As we draw closer to the 2019 NFL draft in Nashville, Tennessee, a handful of teams will come in looking for a quarterback. Whether it's a team that desperately needs a new signal-caller, a team that just wants a new guy running its offense or a team that wants to get ahead of an older quarterback's final seasons under center, the scenarios for landing the guy are plentiful.
For each team likely to at least consider taking a QB, our NFL Nation reporters reviewed which prospects the franchise is interested in, what assets it has to land them and how it might all play out -- from best-case to worst-case scenario.
ARI | OAK | NYG | DEN | MIA
WSH | NE | LAC | CIN
Arizona Cardinals
First-round pick: No. 1 | Need level: 5 out of 10
Who they like: It's no secret that new coach Kliff Kingsbury likes Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray. He has known him since high school and recruited him to Texas A&M and Texas Tech. The Cardinals met with Murray at the scouting combine and hosted him and agent Erik Burkhardt -- who also represents Kingsbury -- on a visit to Arizona. But the Cardinals already have a quarterback in Josh Rosen. Their desire to have a new quarterback might trump their lack of true need, and it's Murray or bust if the Cards do go QB.
If the Cardinals want Murray, then all they have to do is submit their draft card now and take him first overall. If he's their guy, it's possible and plausible that the Cards have already started drawing up Murray's contract. But they could also easily decide to draft a defensive player or entertain a trade package that's too good to pass up. The wild card of it all is that this could be a massive smokescreen, in which they feel defense is a bigger need and they're happy with Rosen. But another layer to it is whether the Cards can get what they want for Rosen in a trade either before, during or after the draft.
Oklahoma's Kyler Murray is an aggressive playmaker with a strong arm, quick release and good passing accuracy.
What they're most likely to do: Draft Murray at No. 1. He's not necessarily needed to run the Air Raid, but Kingsbury likes Murray a lot. And after Arizona watched Russell Wilson win a Super Bowl as a division foe after passing on him in 2012, it might not want to miss out on someone they think is a potential franchise-defining quarterback. -- Josh Weinfuss
Oakland Raiders
First-round picks: Nos. 4, 24, 27 | Need level: 3 out of 10
Who they like: While coach Jon Gruden got tongues wagging at the Senior Bowl by praising Murray's skill set, he might actually like Dwayne Haskins more. The Raiders have worked out both quarterbacks, and Gruden also coached Drew Lock at the Senior Bowl.
Trade assets: With $125 million man Derek Carr entering Year 3 of his five-year extension, the Raiders seem set at the position, and both Gruden and new general manager Mike Mayock have said Carr is their "franchise quarterback." But if Carr is more Mr. Right Now than Mr. Right, the Raiders should at least kick the tires on a draft quarterback, right? With four picks -- half of their total haul -- in the first 35 selections, the Raiders could conceivably move up to No. 1 to grab Murray. That would mean decimating the rest of their pick pool, though, and Mayock might actually be looking to move down to load up even more since the Raiders currently do not have a single pick between Nos. 36 and 105.
Best-case scenario: Haskins falling to Oakland at No. 4 seems likely, and Lock could probably be had at No. 6 or maybe even No. 17 if Oakland trades back with the Giants for more mid-round picks. But the Raiders need pass-rushers above all else.
Plan B: Gruden also coached Daniel Jones and Ryan Finley at the Senior Bowl, and they could both still be there at No. 35.
What they're most likely to do: No early pick on a QB. As tempting as it is for the Raiders to trade back to pick up additional mid-round selections, the smart money today is on them standing pat and getting a foundation piece or two on defense. Beside Carr, the Raiders also have Mike Glennon, Landry Jones and Nathan Peterman on the roster to back him up. -- Paul Gutierrez
New York Giants
First-round picks: Nos. 6, 17 | Need level: 9 out of 10
Who they like: The Giants have met with all the top quarterbacks along the way, doing their due diligence on all the viable options. They seem to be most smitten with Lock. His physical skill set, combined with three years of starting experience, make him the most likely target for the Giants with their two first-round picks. Jones, with his Manning connections and cerebral approach, could be an option with the 17th pick, too. The Giants appear uncertain about Haskins with his one season of starting experience and lack of mobility. He seems more popular in mock drafts than at 1925 Giants Drive.
