Our Options at QB
It's evident that the BIGGEST hole to fix in the Dolphins franchise is the posistion of QB. Everybody has placed thier opinions on who we should draft, or who we should pick up... So I decided to put it all together myself... FreeAgents and Draftees...
#Free Agents:
UFA: Unrestricted Free Agent; a player who has completed four or more accrued seasons and whose contract has expired.
RFA: Restricted Free Agent; a player who has completed three accrued seasons and whose contract has expired.
Anthony Wright, UFA, Ravens
Charlie Batch, UFA, Steelers
Chris Simms, RFA, Buccaneers
Chris Weinke, UFA, Panthers
Craig Nall, UFA, Packers
Damon Huard, UFA, Chiefs
Dave Ragone, RFA, Texans
Doug Flutie, UFA, Patriots
Drew Brees, UFA, Chargers
Jamie Martin, UFA, Rams
Jeff Blake, UFA, Bears
Jeff Garcia, UFA, Lions
Jesse Palmer, UFA, 49ers
Jon Kitna, UFA, Bengals
Josh McCown, UFA, Cardinals
Ken Dorsey, RFA, 49ers
Kliff Kingsbury, RFA, Jets
Kurt Warner, UFA, Cardinals
Sage Rosenfels, UFA, Dolphins
Seneca Wallace, RFA, Seahawks
Shane Matthews, UFA, Bills
Shaun Hill, UFA, Vikings
Time Hasselbeck, UFA, Giants
Todd Collins, UFA, Chiefs
Ty Detmer, UFA, Falcons
Vinny Testaverde, UFA, Jets
##Draft:
Matt Leinart Southern Cal 6-5 225 4.80
*****Strengths:
The consummate team leader and field general whose leadership abilities and intangibles are off the charts...Can dissect a defense with the best of them...Good size and a solid frame...Has good throwing mechanics...Shows excellent touch and puts the ball where is wideouts can make plays...Extremely productive...Has ice in his veins and seems to rise to the occasion in the biggest games...Tough player and a gamer...Very smart and makes good decisions...Mature young man with his head on straight...All he does is win...Is ready to start in the NFL now.
Weaknesses:
Durability is a concern since he had a major shoulder injury to his throwing arm in high school and then had elbow surgery prior to his senior campaign with the Trojans...Arm strength is adequate but nothing to write home about...Some question whether he is really as good as he has looked or more of a product of the system and supporting cast...Is not in Carson Palmer's class physically.
Notes:
Heisman Trophy winner who opted to return to school for his final year of eligibility despite being projected as the #1 overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft...In the mold of Tom Brady as a guy who more than makes up for any physical shortcomings he may have with top intangibles...Will be one of the first players chosen and could be the type of guy you can build a franchise around.
Vince Young Texas 6-5 233 n/a
Jay Cutler Vanderbilt 6-4 225 4.80
****Strengths:
Has a very strong arm...Good size...Pretty good athlete who can move a little...Sports a quick delivery with good accuracy...Patient player who will go through his progressions...Tough guy who will hang in the pocket and take a hit...Throws well on the move...Strong and durable with a lot of experience...A leader with top intangibles and is a gamer who comes up big in the clutch.
Weaknesses:
Mechanics get pretty dodgy at times...Footwork is very eratic...Will take unnecessary risks and make some bad decisions...Gunslinging mentality can morph into recklessness...Has too much confidence in his arm at distances...Struggles throwing the deep ball...Has not had a lot of success at the college level from a team perspective...Body has taken a lot of punishment throughout his career.
Notes:
Never received a lot of national attention but was named preseason All-SEC...Has the physical tools and makeup to succeed at the next level...With the lack of top signal callers available don't be surprised if Cutler goes off the board early.
Brodie Croyle Alabama 6-3 205 4.90
***Strengths:
Has a cannon for an arm...Smart player who can read a defense and make good decisions...Team leader and hard worker with top intangibles...Patient passer who does all the little things...Naturally athletic...Pretty accurate and displays good touch on his passes...Can get the ball deep downfield...Has always performed when healthy...Still has a lot of upside and hasn't yet reached his full potential.
Weaknesses:
Durability is a major concern as he has a troubling history of injuries since his freshman year of high school including a dislocated elbow, a torn labrum and torn ACL's in both his right and left knees...Lacks a solid build and needs to hit the weights and get stronger...Is not a threat to run and is purely a pocket passer...Raw and essentially has only two full years of starting experience.
