As is usual, the primary discussion around the league right now is Quarterbacks, both in the draft and in free agency, assuming we get to free agency. Right or wrong Blaine Gabbert and Cam Newton appear to be locks as 1st round picks, while Ryan Mallett and Jake Locker could go late first to early second. The rest of the QB batch, including Christian Ponder, Colin Kaepernick, Andy Dalton and Ricky Stanzi all seem destine for the second day.

When evaluating those prospects, teams must also compare them to what they could acquire via free agency or trade. For my money Kevin Kolb is the clear favorite to garner the most interest. Ron Wolf, GM of the packers, was a master at accumulating talented QB’s and then trading them for picks. Andy Reid learned at the foot of Wolf and the lessons were not lost on him. Kolb will be a free agent after next year and his best value is now.

I liked Kolb when he came out in 2007 and I like him even better now. He was a part of a disastrous QB class that included JaMarcus Russell, Brady Quinn, John Beck, Drew Stanton and Trent Edwards, all taken in the first three rounds. Interestingly enough, each of the head coaches that drafted the aforementioned players, is no longer that teams head coach.

The problem with Kolb (and all free agents) is the unknown dates of availability. Currently no draft trades can include a player while we are in limbo with regards to the CBA. If this were not the case, Kolb might garner a last 1st round pick. The eagles traded Donavan McNabb to the Redskins for the 37th pick of the 2010 draft plus a 3rd or 4th round pick in this years draft. It is hard to justify giving more than that for someone who is certainly less accomplished, albeit a great deal younger. Seattle, with the 25th pick, seems to be the only team in the bottom third of the draft that is in need of a quarterback. That alone tells you the value of the position.

Of the teams picking in the top half of the draft, only Dallas has a well defined starting QB, while Denver, Cleveland, Detroit and St. Louis are still nurturing young QB’s that have been drafted recently. It is hard for me to imagine that a team would give up a top 15 pick for Kolb, even though he may be worth it. If the CBA does not get done before the draft, a team might feel better about giving up a 1st round pick in next years draft, figuring Kolb may be good enough to put them in the later part of the 2012 draft.

If Seattle is not a taker, it is more likely that one of the teams in the front end of the draft would bunch some 2nd day picks for Kolb.