Dwayne Haskins is a gifted pocket passer out of Ohio State with good arm strength.
Trade assets: The Giants are intent on maximizing value with their top two picks. They're not going to force a quarterback. If their grade doesn't align with the player (regardless of the position), they're going to pass. So while they are likely to pass on a quarterback at No. 6 at this point, it's possible they move up from No. 17 to get Lock or Jones, say, in the early teens. That would seem to align with their plans and desire to maximize value. The Giants have 10 picks outside the first round to work with in order to make something happen.
Best-case scenario: One of the draft's top defensive players -- Josh Allen, Nick Bosa or Quinnen Williams -- falls into the Giants' laps and then their top quarterback (believed to be Lock) is still available at No. 17. That would be a dream for New York. Or the Cardinals pass on Murray and he is there at No. 6 somehow.
Plan B: Yeah, that's pretty unlikely. Instead, the Giants land Ed Oliver at No. 6 and Jones is then waiting for them at 17. That seems more realistic.
If all else fails: The Giants go defense at No. 6. Lock is gone before 17. So too is Jones. The Giants pass on a quarterback in the first round altogether, but they see value in Will Grier or Jarrett Stidham either in the second or third rounds. They pull the trigger. It'd be the third year in a row the Giants take a Day 2 or 3 quarterback hoping it works, but the likelihood is they remain without a franchise quarterback and continue to waste valuable assets with picks that should be producing quality starters.
The wild card: It's not out of the question that the Giants push their quarterback decision into 2020. If anything, the Odell Beckham Jr. trade bought them a bit more time; their rebuild now doesn't need to align with his prime. Arizona's Rosen could be worth a shot on the trade market, if the price is low enough for the Giants to enter the fray. They're not crazy about him, but on the cheap, it might be worth the risk ... for the time being. They then can dip back into the quarterback market in next year's draft.
What they're most likely to do: Defense at No. 6 and move up a few spots from No. 17 to land Lock. Maybe it's to 12 in a trade with the Packers or 13 with the Dolphins. The price shouldn't be too steep, and it would give the Giants hope for the future. They know the pressure is on to find Eli Manning's successor, and the fan base is restless. Getting the next franchise quarterback on the roster provides hope. The organization needs some positive momentum right now. -- Jordan Raanan
Denver Broncos
First-round pick: No. 10 | Need level: 7 out of 10
Who they like: The Broncos had pre-draft visits at their team complex with Haskins, Murray, Lock and Jones. Haskins is the most well-rounded for their system, and Jones' stock has risen some with the team since the Senior Bowl. Murray would require a significant shift in their offensive planning. Lock has the athleticism and the arm, but his accuracy gives the Broncos at least some pause.
Trade assets: Given they just acquired Joe Flacco to be the quarterback of the immediate future, they have less capital to make a move than some others. They have eight picks overall, but only two in the top 50 (No. 10 and No. 41), so moving up in the opening round would almost certainly require a future No. 1.
Best-case scenario: In the past, GM John Elway has been conservative on trades and stuck to the team's value charts -- the Broncos once scuttled a potential deal for Joe Thomas because the Browns wanted an additional pick added to a total Elway thought was enough. Flacco gives them immediate help, so they don't have to make a lopsided move to get a quarterback. Their best case is an unexpected slide by Haskins or to trade back into the bottom of the first round. There will also be solid options sitting there when they pick early in the second.
Plan B: Patience will be the virtue and they wait until next year to try again. And the fact the Broncos worked so hard to make the trade for Flacco shows they considered it a very real possibility they would not have a shot at this board's top passers. Denver still needs to use one of the eight picks on a quarterback, as it doesn't have one it drafted on its roster, but Flacco helps the Broncos avoid the kind of mistake they made when they traded up to get Paxton Lynch in 2016.
