1. Joey Harrington, Detroit
With an improved offensive line, a solid running attack and outstanding weapons in the perimeter passing game, there are no more excuses for Harrington. Plus the Bears’ NFC North rivals have Jeff Garcia, a guy who has a history with coach Steve Mariucci, waiting in the wings so Harrington also has pressure to produce early.
2. Aaron Brooks, New Orleans
He has great arm strength and mobility and can create a lot of big plays–both in the pocket and on the move–but the 29-year-old seems to regress when he has too much to do before the ball is snapped. The Saints’ coaching staff is simplifying his reads in an effort to let him relax and not force bad decisions.
3. Kyle Boller, Baltimore
The Ravens finally have surrounded him with quality offensive weapons so Boller is running out of excuses. Unlike Harrington, the Ravens’ stellar defense affords Boller the luxury of not having to be great, just consistent. His biggest weakness so far has been his decision making. He tends to lock on to his primary receiver.
4. David Carr, Houston
Carr’s job isn’t really in jeopardy, and athough his numbers are respectable, he’s not producing enough of the game-changing plays he is capable of making. He plays behind a mediocre offensive line (49 sacks) and although he has good pocket presence and mobility, he doesn’t have the speed to outrun pressure and throws too many balls into coverage while anticipating the hit.
5. Carson Palmer, Cincinnati
He’s already started to take his game to the next level and must continue his accelerated learning curve for a team with playoff aspirations. Palmer has dropped more than 20 pounds in the off-season so he’s not such a sitting duck in the pocket. He must cut down on his interceptions and not force passes into coverage.
