Where's the ideal landing spot for the top QBs?

Each team would obviously prefer to have the best talent available and each quarterback would like to end up on a loaded roster one piece away from a championship, but that’s not in the cards for everyone. To best parse the situation, perhaps the answer is to pinpoint the best match of quarterback and team in context. After all, if the Broncos get Tony Romo, they’re not going after Colin Kaepernick. Assigning a quarterback to just one team helps define who has what valuable skill sets and what each team in the market might be looking for.

While Washington has used the exclusive franchise tag on Kirk Cousins and some reports indicate that the Patriots are not planning to trade Jimmy Garoppolo, let’s get them in the mix and pretend they are, in fact, on the move. Most of us understand that each could likely be had for the right trade offer.

Tony Romo - Denver Broncos

A team with a slew of offensive weapons and a defense still operating at a high level is an ideal set-up for any quarterback, and it makes all the more sense with Romo. He has about a year or two left. One could say the same about the Denver defense as a whole. The Broncos know the window is shutting soon, and rolling the dice on Romo staying healthy seems about as safe a gambit as any available. Allowing Paxton Lynch ample time to develop can’t hurt, either.

Colin Kaepernick - Kansas City Chiefs

Renewing the Kaepernick-Alex Smith quarterback controversy probably isn’t going to happen, but since every 49ers quarterback eventually ends up in Kansas City, it felt like an idea worth floating. Kaepernick probably wouldn’t challenge to take the job from Smith immediately, though he would be an interesting option coming off the bench, or if fans continue to grow impatient with Smith. Kaepernick seems like he’s headed for a backup role at least intially in 2017, and he could much worse than KC.

Tyrod Taylor - Arizona Cardinals

Speaking of backup roles, if Taylor is willing to settle for one this coming season in Arizona, he could be well positioned for the future with a solid team. Carson Palmer is coming back for 2017, yet seems unlikely to last beyond that. Signing Taylor with the understanding that he would take over for Palmer in 2018 is a situation that could lead to the most success down the line, if not the most money right off the bat.

Jimmy Garoppolo - Buffalo Bills

You might think the best scenario for Garoppolo would be to stand pat in New England as the heir apparent to Tom Brady. Au contraire – we all really know Belichick is gone the minute that Brady is, leaving Garoppolo doomed to rot in the franchise’s inevitable decline. Instead, Jimmy G gets to go and thrive with Sammy Watkins. Perhaps trading Garoppolo within the division is a long shot, but the Pats would surely be willing to accept a massive motherlode of picks from Buffalo.

Kirk Cousins - San Francisco 49ers

In the short term, this is absolutely a worse option than staying in Washington, and I think Cousins would go into this knowing that. The 49ers turnaround, if it happens, will likely require more than a year. But Cousins would be reunited with his former offensive coordinator in Kyle Shanahan, and be with a franchise that actually wants him for a change. That would be a positive environment, and even if it meant for some difficult times in the short term, could yield great things down the line.

Jay Cutler - New York Jets 

Todd Bowles can’t afford to have another subpar year in 2017. The pressure is on to make the playoffs, and Cutler is the best possibility of the available possibilities, unless the Jets can somehow convince their archrival Patriots to give them Garoppolo, which seems even more unlikely than the Bills getting him. Cutler is used to the criticism and limelight he would have to face from the New York press. Cutty might have made even more sense if the Jets hadn’t just cut his good buddy Brandon Marshall. The former Bears quarterback still seems worth a flier for a year, especially when the franchise has made clear they aren’t interested in developing the other young quarterbacks currently on the roster. 

Ryan Fitzpatrick - Houston Texans

The days of Fitzmagic being a journeyman starter are probably over. A return to Houston could make sense as a challenge to Brock Osweiler for 2017. The Texans are stuck with Osweiler for at least one more year. Fitzpatrick could likely come relatively cheaply now, and might be worth it for another one-year deal. At the very least, signing another veteran who has made a lot of starts would send a message to Osweiler that the franchise isn’t willing to just throw away another season if he still struggles.

Mitch Trubisky - Cleveland Browns 

I know, I know, the Browns as an ideal for anyone sounds like an oxymoron, but hear me out. The team has a lot of young talent coming in. A patient approach with Trubisky as the Browns continue to compile quality players is a more fair shake than any other young passer has had coming in. Perhaps Trubisky will flame out as any Browns passer is fated to do, but at least Cleveland fans would get a few years of cruel, deceitful hope.

DeShone Kizer - Pittsburgh Steelers

Back when Ben Roethlisberger was hinting at retirement in the aftermath of the AFC Championship loss, head coach Mike Tomlin mentioned the team is likely to explore the quarterback market this off-season. That certainly makes sense, as Roethlisberger turned 35 this year, and he taken more physical punishment than just about any other active quarterback. Kizer makes sense for Pittsburgh. It’s more a factor of whether the team decides it has bigger priorities if he’s available in the first or second round. 

Mike Glennon -  Chicago Bears

Glennon is a little goofy looking and has never played for a winner, so he’s a real hard sell for a team trying to make an immediate turn toward a title run. That’s not what the Bears are doing, however. Glennon is a better QB than he gets credit for, and is a solid pickup if you’re looking for a veteran to start a few games while a rookie learns the ropes. Glennon seems as good as any for that role. 

Deshaun Watson - Chicago Bears

Chicago is very much a team still going through a rebuild, so this is the perfect time to bring in a rookie to start developing. Whether Watson is their guy is only something the Bears front office knows, but it makes a lot of sense.