.

QB of the Future
David Carr looks like a deer in headlights, so count him out.  The 49ers pick early in the 2011 NFL Draft, and new HC Jim Harbaugh will look to turn this situation around.  As we described earlier in our Bucs. analysis, Harbaugh has an affinity toward Josh Johnson.

St. Louis Rams

Franchise Guy
Sam Bradford is a legit Beast folks.  3,500 passing yards in a Rookie Season on an average Rams squad is ridiculous.  Oh, and the Rams just added Josh McDaniels as the team's offensive coordinator which is a much better scenario than as a head coach.  Bradford is going to throw often and a decade plus of big time production will follow.

Depth Chart
AJ Feely and Thaddeus Lewis.  Nope.  Pay attention to whom McDaniels chooses to work with as Bradford's backup.  If history repeats itself, a solid player should emerge in this spot.

Seattle Seahawks

QB of the Right Now
Matt Hasselbeck will play at 37 next season, but at this point - with an obvious dwindling skill set - serves nothing more than a stopgap option as the Seahawks search for their guy. 

QB of the Future
Between Charlie Whitehurst and Nate Davis, we tend to favor Davis as the more likely player to eventually emerge into an NFL starter.  The Whitehurst project looks to likely be a failure.  Nate Davis has a solid skill set, but a learning disability has slowed his development.  HC Pete Carrol is a solid judge of talent, so monitor what the Hawks do in the upcoming Draft Season.

Arizona Cardinals

QB of the Right Now
John Skelton got a late season look at the starting gig, and was arguably the best QB on the Cards roster in 2010.  Skelton has one of the biggest arms in the NFL, but is a clear developmental player.  Look for the Cardinals to add a stop-gap veteran as they look to develop a 2011 Rookie NFL Draft selection or Skelton.  Early Draft Season rumors indicate Marc Bulger may be on the Cardinals short list.

QB of the Future
Derek Anderson is not good, and will forever live off his hype of the Browns 2007 anomaly.  Max Hall is a long way from earning a starting job, but as a smart-game manager type skill set with solid accuracy he'll hang around the league for some time.  With below average arm strength however, he will struggle to establish himself as a NFL starter. 

Check out the QB of the Future: AFC Edition