FanHouse WhenWillHeStart

A regular look at when we can expect to see the 2007 rookie quarterback class on the field.

He'll start right away if: The Lions decide to make this the seventh consecutive rebuilding year of Matt Millen's tenure. If they're of the opinion that they might finally be a respectable NFL team this season, they'll start Jon Kitna. If they think they're going to be the typical Millen-era Lions, they might throw Stanton in there and see if they have their quarterback of the future.

He'll hold the clipboard if: He continues to throw the ball like he threw at his pro day and at the Lions' minicamp. If you saw the film of his individual workout, you'd wonder how this guy could be a high school quarterback, let alone a pro.

Most likely scenario: Kitna will start every game this year, just as he did last year. And the Lions will be a bad team, just as they were last year. And even though Kitna will be far from the biggest reason they're a bad team, he'll get blamed (as quarterbacks on bad teams always do), and the Lions will turn to Stanton next year.

Projected first start: Opening day, 2008.

Previously at FanHouse:
Lions' Stanton Has Trouble Throwing Spirals
Miami Dolphins' John Beck: When Will He Start?
Philadelphia Eagles' Kevin Kolb: When Will He Start?
Cleveland Browns' Brady Quinn: When Will He Start?
Oakland Raiders' JaMarcus Russell: When Will He Start?

A regular look at when we can expect to see the 2007 rookie quarterback class on the field.

He'll start right away if: The Dolphins botch their dealings with Trent Green and Daunte Culpepper. Currently Green is property of the Chiefs and Culpepper plays for the Dolphins, but the most likely scenario is that by training camp, Green will be in Miami and Culpepper will be elsewhere. In any event, Beck will only start if the Dolphins somehow end up with neither of them.

He'll hold the clipboard if: He needs at least a year to adjust from BYU to the NFL, which most observers believe he will.

Most likely scenario: This year he'll be the understudy to a veteran, probably Green. But Green is getting old, and it's less than a 50-50 proposition that he plays in 2008.

Projected first start: Opening day, 2008. Next year we'll find out if Beck-to-Ginn is better than Quinn-to-Rice.

Previously at FanHouse:
Philadelphia Eagles' Kevin Kolb: When Will He Start?
Cleveland Browns' Brady Quinn: When Will He Start?
Oakland Raiders' JaMarcus Russell: When Will He Start?

A regular look at when we can expect to see the 2007 rookie quarterback class on the field.

He'll start right away if: A calamity befalls the entire Eagles' depth chart at quarterback, with Donovan McNabb, A.J. Feeley and Kelly Holcomb all unable to play. Andy Reid wouldn't have used his first pick on Kolb if he didn't expect him to start some day, but that day will not come in 2007.

He'll hold the clipboard if: The Eagles are anything short of abysmal in 2007. The only way he could drop the clipboard and put on the helmet is if McNabb gets hurt and they're mathematically eliminated by December.

Most likely scenario: Kolb will show promise in the preseason but also make typical rookie mistakes. The first time McNabb has a bad game, some fickle Philly fans will remember the promise, forget the rookie mistakes, and call for Kolb. Reid will wisely ignore them.

Projected first start: Mid-season 2008. This year Kolb will be the third-stringer. Next year he'll be promoted to second-string, and McNabb will get hurt at some point, giving Kolb the starting job. If he's as good as some folks think he is, he might never relinquish it.

Previously at FanHouse:
Cleveland Browns' Brady Quinn: When Will He Start?
Oakland Raiders' JaMarcus Russell: When Will He Start?
How Should Donovan McNabb React to Kevin Kolb?
Live From Radio City: Eagles Draft Who?

A regular look at when we can expect to see the 2007 rookie quarterback class on the field.

He'll start right away if: He doesn't hold out. There's already been some talk that Quinn and his agent might tell the Browns they think they deserve more money than the 22nd overall pick would ordinarily get. The Browns would likely tell Quinn that they don't see it that way. A lengthy holdout would hinder Quinn's ability to learn Cleveland's offense and delay his development.

He'll hold the clipboard if: Charlie Frye shows some ability to be a professional quarterback in training camp that he hasn't shown so far in two years in the NFL. Romeo Crennel and his staff know they'll be out of a job if they don't turn the team around this season, and if they think they can win with Frye, they'll play him. But what would make them think they can win with Frye?

Most likely scenario: Quinn might not like the contract the Browns offer him, but he knows he has endorsement opportunities coming from his golden boy image, and he doesn't want to tarnish that image by looking like the stereotypical greedy athlete. He'll be in camp on time and earn the starting job.

Projected first start: September 9, 2007. Cleveland plays Week 1 at home against the Steelers, and nothing would get the Dawg Pound fired up more than seeing the quarterback of the future.

Previously at FanHouse:
Oakland Raiders' JaMarcus Russell: When Will He Start?

A regular look at when we can expect to see the 2007 rookie quarterback class on the field.

He'll start right away if: The Raiders think the offensive line can protect him. Russell was the first pick in the draft in large part because of his size, but he's not big enough to withstand the kind of pounding he'll take if the Raiders' line is as bad as it was last year.

He'll hold the clipboard if: Josh McCown looks competent in training camp. The Raiders traded for McCown during the draft, and they hope McCown plays well enough that they can take their time letting Russell adjust to the pro game.

Most likely scenario: Coach Lane Kiffin will give McCown the nod in September, and the Raiders might even have a winning record early in the season, given that two of their first three games are home dates with Detroit and Cleveland. But at some time in September, the Raiders' offense will look inept, and the cries for the first pick in the draft will be too loud for Kiffin to ignore. He'll hand the job to Russell during the Raiders' Week 5 bye.

Projected first start: October 14, 2007