GM Phil Savage recently said the Browns might give the highest tender to QB Derek Anderson when he becomes a restricted free agent at the end of the season. That means if any team signs Anderson and the Browns don’t match, Cleveland would receive that team’s first and third round draft picks in 2008 (assuming some other form of compensation isn’t worked out).
Alright, I’m intrigued. What quarterback-starved teams are most likely to make a play at Anderson assuming the Browns don’t just hold on to him? “Most likely” rules out teams like the Jets, Bills, Chiefs, Dolphins and Panthers by the way, although they certainly might be in the QB-market as well.
1. Chicago. If the Bears go 7-9 or 8-8 and land in the middle of the first round, it’s highly feasible they would give up the necessary draft picks to land Anderson. Rex Grossman becomes a free agent at the end of the year and Brian Griese isn’t a long-term answer, so Chicago might be the most logical fit.
2. Minnesota. First and foremost, in order for the Vikings to make a play for Anderson, Brad Childress would have to admit the huge project that is Tarvaris Jackson might not be worth it. Childress fought hard this off-season to retain the three highly ineffective quarterbacks he currently has the roster, so it might be a stretch to assume he’ll go along with the idea of acquiring Anderson. However, with two great lines on both sides of the ball and a superstar young running back, Anderson would probably make Minnesota an instant contender, assuming they got him some wide receivers, of course.
3. Atlanta. The Falcons are in desperate need of a young franchise quarterback after you know who, did you know what. Yet, assuming they would be drafting in the top 10 next year, would they be willing to give up two high draft picks to acquire Anderson? Not only that, but would Anderson be worth passing on QB prospect Brian Brohm in the draft, the same Brian Brohm Bobby Petrino coached at Louisville?
I’ll rule out the Ravens, because while they would definitely be in the market for a young quarterback, Savage isn’t stupid enough to trade within the division. Two sleeper candidates, however, would be Detroit and Tampa. Both teams currently have aging quarterbacks in Jon Kitna and Jeff Garcia, respectively, and both would likely be drafting in the back half of each round, so a first and a third might be worth giving up.
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Chicago and Minnesota seem to be the best bets. Not sure about Tampa – they play the West Coast offense and Anderson is probably more suited to the standard pro set that focuses on the deep pass.
I doubt he’ll end up in Chicago. If Grossman is even average through the rest of the season, I think they’ll attempt to sign Rex to a 1yr contract and look to the middle rounds of the draft to find another prospect, meanwhile dumping Griese and taking a harder look at Kyle Orton as the future QB – he will have one more year until he reaches FA. Grossman has such a horrible stigma about him that I don’t another team would make it worth his while in terms of playing time or money at this point.
Chicago’s issue right now is OL and whatever the heck is wrong with their defense. In all other aspects, I’d bet they’ll retain the players that are already familiar with the system, and Grossman falls into that category.
Please…NY Giants…give up on the Eli experiment and get Anderson. If Eli’s last name was Smith, he never would have the first pick in the draft and Giant fans wouldn’t be looking at 5-10 years of misery with this guy.
If Eli was worth two #1′s and a #2, Anderson could be worth at least a 1 and 3 from next year.
Giants hell, what about the Jets and that train wreck of a Team they have. Eli will have a big day vs the Bears tomorrow and last week will be forgotton. He’s not going anywhere.
PS His brother is coming back down to earth too.
Sounds like ATL is the place for Anderson. As a Packer fan, I see no need for him to come up to the NFC North and improve the QB play in Minny and Chicago.
Chicago has a QB and his name is Rex Grossman. Just get some new coaches.
The kid ain’t goin anywhere ……. He’s a Brownie.
Keep tellin yourself that, Da Bear. I’ll take my chances playing against Grossman for the next decade or so.