Q: Where do you think Troy Smith will get drafted? I've heard about every other quarterback except him!
— Mathieu Mears, Baltimore

A: He seems like a second-rounder, just as Drew Brees was. They are of similar height, only 6 feet, which is Smith's biggest drawback.

It's not a good quarterback class, and Notre Dame's Brady Quinn, LSU's Jamarcus Russell, Stanford's Trent Edwards and maybe Michigan State's Drew Stanton all appear to be ahead of the Heisman Trophy winner. But despite his poor showing against Florida after a 51-day layoff, Smith has the kind of leadership and athletic skills to make him a very intriguing choice. Like Vince Young last year, it's just foolish to ignore the track record. While Smith doesn't possess Young's size, he beat enough big-time teams in big games to establish his value as a quarterback with a future.

Look around the NFL. There simply aren't enough good quarterbacks out there. Smith didn't help himself by refusing to work out at the combine and blaming the banquet circuit for getting him out of shape. Still, a team is likely to get a very good prospect come April 28.

Q: What is going to happen to the QB position for the Texans? Will they let David Carr go and select Jake Plummer to come in? Or will they use the draft to select another QB or will it be another QB from the Free Agency market?
— Troy, Houston

A: While trading Carr and getting Denver's Jake Plummer seems like a logical move, the latest word is coach Gary Kubiak plans to keep Carr and take another shot at improving him. Trading for Plummer would be no more than a stopgap move even if he proved temporarily better. If the Texans weren't going to start over last year with the choices they had, beginning with Vince Young, they would be silly to start over this year.

The free agent market isn't likely to net much either. If they ended up with somebody of note, like a Joey Harrington or Drew Bledsoe, they probably would take him in addition to Carr, not in place of him.

Q: What do the Seahawks have to do in the off-season to have a chance to return to the playoffs? Will they go after any big free agent? If so who do you think they will go after? Thank You.
— Robert, Bremerton, Wash.

A: The first thing they have to do is make sure quarterback Matt Hasselbeck gets completely healthy and stays that way. That prescription also could apply to the entire team, wracked by injury much of the season.

The only big-name free agent I've heard so far isn't that big a household name, but is well-regarded among scouts. It's San Diego guard Kris Dielman, who ironically would be signed to replace Steve Hutchinson, the all-pro who got away last year to Minnesota. The defensive line also needs help as young prospect Marcus Tubbs has been injured. There is talk of shopping receiver Darrell Jackson to make more room for New England acquisition Deion Branch.

Tweaking the roster in every area rather than overhauling is the priority for coach Mike Holmgren, who knows his team still has enough good core players to make another Super Bowl run from the weak NFC. Stabilizing both lines tops the list.

Q: What do you think the Kansas City Chiefs should do at quarterback? Trent Green — old, coming off a severe concussion, somewhat timid in his play after returning. Damon Huard - signed 1 year deal last March. Will he be back? Should he be back? Should they consider drafting a QB?
— Steve, Neosho, Mo.

A: Huard just signed a three-year deal, so maybe he got a different signal from coach Herm Edwards, who publicly anointed Green as his starter again. Since Green turns 37 this summer, the Chiefs know they have to address the position and this isn't the best year to do it in the draft. Huard played well enough to warrant a longer look and apparently he'll get one.

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