Trying to identify which quarterbacks will be Lions next year is a mostly fruitless exercise until we know who the general manager is and what approach he'll take with the No. 1 pick in the draft. (Officially, the Lions will clinch that with a loss this weekend).

But with five quarterbacks currently under contract – Dan Orlovsky, Daunte Culpepper, Jon Kitna, Drew Stanton and Drew Henson – you can bet at least two and maybe three will be back in training camp competing for playing time. Orlovsky is a free agent, and I think likely to sign elsewhere. He hasn't always been a favorite son of the organization since going in the fifth round of the 2005 draft. He barely took a practice snap for two years under Mike Martz, and this year the Lions were ready to bench him as starter even before he got hurt. He's just 25 and could return under the right circumstances, but I think this regime and likely future ones will view him as a stopgap and go in a different direction.

Both Stanton and Henson should make it to camp next year as both have manageable contracts and raw ability. Even if Stanton isn't seen as the quarterback of the future by whoever takes over, it'd be foolish to give up on last year's second-round pick without knowing what he can and cannot do. Same with Henson. There's no risk in bringing him back for another season, and there's no guarantee he'll be on the roster come September.

Oklahoma's Sam Bradford and Georgia's Matt Stafford certainly are options with the No. 1 pick if they declare, though again that discussion is months from having any meat. Regardless, the Lions likely will want a veteran quarterback in the mix, either as backup insurance or to compete for the starting job. Without delving into the likes of Matt Cassell or Kurt Warner or Kerry Collins, there are two options on the Lions' current roster in Culpepper and Kitna.

Culpepper signed last month and was thrust immediately into the starting role. His struggles (seven turnovers in five games) weren't unexpected, but they weren't totally his fault, either. Kitna went on injured reserve in October with back problems, but his biggest issue was his discontent for the Lions' new offense. In fact, coach Rod Marinelli said Wednesday that Kitna probably would be ready to play by now had the Lions not stashed him on IR, ending his season.

I don't know that I'd give either Culpepper or Kitna more than a 50-percent chance of returning  next year under new management, but here's a case for the latter over the former. First, Kitna is less of a salary burden than Culpepper. He's scheduled to make $1.95 million in base salary next year and has bonuses of $500,000 (roster) and $50,000 (workout) due this offseason. Throw in what's left on his signing bonus ($875,000) and his cap figure is $3.375 million. If the Lions want to keep Culpepper, they'll have to pay him a $2.5-million option bonus and another $2.5 million in base salary. You do the math.

Second, I'm not sure who's the better quarterback right now. Culpepper has a bigger arm and more flash, but he's been hurt at the end of each of the last four seasons (assuming his current shoulder injury keeps him out the next two weeks; he's doubtful Sunday against New Orleans and did not practice Wednesday). Kitna, on the other hand, did throw for 4,000 yards and take almost all of the snaps each of the last two years.

I don't anticipate either would be happy as a backup, no matter if it's to Orlovsky, Cassell or a rookie, and that'd make for potential poison in the locker room. But if you go young, Kitna's history with Carson Palmer outweighs Culpepper's with JaMarcus Russell (though, to be fair, they were two totally different situations). Both also will get new slates if a total housecleaning occurs, and that's better for Kitna. If by some far-flung chance the current regime retains control, you can bet Kitna's a goner and there's more likelihood Culpepper returns.

Either way, the next general manager will have plenty to sort out at the most important position on the team.