Notes:
His father, John, played for Paul Bryant and his sister, Reagan, was a basketball player for the Tide and Alabama's 2000 Homecoming queen...Might be a boom or bust prospect...It's all about health with this guy and if he can stay out of the trainers room he has the tools to be a starting quarterback at the next level.
Darrell Hackney U.A.B. 6-1 240 4.90
***Strengths:
Has an amazing arm and can make all the throws...Is very strong and a beast in the weight room...Solidly built and is very tough to bring down...Has put up some impressive numbers at the college level...A leader who is calm in the pocket...Has nimble feet and moves pretty well for a guy his size...A competitor who is very confident in his abilities...Still has some upside if he can be coached up.
Weaknesses:
Has struggled with his weight and needs to keep that in check...Lacks ideal height...Is not very fast or athletic...Mechanics can get very dodgy at times...Might be too muscle-bound...Makes too many poor decisions...Must improve his accuracy...Has not consistently played against elite competition...Might have some maturity issues...Just raw around the edges and needs to refine his overall game.
Notes:
Has some tools to work with but also has a lot of questions marks as well...Interesting developmental prospect due to his build and cannon of an arm...Has the potential to develop into a starter down the line but could just as easily flame out if doesn't improve his mechanics and technique.
Charlie Whitehurst Clemson 6-4 225 4.88
***Strengths:
Has excellent size...Great arm strength with an overhead delivery...Good natural athlete who can move around in the pocket a little...Smart and tough with solid intangibles...Efficient in the short passing game...Durable three-year starter with a lot of experience...Still has some upside and potential...Has good bloodlines.
Weaknesses:
Very erratic and has had an up and down career...Makes way too many bad decisions, especially under pressure...Not a threat to run and is basically a pocket passer...Takes unnecessary risks...Needs to be more accurate, especially on deep passes...Holds onto the ball too long...Needs to be coached up and developed.
Notes:
Son of former Green Bay Packer quarterback David Whitehurst, who played in the NFL from 1976-83...Looked like a potential top prospect early in his career but bottomed out as a junior before bouncing back to a degree in 2005...Has a lot of physical tools to work with and could develop into a starter at the pro level.
Reggie McNeal Texas A&M 6-2 209 4.35
***Strengths:
An amazing athlete with rare speed for any position let alone quarterback...Has a great arm and quick release...Can move outside the pocket and throw on the run...Has about a 2-to-1 TD / INT ratio the past couple of seasons...Very tough...Shows flashes of brilliance...The type of running threat that keeps defenders up at night...Has a lot of tools to work with and some major upside.
Weaknesses:
Very erratic as a passer...Struggles to read defenses...Makes bad decisions under pressure...Leadership abilities have been questioned...Stares down his intended targets...Despite his speed he is no Michael Vick when it comes to moves...Is not very tall and gets too many passes knocked down at the line...Is too cautious and worried about making the big mistake...Raw overall and will need development.
Notes:
May have to make a position change since he is a much better athlete than quarterback...Did not have the huge senior season everyone was expecting...Will more than likely get an opportunity to be a pro signal caller and in a worst-case scenario could move to wide receiver...An interesting prospect to say the least.
Kellen Clemens Oregon 6-2 218 4.89
**Strengths:
Moves well in the pocket...Very efficient in the short passing game...Displays good mechanics...Throws well on the run...Good touch and timing...Gives his receivers a chance to run after the catch...Smart and a hard worker...A gamer with somewhat of a gunslinger mentality...Mature and a great leader with excellent intangibles.
Weaknesses:
Arm strength is only average at best...Does not have great size...Struggles with his accuracy...Not a great athlete...Doesn't throw the deep ball well...Is too quick to leave the pocket and run...Makes some poor decisions and will force the action...Needs to stay calm and in control of his emotions...Has a limited upside.
Notes:
Was having a nice year before breaking his left ankle in October which ended his senior season...Lacks the physical tools you look for but makes up for it by doing the little things...May never be a starter but could develop into a solid #2 or #3.
Bruce Gradkowski Toledo 6-2 222 4.58
***Strengths:
Extremely productive...Good natural athlete...Limits his mistakes and won't make bad decisions...Displays good accuracy...Strong and very tough...Can move in the pocket and scramble...Smart player who knows how to read a defense...Team leader with top intangibles...A gamer and competitor who rises to the occasion.
