Bunch Of Tidbets.

[Greenbacks]

13) Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck (No. 13 QB), Frank Gore (23) & T.Y. Hilton (9)

Previous rank: No. 16

Luck may have taken over for the uber-efficient Peyton Manning, but he plays more like an Elway/Favre-style gunslinger, relying on late-game heroics to overcome self-inflicted wounds (and the sizable point totals of the Colts' foes). Ageists may point to Gore's birth year (1983) as the reason for his so-so production in Indy, but an abysmal O-line deserves the majority of the blame. Hilton's terrific, but he (and Luck) need more consistent help.

 

[Greenbacks]

14) Cincinnati Bengals: Andy Dalton (No. 20 QB), Joe Mixon (18) & A.J. Green (4)

Previous rank: No. 20

Dalton is an NFL-caliber starting QB. That's it. He can succeed when there's a lot of talent around him, but he can't elevate an otherwise mediocre offense. As usual, he'll have one of the five best WRs in the world on his side, while some real upgrades have been made to the supporting cast. But the shoddiness of the O-line and being two years removed from Hue Jackson's tutelage aren't good harbingers for 2017. Mixon is an overwhelming talent with a troubling personal history.

 

[Greenbacks]

15) Seattle Seahawks: Russell Wilson (No. 6 QB), Eddie Lacy (24) & Doug Baldwin (20)

Previous rank: No. 9

Considering all the on-field success and weird off-the-field melodrama (mostly owing to Richard Sherman), it's kinda hard to believe Wilson has only been around for five seasons. During that time, he's never won fewer than 10 games in any one season, but the team's transition from being run-dominant to adopting a more pass-reliant philosophy has been a mixed bag. Last year, Wilson set a career mark in passing yards (4,219) -- and also interceptions (11). His 92.6 passer rating was reasonably good -- but it was also the worst of his career. Thomas Rawls might take the No. 1 role from Lacy by the end of camp, but it says here C.J. Prosise will have vaulted past both by November.

 

[Greenbacks]

16) New York Giants: Eli Manning (No. 14 QB), Paul Perkins (32), Odell Beckham Jr. (3)

Previous rank: No. 11

There were plenty of hot takes about party boats and holes punched in walls, but one under-reported fact of the 2016 Giants is this: Manning was lousy. This year, with what appears to be the most talented collection of pass catchers he's ever had, Eli needs to right the ship (then keep his teammates off of it, to avoid the media members who reside on Mt. Pious). Perkins didn't fully distinguish himself in his rookie year, but this offense is pass-first, anyway, so don't be surprised if Super Bowl XLIX hero Shane Vereen sees more playing time. (P.S., Odell Beckham is still good.)

 

[Greenbacks]

17) Tennesee Titans: Marcus Mariota (No. 16 QB), DeMarco Murray (8), Delanie Walker (24)

Previous rank: No. 28

Along with Jameis Winston, Mariota is disproving the notion that QBs taken 1-2 in the same draft can't both succeed. Early reports are that Mariota is looking fine after last year's fractured fibula, as the team appears to be transitioning away from "exotic smashmouth" to throwing more with some big additions to the passing game. Still, Walker remains the most dependable option. And don't sleep on Murray, who only Chip Kelly knows how to slow down.

 

[Greenbacks]

18) Buffalo Bills: Tyrod Taylor (No. 19 QB), LeSean McCoy (4), Sammy Watkins (26)

Previous rank: No. 5

It's too bad the Buffalo brass doesn't seem to share fantasy football owners' affection for Taylor, who's been mostly good in his two years under center despite not having a whole lot of guys to throw to. Fortunately, he's had McCoy, the correct answer to the question, "Who's the fourth-best RB after the Big Three?" The bigger question for coach Sean McDermott and Bills fans, though, is, can Watkins stay healthy?

 

[Greenbacks]

19) Houston Texans: Tom Savage/Deshaun Watson (No. 27 QB), Lamar Miller (9), DeAndre Hopkins (10)

Previous rank: No. 18

Call it the Matt Flynn Effect, but like everyone else, I just don't believe Bill O'Brien's pronouncements about Tom Savage being the team's QB this year. Conversely, I do believe Watson will show the world he was the best quarterback in the '17 draft (although I have a hunch about DeShone Kizer, too). Miller had a nice first season in Houston, but his production dipped in the passing game. So did Hopkins' ... but glass-half-full Texans fans can now blame both downturns on now-departed-QB Brock Osweiler.

 

[Greenbacks]

20) Jacksonville Jaguars: Blake Bortles (No. 25 QB), Leonard Fournette (6), Allen Robinson (22)

Previous rank: No. 8

If Bortles doesn't look like a different guy by the end of training camp, the Jags owe it to the rest of the roster and the fan base to seriously consider another option. If only there were a viable starting QB out there, maybe someone who's gotten within one throw of winning a Super Bowl ... To be fair, few quarterbacks would've thrived behind the 2016 Jags' line, and with Branden Albert now retired, things may not get much better. But Fournette will still be able to return the team to its rich history of having star RBs.

 

[Greenbacks]

21) Philadelphia Eagles: Carson Wentz (No. 21 QB), LeGarrette Blount (20), Alshon Jeffery (14)

Previous rank: No. 30

Skeptical Eagles fans might have questioned their citizenship in Wentzylvania after the QB's second-half swoon, but those who remain will be rewarded in Wentz's second campaign, thanks to the return of Lane Johnson and a much-needed upgrade in the pass-catching department. Jeffery is among the best in the league, but he's also had just two 16-game seasons in his five-year career. Blount once again played a big role for the Super Bowl champs, registering 1,161 yards and 18 scores (both career bests) in New England, but when it comes to expecting the same level of production from an ex-Patriot, caveat emptor!

