Michael Vick is arguably the biggest name among free agent quarterbacks. Which team would offer the best option for his fantasy draft value in 2014?
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- Michael Fabiano NFL.com Senior Fantasy Editor
Raiders offer Silver-and-Black lining
If Vick is able to land a starting role regardless of the team, he'll definitely be on the fantasy radar. The squad that will allow him the best chance to have value, however, is the Oakland Raiders. Unless you're a believer in Matt McGloin, this is a team without a quarterback right now. However, I also don't have any illusions about what Vick can do at this point in his career. His running skills have always been a positive, but he has been prone to injuries. At 33, Vick has also already seen his best statistical days. In a best-case scenario, he'll be a No. 2 fantasy option.
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- Marcas Grant NFL.com Fantasy Editor
Vick could shine in Sunshine State
Michael Vick's biggest issue will be finding a team that will give him a quality chance to start. Every team that is in the market for a quarterback is also linked to a draft prospect at the position. Ignoring all of that, the Jaguars -- yes, the Jaguars -- could be a good landing spot. The duo of Cecil Shorts and Ace Sanders are an appealing young pass-catching tandem with Marcedes Lewis slotting as a nice red zone target. It's likely that Maurice Jones-Drew won't be back, but Jordan Todman acquitted himself nicely in the second half of the season. Adding Vick to the mix could create a spark -- though I still wouldn't draft him as anything other than a low-end QB2 at best.
I have a hard time viewing Michael Vick as a starting quarterback in the league, and I have an inkling most NFL GMs are in agreement with that. But if I had to pick one team, why not the Houston Texans? There is no way the Texans can pass on Jadeveon Clowney with the first overall selection. Matt Schaub lost the confidence of his teammates last year. At least Vick will give the team a little excitement it has desperately needed over the last couple of years. He's not going to be the savior, but I would feel better about Dre Johnson and DeAndre Hopkins if Vick was the quarterback.
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- Jason Smith NFL.com Fantasy Analyst
A trio of teams offer alluring options
Vick has to sign with a team that is in no danger of picking their quarterback of the future early in the first round of the NFL draft. So his options are very limited.
The obvious choice is the Jets. A reunion with Marty Mornhinweg, coupled with Geno Smith's tenuous status as the starter could afford Vick the most potential to start the season. But there are other good choices among the teams picking seventh and eighth: Tampa Bay and Minnesota. The Vikings could be a great option, as they'd be the most interested in signing a veteran who could produce. Adrian Peterson's not getting younger and they need to make a leap to contention. The same can be said for the Bucs, a team loaded with individual talent that could bring Vick in to compete with Mike Glennon. Vick's fantasy status would be equal if he signed with any of those three teams -- someone who you'd take as your second QB if he wound up winning the job in camp, or you'd snatch off the waiver wire were he to get promoted during the season.
