A bunch of NFL teams that need a quarterback this year are screwed

NFL teams looking to acquire a starting quarterback this offseason might have to get creative.

The free-agency market is as thin and the quarterback crop in the 2015 NFL Draft is as shallow as they have been in years.

NFL Network draft expert Mike Mayock on Thursday night called the quarterback position "one of the weakest in the 2015 NFL Draft." Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota are the only quarterbacks with first-round grades, and neither is considered a can't-miss prospect.

Winston has seen his stock rise over the past few weeks, to the point in which he is now the consensus No. 1 pick. But Winston's off-field issues are still a serious concern, and Mayock compared his turnover-prone playing style to that of Jay Cutler, saying, "He has no conscience whatsoever. He'll let it rip."

Even assuming Winston and Mariota pan out, there are simply not enough well-regarded quarterbacks (either free agents or college prospects) to fill all the open positions in the NFL.

Here are the teams that most need a quarterback this offseason:

• Tampa Bay Buccaneers, No. 1 pick (current starter: Mike Glennon)
• Tennessee Titans, No. 2 pick (current starter: Zach Mettenberger)
• New York Jets, No. 6 pick (current starter: Geno Smith)
• Cleveland Browns, No. 12 pick (current starter: Johnny Manziel?)
• Houston Texans, No. 16 pick (current starter: Case Keenum)
• Buffalo Bills, no first-round pick (current starter: EJ Manuel)

The Rams and the Redskins could very well be on that list as well.

That is at least six teams in desperate need of a quarterback. Once Mariota and Winston are off the board, the remaining teams will have to either take a flyer on a less-renowned prospect or sign a free agent. The latter option isn't exactly intriguing when you look at the free agents available:

• Josh McCown
• Brian Hoyer
• Ryan Mallett
• Mark Sanchez
• Colt McCoy
• Jake Locker
• Shaun Hill

All of those guys saw significant playing time in 2014. None of them had above-average years. McCown, whom the Buccaneers cut after signing him a year ago, is probably the best free agent.

It's a bad year to need a quarterback.

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