Quarterbacks are the most valuable assets in the National Football League.  There was no truer example of that then the handsome contract that Brock Osweiler was granted by the Houston Texans.

QB’s can be used as insurance, trading chips and give franchises more stability.  We know that 32 quarterbacks won’t be selected in the 2016 NFL Draft. With that in mind, we are going to look at each team’s quarterback situations and when they should think about drafting one.

New England Patriots

Current QB’s on the roster– Tom Brady, Jimmy Garoppolo

The Patriots have always been one of the teams that are proactive about filling up their quarterback roster, despite having an all-time great in Tom Brady.  They’ve managed to flip those assets for more assets, specifically in the case of Matt Cassel.

The team believes that they have the heir apparent on the roster in Jimmy Garoppolo, but they’re liable to run into the same problem that Denver had this year with Osweiler, as Garoppolo’s contract will be up in two years.

So when should they think about adding a quarterback?

The Patriots shouldn’t select a quarterback in this year’s draft.  They are too close to being a championship team and they can use each pick to better their team and fill some holes on the offensive line, the secondary and at wide receiver.  They should certainly sign a young signal caller that goes undrafted and try to cultivate him into something via their practice squad.

New York Jets

Current QB’s on the roster- Geno Smith, Bryce Petty

It’s more likely than not that the Jets will come to an agreement with free agent quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, who helped lead the team to a 10-win season in 2015.  If they can’t come to terms, they will likely enter 2016 with 2015’s plan, which was to start former second-round pick Geno Smith.

Smith has been up and down throughout his first few seasons in the league, but the Jets weaponry is significantly improved than the 2013 and 2014 seasons when he started.

The team has invested a second round pick in Smith, and a fourth round pick in Petty, who comes from a spread offense in college and will need at least one more year of seasoning before he is ready to play, if that ever happens.

So when should they think about adding a quarterback?

It appears that the team doesn’t believe that Smith is the future, and Petty is too much of a long-shot to bank on.   If they re-sign Fitzpatrick prior to the draft, the Jets should avoid drafting a quarterback altogether, unless they feel that there is a player worthy of their first-round pick.

To put it simply, they don’t need another middle-round project.  If they’re going to jump into the quarterback market, either do it in Round One or not at all.

Buffalo Bills

Current QB’s on the roster– Tyrod Taylor, E.J. Manuel

The Buffalo Bills have an interesting situation as they may have found a franchise quarterback last year in free agency in Tyrod Taylor.  The 26-year old former Virginia Tech Hokie outperformed expectations last year, but the team is hesitant to offer him Osweiler type of money after one season of starting.

If it were up to me, I’d work on a long-term deal with Taylor.  He showed enough last season to warrant franchise quarterback consideration.

As for Manuel, he flamed out as a first round pick and was horrible in limited spots last year.  He might not make the roster.

So when should they think about adding a quarterback?

Where the Bills are selecting in the draft, it is highly unlikely that they’ll be able to select Jared Goff or Carson Wentz.  With Paxton Lynch and all of the other quarterbacks in the draft being more of an unknown than Taylor, it wouldn’t make sense that the team would use a high pick on a quarterback.

Buffalo should add a quarterback in the middle rounds, maybe a Cardale Jones type who needs extended development.

Miami Dolphins

Current QB’s on the roster- Ryan Tannehill, Matt Moore, Logan Thomas

The Dolphins are in the position where it’s going to be tough for them to add a quarterback to their roster.  They have a first-round pick and a hefty contract extension invested in Ryan Tannehill, who is supposed to be the franchise guy.  They have the prototypical veteran backup in Matt Moore and a project in Logan Thomas.

Tannehill will get at least the 2016 season to prove that the team made the right move by extending him.  Thomas is extremely raw, but he will be groomed to take over for Moore after this year if the team had their way.

So when should they think about adding a quarterback?

The Dolphins really have no room on their roster to add another quarterback.  It’s likely that they could grab one as an undrafted free agent and perhaps hold an open competition with Thomas for the No. 3 job.  At this point it wouldn’t make a lot of sense to draft a quarterback.