Position Breakdown: Quarterback

Current Roster Makeup:
Anderson, Derek QB 6-6 230; Quinn, Brady QB 6-3 235; Ratliff, Brett QB 6-4 22
Breakdown:
After Derek Anderson's Pro Bowl season in 2007, things appeared bright and sunny at the quarterback position for the Cleveland Browns. Then in 2008 things got cloudy for the Browns as DA appeared to regress. Things remained cloudy as a new coaching staff and front office came in with Eric Mangini. After the 2009 season, things appear, well, still cloudy.
If Eric Mangini taught us anything this past season though, its that you don't in fact need an effective quarterback to win in the NFL. In the Browns 5 wins in 2009, Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn passed for 23, 90, 66, 121 and 86 yards, a total of 386 yards IN 5 GAMES! To put that in perspective, a quarterback passed for 386 yards or more in a single game 15 TIMES during the regular season! Translation: Brian Daboll can't gameplan or call plays to put Anderson and Quinn in a position to make plays. He sucks and I really don't understand why he's being retained. Regardless, the QB play was not up to par or even bogey for that matter in 2009.
The fact that we were able to win 5 games with such poor performances at the quarterback position is a testament to how good our special teams is and how underrated our defense is. The stats will tell you a different story. The defense is at the bottom of the league and while I agree we need talent upgrades across the back 8 (linebackers and defensive backs), I think many of the defense's problems could be resolved by simply keeping them off the field. The Browns can do that with a QB capable of running the offense and sustaining drives.
Brady Quinn has the poise, the moxy, the body language, and just a nice body in general you like to see at the quarterback position. He looks the part but his arm is still as limited as it was coming out of college. I mean, just look at what he did at Notre Dame. His accuracy is a huge problem. He constantly threw behind receivers on the money down (3rd down), leading to incompletions, dropped passes and interceptions. Even if the receiver was able to adjust and reel in one of Brady's off-target passes, they were in no position to get any yards after catch (YAC). Enter Dave Zastudil...
To be honest, I never liked Brady Quinn at Notre Dame, but was excited when we drafted him. The kid works hard at his craft but at some point we need to see better production. This offseason will be critical for Quinn's career with the Browns and his future in the NFL going forward, that is assuming the new front office brass has not already decided his fate. Because Quinn failed to reach playing incentives in his contract this past season, he is relatively affordable, even as a backup, so expect Quinn to remain on the roster at least next year.
The same cannot be said for Derek Anderson. He has all the arm strength you would want your franchise quarterback to have. He throws one of the prettiest deep balls in the NFL but it often gets him into trouble. I've never seen anyone make as many bone-headed throws as this guy. Forget about the screen game, DA will gun the ball directly into the ground at the receivers feet. What you see with DA is what you get. A goofball with the ability to look like Carson Palmer one game and Arnold Palmer the next. He has a large option bonus due in mid March that the team will definitely not pay. Look for DA to be on another roster in 2010, unless he is willing to restructure his deal.
Free Agency Outlook:
This free agent class is LOADED with top-tier quarterbacks. Teams will be fighting tooth and nail for the services of Kyle Boller, David Carr and Joey Harrington. I expect the Broncos to sign Kyle Orton to a long term deal. Jason Campbell is an interesting potential free agent but his future with the Redskins is as uncertain as Al Davis is when it comes to head coaches. Chad Pennington is a possibility as a stop gap to mentor Brady Quinn, Brett Ratliff, or a rookie should we draft a QB. What about Brett Fav... re? If the Vikings don't go all the way this year, will he really be satisfied walking away from the game without that allusive second Lombardi trophy? If he parts ways with Minnesota, people will certainly start connecting the dots in Cleveland. Two of his former coaches are now in Cleveland in Holmgren and Mangini. There are lots of fields in Ohio for him to mow and ride around on his John Deere. It could happen but I'll go out on a limb and say there's no way it does.
Is That a Trade Front Rolling In?
With Tom Heckert coming from Philadelphia to join Mike Holmgren, both big West Coast Offense guys, rumors are flying that the Browns are going to trade for either Donavan McNabb or Kevin Kolb (or even picking up Michael Vick if the Eagles let him walk). I would be OK with either of the former so long as we don't give up too much, especially with this draft class being as talented as it is. Stay tuned...
Draft Prospects:
For what the draft may lack in talent at the quarterback position it makes up for in name recognition. The 2010 draft will feature some of the most decorated and celebrated quarterbacks in college football history. Tim Tebow and Colt McCoy are folk legends in Florida and Texas, respectively. While both are natural leaders and gamers, they are also arguably the 3rd and 4th rated prospects from a talent standpoint in this year's class. Despite his shoulder injury suffered this past season, Sam Bradford (Oklahoma) is still considered to be the top quarterback with Jimmy Clausen (Notre Dame) a close second (and rising). Frankly, I do not want the Browns to spend the #7 pick on a quarterback (although I guarantee I will be ecstatic if we do happen to draft one on April 22nd, at least at that very moment). Mike Holmgren's M.O. is to draft and develop quarterbacks in the later rounds. However, the Eagles with Heckert did draft Kevin Kolb in the 2nd round. I would not discount the possibility of Colt McCoy or Tim Tebow falling to the Browns in the 2nd Round. Whatever the front office decides to do, it should make for an interesting draft weekend!