Josh McCown

A broken left hand in Week 14 last year ended what was the best season of McCown's journeyman career. He finished fourth in the league in completion percentage at a career-high 67.3 and was particularly good throwing downfield, ranking third in completion percentage on attempts beyond 20 yards (46.2 percent) and fourth in YPA (15.9). That he did it with only a modestly talented group of receivers is also impressive, and he even scored five times on the ground. The Jets re-signed him to a one-year deal, but McCown seems likely to work as the No. 2 quarterback behind Sam Darnold, the third overall pick in April's draft. The 39-year-old McCown, who has played for eight NFL teams in his career, said this offseason he wants to be a quarterbacks coach when his playing days end. It looks like Darnold may be his first client.

McCown signed a one-year deal with the Jets in March and entered camp battling Christian Hackenberg and Bryce Petty for the starting job. McCown is the safe bet to start until Petty, a 2015 fourth-round pick, or Hackenberg, a 2016 second-round pick, emerges as the future in New York. If neither does, the Jets can always dip into the well-regarded QB class in next year's draft. McCown appeared in five games, making three starts, for Cleveland last season and was his typical low-ceiling self. Expect more of the same, as McCown, 38, is simply asked to manage the game and avoid mistakes. With Brandon Mashall and Eric Decker gone and Quincy Enunwa expected to miss the year with a neck injury, Matt Forte and Bilal Powell are left as the only proven NFL pass catchers in new offensive coordinator John Morton's variation of the West Coast offense. McCown was named the Week 1 starter after the Jets' third preseason game.

McCown joined the Browns last year after a disappointing season in Tampa Bay and has an up and down season, to say the least. Winning the starting job in training camp over Johnny Manziel, McCown suffered through a number of injuries before a broken collarbone ended his season for good after Week 12, but when he was on the field he returned to the form he flashed in Chicago in 2014, limiting his mistakes, making smart decisions and producing solid numbers despite one of the worst supporting casts in the NFL. The 36-year-old never had great arm strength even when he was younger, but his accuracy and veteran savvy allows him to be effective. Manziel is now gone, but the Browns brought in another athletic question mark in Robert Griffin to start at QB for the team. McCown could be dealt in the event that a team with needs at quarterback comes calling, but if he stays in Cleveland, however, a new offensive scheme and new head coach in Hue Jackson, plus a draft haul of wide receivers headlined by speedster Corey Coleman, could allow McCown to be surprisingly productive once again if he ends up being called upon as the season rolls along.

After posting a 13:1 TD:INT ratio, 8.17 YPA and 66.5 completion percentage in eight games with Chicago in 2013, McCown reverted back to the journeyman quarterback who struggled to hold a backup job for a decade. His poor play for the Bucs last year got him benched in favor of Mike Glennon, though he eventually got the job back when Glennon predictably faltered. Still, McCown was released just 11 months after signing a two-year, $10 million contract. Given Johnny Manziel's troubles both on and off the field, McCown is the favorite to win the Browns' starting job in training camp. But with the losses of Josh Gordon (suspension) and Jordan Cameron (free agency), the primary targets in Cleveland are free-agent arrivals Dwayne Bowe and Brian Hartline. Last year's leading receiver, Andrew Hawkins, is one of the league's most underrated slot receivers, but those three still combined for just four touchdowns and 7.6 YPT on 270 passes last season. This team will be built around a strong running game, as the Browns have a top-5 offensive line and drafted Duke Johnson in the third round to join Isaiah Crowell and Terrance West, relegating McCown to the caretaker role Brian Hoyer played a season ago.

While coach Marc Trestman has plenty of supporters, he probably doesn't have a bigger fan than McCown, who went from an afterthought backup – one that was out of the league in 2010 – to one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the entire NFL last year. Although his 13-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio likely isn't replicable, McCown heads into another good-looking situation in Tampa Bay, where he'll have a trio of 6-foot-5, highly athletic pass-catching threats in tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins and wideouts Vincent Jackson and Mike Evans. He should also benefit from a strong running game led by Doug Martin, and rookie third-round pick Charles Sims is one of the most talented receiving backs in the league. Coach Lovie Smith said in March that McCown would likely start for Tampa, so he should be able to hold off 2013 third-round pick Mike Glennon if a quarterback competition develops. One wild card in all this is the arrival of offensive coordinator Jeff Tedford, who ran California's football program from 2002 to 2012 but has never called plays in the NFL. Tedford's offense will likely be fairly balanced – it was pro-style and somewhat run-heavy by Pac-12 standards – but its exact vision is difficult to anticipate.