If all else fails: Get a developmental guy such as Buffalo's Tyree Jackson or Grier or Stidham who can learn behind Flacco. Now, if Flacco gets hurt early in 2019, that throws an enormous wrench into the patience idea, but if the Broncos pass on the QBs in the first round, they can reset, look to next year and just take their favorite passer on the board this time around who isn't named Haskins, Murray or Lock.
What they're most likely to do: Defense at No. 10 and take the top option available in Round 2 or 3. The most likely scenario is a rinse and repeat of the 2018 draft. Sitting at No. 5 a year ago, after Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold were off the board, Elway initially looked to trade down but stayed put when Bradley Chubb was still available. If Haskins somehow falls to No. 10, Elway would take a long look, but in the end, with the price to move up extraordinarily high, the Broncos can sit and take one of the best defensive players on the board. -- Jeff Legwold
Miami Dolphins
First-round pick: No. 13 | Need level: 10 out of 10
Who they like: The Dolphins have done significant homework, meeting with Murray, Haskins, Lock and Jones, but they haven't tipped yet on how they rank the group. It's believed that Miami is very high on Murray, but it seems unlikely he will be available even with a modest trade up. Haskins and Lock are more likely options.
Trade assets: GM Chris Grier says the Dolphins will do whatever they need to do to get a franchise QB, including trading up. That being said, there is probably a limit to how high Miami would be willing to move up given big needs throughout the roster. The Dolphins currently have 10 picks (12 with projected compensatory picks) in the 2020 draft. The thought here is that they would be willing to move up maybe a half-dozen spots if they fall in love with a QB.
Best-case scenario: There have been rumblings that Haskins could fall further than we initially expected in the draft. If the Dolphins love Haskins, or Lock, and their guy falls into the 10-12 range, it might be worth making that trade to get their franchise QB. This would give Miami a head start on the rebuild, and all attention could go toward building up the trenches next.
Clayton Thorson is a quarterback out of Northwestern who threw for 17 touchdowns and more than 3,000 yards in his senior season.
Plan B: Buckle up for a bumpy 2019 season, and prepare for the 2020 crop of franchise quarterbacks. And it's not such a bad scenario depending on what side of the "Tank for Tua" campaign you are on. Indeed, all eyes go toward Tua Tagovailoa, Justin Herbert and Jake Fromm if Miami can't secure its QB in the first round this month. And the Dolphins might still select a quarterback in the middle rounds.
What they're most likely to do: Wait until 2020. Quarterbacks always seem to go higher than we expect on draft day, so it's tough to see one the Dolphins love falling into their lap at or around pick No. 13. Miami is determined not to settle for a quarterback if it doesn't believe that player can change the franchise. The Dolphins could address quarterback in the middle rounds with Stidham, Grier or Jackson and then strike again next year. Watch a lot of Alabama football this season, Dolphins fans. -- Cameron Wolfe
Washington Redskins
First-round pick: No. 15 | Need level: 8 out of 10
Who they like: The Redskins hosted visits with every top quarterback and then some. They met multiple times with Jones and love Murray. There are parts of Lock's and Haskins' games that they like. Jones is viewed as a closer-to-finished product, but the Redskins are no different than other teams with the draft when it comes to quarterbacks: all over the place. And remember, the Redskins could still trade for Rosen, someone they liked before the 2018 draft. They're not going to trade a first-round pick for him and might not trade the second-rounder, but if Arizona gets desperate on draft day, the Redskins could try to swoop in with a third-round offer and avoid this altogether.
Trade assets: The Redskins have nine picks, including four in the first three rounds. They haven't shied away from trading picks to land a quarterback in the past, doing so with Donovan McNabb in 2010, Robert Griffin III in 2012 and Alex Smith a year ago. The Redskins would trade up for Murray, perhaps even including a player in any compensation package so they don't entirely deplete their draft capital. There's also a chance they'd trade back in the first round and acquire more Day 2 picks.