 

[Greenbacks]

22) Detroit Lions: Matt Stafford (No. 10 QB), Ameer Abdullah (26), Golden Tate (25)

Previous rank: No. 27

Stafford, plain and simple, deserves more credit. The Lions depend on Stafford's right arm about as much as the Packers and Pats depend on the arms of their respective QBs. (And if you don't believe me, check the pass-run ratio over the last couple of years: since 2014, the Lions have averaged 652 pass plays and 367 run plays). Tate's no Megatron, but don't be confused: The lack of an early-down back is what hamstrings this offense most. (Well, aside from the subpar O-line.)

 

[Greenbacks]

23) Washington Redskins: Kirk Cousins (No. 15 QB), Rob Kelley (27), Jordan Reed (18)

Previous rank: No. 24

In what figures to potentially be his farewell season in our nation's capital, Cousins promises to help make himself even more attractive to QB-needy teams (especially ones that wear red and gold and play in the Bay Area and are coached by Kyle Shanahan and are called the 49ers) with a still-loaded group of pass catchers, led by Reed. If the team wants to get back to the postseason, though, Fat Rob will need to turn those flashes into sustained production.

 

[Greenbacks]

24) Minnesota Vikings: Sam Bradford (No. 24 QB), Dalvin Cook (11) & Stefon Diggs (21)

Previous rank: No. 21

Though Bradford's now clearly proven he wasn't quite worthy of being the first player taken in the 2010 NFL Draft, he did a good job last year taking care of the ball for a team with a top-tier defense. If he can repeat that performance, it could be good enough, thanks to the game-breaking ability of Diggs and Cook, who's gonna hit the ground running (and catching) in his rookie campaign ... IF one of 2016's worst O-lines performs a bit better this season.

 

[Greenbacks]

25) Chicago Bears: Mike Glennon (No. 26 QB), Jordan Howard (7) & Cam Meredith (29)

Previous rank: No. 22

While Todd Gurley languished against eight-man fronts last year, Howard, a rookie, finished second in the league in rushing, despite making just 13 starts with a Bears offensive unit decimated by injury. Meredith (and Zach Miller, et al.) give new/undervalued QB Glennon some capable targets. Still, Chicago brass would no doubt like to see the 2015 draft's seventh overall pick, Kevin White, break away from the pack (and get behind Packers DBs).

 

[Greenbacks]

26) Denver Broncos: Trevor Siemian/Paxton Lynch (No. 28 QB), C.J. Anderson/Jamaal Charles (19) & Demaryius Thomas (16)

Previous rank: No. 31

Time will tell who wins the QB gig (I predict it'll be Lynch), but the task remains largely the same as it was two years ago during the Super Bowl run: Don't screw things up for the D. Charles was dynamite in his 2012 return from a knee injury, but we'll see if he can still be the home-run hitter he was in his K.C. heyday. Thomas gets knocked for the occasional drop, but how 'bout some credit for five straight seasons with at least 90 catches?

 

[Greenbacks]

27) Kansas City Chiefs: Alex Smith (No. 22 QB), Spencer Ware (28) & Travis Kelce (17)

Previous rank: No. 10

For all the alleged "QB whisperers" among us, Andy Reid actually seems able to get the most out of almost any quarterback -- but he's likely squeezed all he's gonna get out of Smith (hence the Patrick Mahomes pick). That's not necessarily a knock, given the team's 23 regular-season wins the last two years, but it ain't a compliment, either. Top-4 NFL TE Kelce will be further complemented -- if not replaced as the team's top target -- by 2016 breakout star WR Tyreek Hill.

 

[Greenbacks]

28) Los Angeles Rams: Jared Goff (No. 30 QB), Todd Gurley (13) &Tavon Austin (30)

Previous rank: No. 23

Gurley will look more like his rookie self in 2017, thanks to an O-line that -- at minimum -- won't be the NFL's worst this year. Austin would be better suited as the finishing touch on a contender's offense, not as a key cog. Big sophomore season for Goff, who needs to prove he can elevate a pro offense.

 

[Greenbacks]

29) Baltimore Ravens: Joe Flacco (No. 23 QB), Terrance West (31) & Breshad Perriman (27)

Previous rank: No. 29

Flacco's magical four-game stretch of early 2013 is growing faint in the rearview mirror, obscured by inconsistency and losing records in three of the four ensuing seasons. No Kenneth Dixon means West will get the early-down touches ... but watch out for Danny Woodhead ultimately playing the larger role.

 

[Greenbacks]

30) San Francisco 49ers: Brian Hoyer (No. 31 QB), Carlos Hyde (15) & Pierre Garcon (31)

Previous rank: No. 26

Hyde is one of the league's 10 most talented RBs, but he's been wasted in a lousy offense. That said, getting rid of Colin Kaepernick and replacing him with Hoyer makes no football sense. Garcon is fine, but he is not a No. 1 receiver at this point.

 

[Greenbacks]

31) Cleveland Browns: Cody Kessler (No. 29 QB), Isaiah Crowell (25) & Corey Coleman (28)

Previous rank: No. 32

Brown-eyed optimists believe Hue Jackson is the savior -- now he's gotta validate that faith by turning Kessler and/or DeShone Kizer into a viable starting QB. Coleman gives either a fighting chance.

 

[Greenbacks]

32) New York Jets: Josh McCown (No. 32 QB), Matt Forte (30) & Quincy Enunwa (32)

Previous rank: No. 13.

Why a team in the Jets' shoes would use a vet like McCown instead of Bryce Petty or Christian Hackenberg is baffling ... but trying to make sense of the Jets makes no sense. Poor Forte deserves better.