The real reason we need Luck...

[DDR]

-Drew Brees isn't going anywhere for a long time

-Matt Ryan isn't going anywhere for a long time

-Aaron Rodgers isn't going anywhere for a long time

-Mike Vick isn't going anywhere for a long time

...not to mention, if we want a super bowl, we still have to go through Manning, Brady, Rivers, Roethlisberger...

All of these guys are going to be quarterbacking for the next 6-12 years. Let's just face it, if you don't have a stud QB, you can't compete in this league... or this division.

I'm more than happy to keep drafting until we find one... are you?

[pantherclaw]

And passing up other players at bigger needs?

If he's there when we pick, fine. Clausen will end up being dealt. For a 3rd if we are lucky.

If not, there are much bigger needs.

[House]

-Drew Brees isn't going anywhere for a long time

-Matt Ryan isn't going anywhere for a long time

-Aaron Rodgers isn't going anywhere for a long time

-Mike Vick isn't going anywhere for a long time

...not to mention, if we want a super bowl, we still have to go through Manning, Brady, Rivers, Roethlisberger...

All of these guys are going to be quarterbacking for the next 6-12 years. Let's just face it, if you don't have a stud QB, you can't compete in this league... or this division.

I'm more than happy to keep drafting until we find one... are you?

The only thing that all of the QB's you listed, other than Matt Ryan, have in common is that they were all "busts" at one point in time.

[Carolinator]

Clausen needs to develop, calm down go for Green in the first round and build around our offense.

[Mother Grabber]

Best player available. We've done well with that strategy over the last couple of years. If that's Luck, then take him.

[Brooklyn Bully]

Clausen needs to develop, calm down go for Green in the first round and build around our offense.

We don't need a WR...and definitely not with our first pick.

[R0CKnR0LLA]

If we have the #1 overall either take Luck or trade down. You should be able to get a massive package of picks in a trade down this year so passing that up for a CB or WR is a huge mistake IMO. You could conceivably trade down to the 4th-10th overall range, get a future 1st and 3rd/4th in the process, and still land AJ Green.

Also, in response to listing all these QBs, there are teams with great QBs that haven't won sh*t. You need a legit QB, true, but you also need to build a solid team around him.

I know the typical response from fans is to think "hey plug in this one guy and we're great again" but this team has some serious holes that a rookie QB isn't going to fix. And of course we're short on draft picks yet again (thanks Hurney).

[Brooklyn Bully]

If we have the #1 overall either take Luck or trade down. You should be able to get a massive package of picks in a trade down this year so passing that up for a CB or WR is a huge mistake IMO. You could conceivably trade down to the 4th-10th overall range, get a future 1st and 3rd/4th in the process, and still land AJ Green.

Also, in response to listing all these QBs, there are teams with great QBs that haven't won sh*t. You need a legit QB, true, but you also need to build a solid team around him.

I know the typical response from fans is to think "hey plug in this one guy and we're great again" but this team has some serious holes that a rookie QB isn't going to fix. And of course we're short on draft picks yet again (thanks Hurney).

I tend to think we have the team we need already, minus a few things.

We can bring in a FA O-lineman, as rookies can't be trusted, to fill the biggest hole. What we need is a field general. Is Jimmy one? Who knows. I think it can easily be argued that Luck is better than Clausen. Keep them both, bring in a FA vet to mentor them (which Jimmy doesn't have now). Have the vet or Jimmy start until Luck is ready (assuming he doesn't bust), and there ya go. We have three solid WRs, a good run game, great LBs, and a secondary that CAN perform. So we're good there. Our lines need the work. But if JR wants to compete, spend your money there, old man. But passing on Luck and banking on Clausen is too risky, IMO.

Also, all this trade down talk assumes a team will even want our pick. CBA or not, they still have to give up a lot to get the pick. Cincy may take the bait for Luck, but other than him, is there really an OMG WE NEED HIM player in the Draft?

[PhillyB]

know what kills great quarterbacks? great defenses and great running games.

having a franchise quarterback would be nice - and i'm in support of going after luck - but it's silly to assume we can't compete with other teams without one. there are other components to a winning football team.

[Cat'sGrowl]

I'm not gonna comment on who we should draft, but I will say the people who say that we shouldn't draft Green because "We don't need another Receiver" is, well, that's an invalid argument.

Smitty will be gone before we know it, so your basically telling us that your positive that Gettis and LaFell are not only the future at the WR position for us, but they have same level of potential that Green has.

Remember all the arguments about Clausen could be good, but Luck will be great?

You could say the same thing about Green with Gettis/LaFell.

Then again, neither Luck, Green, Clausen, Gettis, LaFell are guaranteed to be good/great.

Of course, all 5 could be as well.

They all have potential.

Frankly, this is a good problem we're having.

[OnlyPantherFaninMaine]

Oh yeah, and Josh Freeman

[R0CKnR0LLA]

Yeah, we have one of the worst WR corps in the league. Anyone who says we don't need an upgrade there, I don't know what to tell you.

The OLine also needs work.

The DLine needs SERIOUS work.

We're going to need a #2 CB most likely, you can argue that we really need a #1 CB so we can move Gamble to #2.

A dynamic playmaking TE for once in who knows how long would be nice too.

Basically everything except RB, C and LBer we should look to upgrade if possible. There's a reason why we're the worst team in the NFL.

[Cavscout]

I am all for fixing the d-line in rd 1, But Best-player-available is the best way to go. If Luck is there and he's the best, you take him. It is still too early to tell. The seasons not over and the combine hasn't happened and all-star games haven't been played. Nothing's guaranteed at this point.

[rayzor]

know what kills great quarterbacks? great defenses and great running games.

having a franchise quarterback would be nice - and i'm in support of going after luck - but it's silly to assume we can't compete with other teams without one. there are other components to a winning football team.

a franchise QB will put us over the top. we can be competitive without one, but we'll never be dominant without one. we'll always be limited.

our offense is by far the worst in the league. fixing it HAS to be paramount this coming offseason. the best way to fix it is by making sure that you have the best possible available QB brought in. competent coaching will help, but the personnell needs to be ther as well.

our defense is solid. the less time it is on the field, the better and more dominant it can be. holes that exist can be filled with FA quite well.

our WR corps might be weak (though i think they are better than what it looks and have a ton of potential) and drafting an aj green or julio jones might make them as awesome as the RB corps, but without a great QB, we will be left behind.

a great QB an make mediocre WRs look incredible. you don't have to look any further than the saints or the pre-moss/welker pats to see what impact it can have on the team.

fwiw, i do think we should have a vet WR brought in as well via FA. i'm just not crazy about the idea of drafting another one so soon, esp. with a first round pick when QB is still a big question mark.