Best-case scenario: They trade up for Murray. He's the one quarterback Washington would move up for because he's the most ready to make an impact in games now. That's what the Redskins most need and covet. He'd also create a buzz for a franchise in need of some; that's not a great reason for a trade, but it is a reality. They'd have to pay a heavy price to move up for Murray, most likely to No. 1, but he's the one quarterback who tempts them the most.
Plan B: Patience. The Redskins do like other quarterbacks after the first round, including Stidham and Clayton Thorson. They've met with Grier multiple times, too. There are also quarterbacks in the later rounds who intrigue the Redskins (they met with Jacob Dolegala), so it's just as likely they wait until then to select a developmental passer. They do have Case Keenum and Colt McCoy, so a third quarterback could be developed. And if after a year they don't view him as a future starter, they would try again in 2020.
What they're most likely to do: Draft a developmental QB in Round 2 or 3. The bet is that they'll be most tempted by Jones or Lock at No. 15 even if Haskins is somehow available, but will ultimately pass on them. This is really hard because it's such a fluid situation. But remember, coach Jay Gruden was once part of a Bengals team that selected Andy Dalton in the second round and named him an immediate starter. They do want to get a quarterback, but also know that with Keenum and McCoy they don't need to take one high if they don't like anyone available. So they could opt for a lower-round pick, see if he develops and try again in 2020. -- John Keim
TEAMS LOOKING FOR A FUTURE REPLACEMENT
These three teams are set at the position in the now, but with either an aging quarterback or a guy from whom they might eventually want to move on, expect the Patriots, Chargers and Bengals to look hard at this year's QB draft class for someone to develop for the future. Here's what they might do at the end of the month.
New England Patriots
An heir to Tom Brady: If Brady achieves his goal of playing until he's 45 years old, it gives the Patriots a four-year window to find his heir apparent. With six picks in the top 101 this year -- including Nos. 32, 56 and 64 -- they are in solid position to do what they did in 2014 when grabbing Jimmy Garoppolo late in the second round. The key, of course, is identifying and developing the right prospect. They hosted Jones, Grier, Stidham and Thorson on pre-draft visits, which could be a tipoff of their intentions. -- Mike Reiss
What they're most likely to do: Grier at No. 64
QB coach Jordan Palmer brings in Sam Darnold, Josh Allen and Mark Sanchez to help draft prospects ahead of the combine. Watch episodes of "Draft Academy" exclusively on ESPN+.
Los Angeles Chargers
An heir to Philip Rivers: The Chargers have not selected a quarterback in the draft since 2013. Once again they've done extensive work on the position in the lead-up to this year's draft, so 2019 could be the year to add the heir to Rivers. "Since the day I arrived here, it's something we looked at every year," Chargers GM Tom Telesco said. "It just hasn't lined up yet." However, the Chargers likely will not take a quarterback in the first round, instead waiting to pluck a developmental prospect like Stidham or Thorson on Day 2 or Day 3 of the draft. The Chargers already have a solid backup in Tyrod Taylor, signing him to a two-year, $11 million deal in free agency. Taylor is 29 years old, so there's no reason for the Bolts to reach for a quarterback in the first round. -- Eric D. Williams
What they're most likely to do: Stidham at No. 91
Cincinnati Bengals
An heir to Andy Dalton: The Bengals have firmly stated for months that Dalton is their guy, but with a new coaching staff, anything can happen. Dalton has two more years on his contract, but the Bengals could easily move on after this season if he doesn't perform up to par. The team has a lot of other needs, which makes the prospect of a Day 1 quarterback iffy unless one falls into their laps. Grier is projected to go off the board sometime on Day 2. While some projections have him going in the second round, if somehow he's still there at No. 72 overall, the Bengals have to take notice. -- Katherine Terrell
What they're most likely to do: Grier at No. 72