Here are some educated guesses at who is going to be the starting quarterback for each NFL team for the 2012 season.

 

Arizona: David Garrard

The Cardinals can get out of the Kevin Kolb deal and they should cut their losses and Ken Whisenhunt knows his job is on the line so he is going to look for a veteran and if Garrard is healthy someone will give him a shot.

 

Atlanta: Matt Ryan

Ryan is a Top 10 quarterback but he needs to win a game in the playoffs sometime soon.

 

Baltimore: Joe Flacco

Flacco may never have a great statistical season but as long as he takes care of the football he will the Ravens quarterback.

 

Buffalo: Jason Campbell

Campbell won’t be back with Oakland and will look for another opportunity. The Bills can get out of the Ryan Fitzpatrick deal and should after his 23 interception campaign.

 

Carolina: Cam Newton

Extremely impressive in his rookie season and is firmly entrenched.

 

Chicago: Jay Cutler

Pretty clear to Bears fans that Cutler is important to the team, now a backup quarterback could easily be brought in.

 

Cincinnati: Andy Dalton

Surprised a lot of people with such a solid year and showed a lot of promise.

 

Cleveland: Robert Griffin III

The Browns will do whatever it takes to secure RG3. They will most likely hold onto Colt McCoy as insurance but Griffin will get the starting nod.

 

Dallas: Tony Romo

Romo is a good quarterback and Jerry Jones and the Cowboys will stick with him for a long time.

 

Denver: Tim Tebow

As much as John Elway wants a “real” quarterback, Tebow clearly deserves the job no questions asked.

 

Detroit: Matt Stafford

If he’s healthy he might be a Top 5 quarterback

 

Green Bay: Aaron Rodgers

One of the best seasons by a quarterback ever. Rodgers is carving out a Hall of Fame career.

 

Houston: Matt Schaub

As good as T.J. Yates played he can’t touch Schaub.

 

Indianapolis: Andrew Luck

It appears that the Colts will draft Luck no questions asked and he is the most NFL ready quarterback we have seen in the past 20 years.

 

Jacksonville: Blaine Gabbert

Gabbert was terrible as a rookie and usually head coaches want their own quarterback but Gabbert will be given one more shot.

 

Kansas City: Matt Cassel

He needs to stay healthy. Romeo Crennel has limited ties to Cassel but there might not be many better options available.

 

Miami: Peyton Manning

A lot of great quarterbacks (Favre, Montana, Unitas) spend the majority of their career with one team and unceremoniously get shown the curb and sign with another team. The Dolphins have a capable defense and are willing to throw some money around. I don’t think the Jets are a real option because I don’t think Peyton will want to share the New York spotlight or the same stadium as his brother.

 

Minnesota: Christian Ponder

Ponder will be on a short leash but they will give him plenty of opportunities.

 

New England: Tom Brady

Not even worth making a joke about.

 

New Orleans: Drew Brees

Should be the NFL MVP or at least the Offensive Player of the Year.

 

New York Giants: Eli Manning

Maybe the best rebound season we have ever seen

 

New York Jets: Mark Sanchez

The Jets will bring in a veteran as insurance for the unstable Sanchez and this will certainly be his last chance. The first sign of collapse and he will get yanked. Don’t be surprised to see someone like Donovan McNabb brought in.

 

Oakland: Carson Palmer

I wouldn’t be shocked if Palmer isn’t the starting quarterback as Reggie McKenzie wants to put his stamp on the franchise, but they have a lot invested.

 

Philadelphia: Michael Vick

Vick will have a rebound season but he has to stay healthy

 

Pittsburgh: Ben Roethlisberger

He will be a Steeler until he dies.

 

San Diego: Phillip Rivers

Rivers saved his coaches job that should show what kind of pull he has.

 

San Francisco: Alex Smith

Finally starting to show something, the Harbaugh relationship is strong

 

Seattle: Kyle Orton

Orton is a below average starting quarterback but he is certainly better Tavaris Jackson or Charlie Whitehurst. Pete Carroll will give someone the opportunity to come in and compete.

 

St. Louis: Sam Bradford

Bradford slipped this season but is still ultra talented.

 

Tampa Bay: Josh Freeman

He will be given a chance to prove 2011 was a fluke but he is on a short leash

 

Tennessee: Matt Hasselbeck

Locker is waiting in the wings so this will be Hasselbecks last go at it

 

Washington: Matt Flynn

Mike Shanahan wants a quarterback desperately and Matt Flynn is going to be a hot commodity this offseason.

 

 

Keep Your Eye On:

 

Dennis Dixon (PIT): He’s buried on the depth chart and will look for a backup job somewhere that he could showcase his talent.

 

Matt Leinart (HOU): Pete Carroll might give him a chance to compete for a job but he’s probably been passed up by T.J. Yates as the backup to Matt Schaub.

 

Donovan McNabb (FA): Probably content with being a backup on a good team but he will probably have the opportunity to compete somewhere like Arizona or Seattle.

 

Vince Young (PHI): Young will have an opportunity to compete if he wants but he should stay in Philadelphia as Michael Vick’s caddy.

 

Blaine Hoyer (NE): There is mystique that all Patriot quarterbacks can play. Hoyer could be traded for draft picks but there is no urgency.

 

Josh Johnson (TB): Johnson should get out of Tampa and find a spot to settle in as a backup but he has some potential and a team might give him a shot but more than likely he’ll be a backup.

 

Seneca Wallace (CLE): Wallace has had some moments here and there but if the Browns go with RG3 someone will have to go and Wallace will probably be moving on.

 

Ryan Tannehill (Rookie): Tannehill will most likely go in the Top 50 selections and is a very bright, hard working individual and as we saw with Andy Dalton a rookie quarterback not selected #1 can man an impact.

 

Nick Foles (Rookie): Foles will most likely go in Round 2 and has a small chance to start somewhere but there is still a chance.