With the ?? pick in the 2009 draft, the Chicago Bears select ...

If you thought the 2008 quarterback class was lacking … do like the Cubs and wait til next year.

The 2009 crop of passers could be even less inspiring, hardly the kind of news a franchise in search of a franchise quarterback for decades needs to hear. Suffice to say no one is going to be drawing comparisons to 1983. Or 1999 for that matter. Remember five passers were taken in the first round that year and the 2009 draft will mark the 10-year anniversary of the Bears selection of Cade McNown. Only Donovan McNabb and Daunte Culpepper had success from that group.

General manager Jerry Angelo cited, among other reasons, the poor talent available this year as one of the reasons the Bears elected not to draft one this year.

Its awful early to be breaking down quarterbacks for next year … weve got about 51 1/2 weeks until the excitement begins all over again, but lets take a look ahead. Just keep in mind projections at this point mean nothing. Kentuckys Andre Woodson and Hawaiis Colt Brennan were not being discussed as sixth-round draft picks last April.

Georgias Matt Stafford is getting pretty good reviews, drawing comparisons in some corners to Carson Palmer. Stafford is entering his third season as a starter but will only be a junior. So theres no guarantee hell leave school early.

Floridas Tim Tebow is another underclassman whos intriguing, and in fact ESPNs Todd McShay has Tebow going No. 7 overall to the Bears in the 2009 draft. You know what that says about this coming season, right?

Arizona States Rudy Carpenter, Purdues Curtis Painter and Clemsons Cullen Harper are a trio of seniors who will be available. None have much wow factor. Not now anyway. Remember Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco was hoping to be a mid-round pick at this point a year ago. Louisvilles Hunter Cantwell will have one season to prove he is worthy of a high pick after waiting behind Brian Brohm. Oklahomas Sam Bradford will be draft eligible also if he wants to leave school early.

The Bears won 24 games between 2005 and 2006 with Kyle Orton and Rex Grossman starting. Maybe one of them will step forward and drafting a passer will be a moot point. Until that happens, the wait for one to develop continues.