After filling in reliably for Jay Cutler in two starts in 2011, McCown never got off the bench in 2012 as the third quarterback but will re-assume top backup duties with the departure of Jason Campbell. He possesses some mobility but would likely oversee a ground-heavy attack if called upon in the event of another Cutler injury.

McCown will be the third string quarterback behind Jay Cutler and Jason Campbell in 2012.

Capable backup quarterback, who could definitely have some value if anything happens to starter Jake Delhomme in 2009.

New offensive coordinator Dan Henning orchestrated some big-time passing attacks for both the Jets and Panthers. And head coach Tony Sparano had a big hand in the Cowboys offensive success, which was predicated on an explosive passing game. But this QB crop is weak. Henne is going to be given a chance to start in order to speed up his development in what's likely to be a wasted year. He's the proverbial "Box of Chocolates" long term; but he has virtually no chance of being a productive fantasy passer in 2008. So only keeper-league players need apply. The new Miami regime obviously turned the page on Beck, so why shouldn't we? McCown did some good things for the Raiders last year, and stranger things have happened than him becoming a useful player on a team that's probably going to take a hit on defense and lose a lot of games (and thus throw more often). He's shown enough to deserve a season- long shot somewhere as a starter, but the Dolphins seem emotionally invested in Henne as their QB of the future. But if someone in the NFL this year is going to pull a Derek Anderson, our money is on McCown.

The journeyman may get some starts while the team preps prized rookie QB JaMarcus Russell. Head coach Lane Kiffin has been extremely impressed with McCown's attitude and work ethic.

There are major questions about who will be at the helm of the Mike Martz-led attack heading into training camp. Martz’s presence is a big consideration when you take the Lions QB. But make sure your expectation is Martz Lite, as former defensive coordinator and current head coach Rod Marinelli will surely rein him in somewhat. This could be very good for the Lions’ QB, as it will help keep him in one piece. But there is no denying Martz’s offensive genius and ability to develop QBs. Add Detroit’s exciting receivers, especially the potentially dynamic Roy Williams, and a nice back in Kevin Jones to the offensive mix, and you have the makings of an explosive attack. Who will take the helm? McCown had an 82 rating last year close/late (41 attempts). He didn’t display great arm-strength, and his accuracy is similar to Kitna’s, with 16.7 percent poor throws (15.7 percent in ’04). McCown could make some plays with his legs, as he had 139 rushing yards last year despite starting only six games. So, 250 yards and a few TDs is a decent rushing projection if he were to land the job. If you’re looking for a tiebreaker among the QBs, their respective Wonderlic results might hold the answer. Martz is very big on the test, having recently assembled the NFL’s highest-scoring Wonderlic squad in St. Louis. McCown scored 30 on the intelligence test, which is very good. At the very least, if Kitna gets the job, any owner would be wise to grab McCown as an end-game pocket pick.

Coach Dennis Green named Kurt Warner the starting quarterback in May, but if the injury-prone Warner were to go down, McCown would get another shot, this time with a healthy Anquan Boldin (provided he ends his holdout) and a more experienced Larry Fitzgerald. McCown, is a good athlete with good arm strength and surprising speed, but he needs to get rid of the ball quicker and improve his decision-making.

The Cardinals’ QB wasn't awful last year and will produce some points with his legs. And he has a QB-friendly coach in Dennis Green and two outstanding possession receivers in Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald. But Green wants to win right away and may not be patient should McCown experience a sophomore slump. McCown wasn't bad in terms of accuracy last year (15.7 percent poor throws), though he was late on too many passes (nine percent of his passes were defensed).