Best Team Fit for Top 6 Quarterbacks

1. Geno Smith– Best fit Jacksonville Jaguars

–Geno Smith is a smart athletic quarterback with a good arm and strong accuracy. He really is the best quarterback to start right away from this draft making him a perfect fit in Jacksonville. The Jaguars lack a true starting option and with a brand new coaching staff in place, they are more apt to tailor their offense around a quarterback’s strengths other than the other way around. Head Coach Gus Bradley saw up close and personal what a dual threat rookie quarterback like Geno Smith could do, when he was the defensive coordinator of the Seattle Seahawks last season, as Russell Wilson had a breakout season. Smith offers a great blend of arm talent and athletic ability which could make him an intriguing fit. New offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch is coming from the college game, which favors the spread attack. He also spent his last two NFL stops under offensive coaches (Darren Bevell in Seattle and Mike Shanahan in Denver) who like quarterbacks with the mobility to roll out and buy time in the pocket as well as being of more of a run focused mindset. Given the Jaguars weakness along the offensive line, they too will likely look to move the pocket and utilize shotgun to buy time for their quarterback, two other areas that are a strength for Geno Smith.

2. Mike Glennon– Best fit Arizona Cardinals

-Under Bruce Arians last year the Colts were among the league leaders in downfield passing, and that is likely to be what the Cardinals are looking for from their passing game going forward. That is where Glennon fits in, as no quarterback in this draft is more tailor-made for a downfield passing attack than Glennon. He stands tall in the pocket, has a big arm, and fits best in a system that will allow him to challenge defenses vertically. He needs a system that won’t ask him to be mobile and will allow him to spend much of his time in the shotgun formation. Given the Cardinals weaker offensive line and the mindset of their Head Coach Bruce Arians and Offensive Assistant Tom Moore, Arizona is likely to feature a lot of shotgun formations.

3. E.J. Manuel– Best fit Philadelphia Eagles

-Manuel offers a ton of potential, and has a great combination of size, speed and arm strength. He needs an innovative system that will allow him to utilize his mobility and his ability to make plays while scrambling. Manuel also could use a system with quick passing and a run heavy focus. That is basically new Eagles Head Coach Chip Kelly to a T. Kelly loves to spread the field, run the football and have a mobile quarterback. Manuel is a guy the Eagles can draft to be their future and really build their offense around.

4. Ryan Nassib– Best fit Buffalo Bills

-This one isn’t really much of a surprise as both Nassib’s college head coach and offensive coordinator are the Bills new head coach and offensive coordinator. The Bills staff can easily structure their offense to Nassib’s strengths and just their general philosophy to be a run first team makes Nassib a great fit. Nassib is tough has some familiarity playing in the North East (even with his home games being indoors). He may not start right away even with the coaches knowing him, but he’s got good potential for the Bills in the future.

5. Matt Barkley-Best Fit New York Jets

–Matt Barkley is a smart quarterback with good leadership skills and a strong work ethic. For a team in the middle of a major overhaul like the Jets that is exactly the type of quarterback they should be grooming. With the Jets moving to a West Coast Offense, Barkley would fit in well given his lack of a big arm. Barkley needs to work on some of his timing and anticipation, but has the potential to be good in that area. The biggest thing holding him back from being drafted by the Jets is the sticker shock that New York fans would feel drafting another USC quarterback after the Mark Sanchez debacle. Barkley though should be confused with Sanchez as he’s shown himself to be a stronger worker and leader, which gives him a better chance of succeeding.

6. Tyler Wilson- Oakland Raiders

-The Raiders could use a young quarterback to develop behind Matt Flynn, and Wilson could be a fit. The Raiders coaching staff saw him up close Senior Bowl week (though they coached the other team), Wilson has a good arm and can challenge teams vertically as well as throw a lot of quick passes. New offensive coordinator Greg Olson, has shown a willingness to stretch the field in the past when he was the offensive coordinator in Tampa. Wilson dealt with a lot of controversy at Arkansas and while it definitely affected him, he battled through it, something he could have to deal with on a rebuilding Oakland team. He’s also one of the tougher quarterbacks in the pocket who is not afraid to take a hit, which could help him given some of the Raiders offensive line woes.