Which team most needs Leinart?

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If we assume Brady Quinn stays at Notre Dame and ignore Reggie Bush for argument's sake, USC QB Matt Leinart will be the first clear-cut No. 1 pick in several years. With the Texans or the 49ers front-runners to get the top pick, we could be headed for an open-bidding trade situation, like we had with Michael Vick and San Diego in 2001.

So which franchise is most likely to pursue Leinart in April? I'll rank 'em, then you let me know what you think:

1. Baltimore Ravens: No team has a bleaker future at QB than the Ravens. If they don't upgrade soon, coach Brian Billick is going to lose his offensive-guru status.
2. Cleveland Browns: Don't even say third-round pick Charlie Frye is waiting in the wings.
3. Detroit Lions: The Joey Harrington situation is already over. He's only in there because they have no other options. Backup Jeff Garcia is 35.
4. Oakland Raiders: Kerry Collins is locked into in a long-term deal, but this is Al Davis' team, so that's somewhat irrelevant. Davis loves big-name guys and Collins isn't working right now.
5. New Orleans Saints: Nothing against Aaron Brooks, but he's taking this franchise nowhere. He signed a hefty contract extension in 2002, but the Saints may have to suck it up and start looking for an alternative now.
6. Arizona Cardinals: All of a sudden Josh McCown is a potential QB of the future. He wouldn't be if Leinart was available.
7. Dolphins:- Good thing the weather's getting colder so the 'Fins can start losing and get into better position to get a QB.
8. Buccaneers: Chris Simms is a free agent at the end of the year, so he better impress the Bucs this season or they'll look elsewhere. Tampa Bay, however, may not have a high enough pick to trade up for Leinart.
9. Jets: Tragically, they still have cash tied up in Chad Pennington, so Bush might be a better option if they somehow find a way to move up in the draft.
10. Texans: They have to decide by the end of the season if they're going to honor the rest of David Carr's contract. They've already invested so much in the former No. 1 overall pick, they may feel obligated to do so. But they have to know they'd be better off with Leinart.

Honorable Mention - Bills (J.P. Losman is a disaster), Bears (they're tied up with Rex Grossman and kind of like Kyle Orton), Chiefs (Trent Green is 35), Cowboys, Titans (would be higher, but committed to Billy Volek through '08) and Packers (Aaron Rodgers is already comfortable losing out to Leinart


-- Andrew Perloff (1:30 p.m.)

Leinart is so Oakland it is disgusting .

He is the prototype Al Davis drools over .

I see Leinart in Black and Silver .......

With pick meister Jake Delhomme.

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Don't even say third-round pick Charlie Frye is waiting in the wings.