Weaknesses:
Lacks great height...Arm strength is only average...Doesn't throw on the run very well...Has some minor durability concerns...Is not a vertical passer...Has too many balls batted down at the line of scrimmage...Statistics were inflated by the system he played in and he will have to adjust at the next level...Upside is limited.
Notes:
From a physical standpoint he doesn't have what you are looking for but when you factor in his intangibles and production it is hard not to like him...Probably won't ever be a starter at the next level but he is the type you hate to doubt.
Brett Basanez Northwestern 6-2 215 4.65
Strengths:
Good athlete...Is at his best outside of the pocket...Can scramble and pick up yards with his feet...Very tough and a competitor...Smart and a hard worker who goes the extra mile...Team leader who elevates the play of those around him...Has a ton of experience as a four-year starter...Had a great senior campaign.
Weaknesses:
Doesn't have the height you look for...Inconsistent and streaky as a passer...Is not very accurate...Arm strength is just slightly above average...Makes too many bad decisions...Durability is a concern...Might never be more than a backup.
Notes:
Was named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year by the media as a senior...Is a much better prospect than Zak Kustok was...A gritty gamer whose work ethic, experience and intangibles could earn him a backup role at the pro level.
Erik Meyer Eastern Washington 6-2 210 5.05
**Strengths:
A very accurate passer...Has a tremendous arm...Smart player who is always in control of the offense...Makes very few mistakes...Can move a little and avoid pressure...Is a good natural athlete...Sees the field and can read a defense well...Is a gamer who has that extra something which is hard to define...Tremendous player at his level of competition...Top intangibles.
Weaknesses:
Has not played against the type of elite athletes and talent he will see at the next level so the jump will be a major culture shock for him...Will try to do too much and take too many chances...Doesn't have great size...Speed is only average although he plays faster with the pads on...Needs to refine his mechanics...Still a project.
Notes:
Also an excellent baseball player who was drafted by both the Cincinnati Reds and San Francisco Giants...One of the top sleeper prospects in the draft and a guy who at the very least should be brought in as a developmental signal caller.
Justin Holland Colorado St. 6-3 207 n/a
D.J. Shockley Georgia 6-1 206 n/a
Paul Pinegar Fresno St. 6-4 230 5.02
*Strengths:
Has excellent size...Tough and will hang in the pocket...Throws well on the run...Has good field vision...Excels in the short passing game...Hard worker who wants to get better...Mature and the game is important to him...Played and excelled in a pro style system...Has a ton of starting experience and is a winner.
Weaknesses:
Arm strength is only average...Needs to be more accurate...Makes too many bad decisions mentally...Is not very mobile...Will stare down his targets...Needs to have more of a take-charge attitude...Has some minor durability concerns.
Notes:
Size and intangibles are both top-notch...Has some tools to work with and in the right situation you could see him maybe developing into a starter down the line.
Tarvaris Jackson Alabama St. 6-3 221 n/a
Barrick Nealy Texas St. 6-5 230 n/a
Bruce Eugene Grambling St. 6-1 260 n/a
Michael Robinson Penn St. 6-2 217 n/a
Josh Betts Miami (OH) 6-3 225 n/a
Brad Smith Missouri 6-2 210 4.50
Drew Olson U.C.L.A. 6-3 225 n/a
Kent Smith Central Michigan 6-5 215 n/a
Ingle Martin Furman 6-3 224 n/a
Travis Lulay Montana St. 6-2 205 n/a
Let's face it, the Dolphins are going to have to combine both short and long term solutions to get this offense up and going in the right direction next year. There's no question that the dolphins should be in the playoff run next season... so how do we approach this in the offseason?
-One option is to draft a young quarterback and keep Gus. Gus would remain the starter for the season and groom our future prospect into starting material. If that's the case, there's only one option our there for the Dolphins to go for... draft Brodie Croyle. The only problem with this is, the Dolphins need juniors Young and Quinn to declare so we actually have a shot for him falling our way.
-Another option is to go with the draft idea, but sign a verteran other than Gus. Amoung those options listed above are possible candidate's Aaron Brooks, Patrick Ramsey, Daunte Culpepper, or Steve McNair. Or even trade for a younger guy with NFL playing time such as Matt Schaub.
-Even within the draft, we could trade up using Ricky Williams as bait... and hope to catch Leinart or Young.
These are just all of the options out there for any open-minded fans left who didn't know all of the options...
#NFL.com Free Agent List
##NFLDraftCountdown.com
